Evangelical Christians

last updated 25 JAN 2025

Definition:
A cross-denominational theological movement with the following briefs

The Bible is the highest authority.
Jesus is the only path to salvation
You must go thru a conversion or the "born again" experience
You must share your faith

Includes denominations such as Seventh-day Adventists, Churches of Christ, Presbyterian Church of America, pentecostals and others. Many evangelicals believe in biblical inerrancy.

Its meaning has shifted throughout Christianity's long history and changes depending on who you ask.
The religious historian George Marsden once quipped that in the 1950s and 1960s an evangelical Christian was "anyone who likes Billy Graham." But when Billy Graham was asked to define the term in the late 1980s, he replied, "Actually, that's a question I'd like to ask somebody too."
Graham isn't alone. While the word evangelical pops up in American media to describe everything from mega-churches to voting blocs, few people seem to know what an evangelical is exactly. Those who claim to know often disagree.
Source: What Does Evangelical Mean? - The Atlantic

The term brings up the image of evangelists, Preachers of tent revivals for, healing crusades, and church rallies e.g. Oral Roberts, radio, e.g. Dwight L. Moody and television e.g. Jerry Falwell, Oral Roberts, Jimmy and Tammy Bakker, Jimmy Swaggart, ...

Michael Gerson:
Gerson, an evangelical Christian who never abandoned his faith or his principles in the often-brutal game of politics, died Nov. 17, age 58, from complications of bone cancer. He followed his first act, as chief speechwriter and senior policy adviser for President George W. Bush, with 15 years as a respected columnist for The Washington Post.
As an editorial commentator, still unapologetically conservative and evangelical, Gerson indicted the members of his own tribe who fell for Donald Trump’s brand of hateful, zenophobic populism.
"Mike knew that not every question involving faith and truth could be resolved along the bright lines of the culture wars, or literally be set in Scripture." Michael Gerson: Voice of hope in an age of darkness Erich Bridges -BaptistNews, summarizes Michael Gerson Essay below:

Read/Listen to Gerson's Washington Post Opinions Essay;
Gerson goes into detail about the inconsistency between Jesus and the conservative political movement.
"Trump should fill Christians with rage. How come he doesn't" Sept 1, 2022 .

See more on the Michael Gerson page.

Demographics:

Half (49%) of evangelical Protestant adults reside in the South, which is home to 37% of the overall U.S. adult population.
Three-quarters (76%) of evangelical Protestants in the U.S. are white, but the share of evangelicals who are not white is growing.
21% of evangelical Protestants (21%) are college graduates compared to 35% in the general population.

Source: Following Rev. Billy Graham's death, 5 facts about U.S. evangelical Protestants | Pew Research Center

Source: Evangelical Protestantism is largest Christian tradition in U.S. | Pew Research Center

Pentecostalism
A stricter form of evangelicalism. Pentecostalism adheres to the inerrancy of the Bible and the necessity of accepting Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior. It is distinguished by belief in the baptism in the Holy Spirit that enables a Christian to live a Spirit-filled and empowered life. This empowerment includes the use of spiritual gifts such as speaking in tongues and divine healing—two other defining characteristics of Pentecostalism.

Books, Articles:
"The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism", Tim Alberta December 5, 2023

Opinion Trump should fill Christians with rage. How come he doesn’t?, Michael Gerson, Washgton Post, 2022.

Links:
Michael Gergen Following Rev. Billy Graham's death, 5 facts about U.S. evangelical Protestants | Pew Research Center
What Does Evangelical Mean? - The Atlantic
Worldliness Or Godliness? - Chicago Tribune
Politics and Religion
Strange Bedfellows - Evangelicals and the environment, healthcare, tolerance, ..