Jeff, I love the respect that we show each other. May our example be both pleasing to Jesus and to our respective communities.
I propose we use the "National Association of Evangelicals" own definition of their statement of faith:
1. "We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
2. "We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
3. "We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
4. "We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful people, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
5. "We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
6. "We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
7. "We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ."
I differ with "evangelicals" only on the first point. I no longer believe that the Bible is "the only infallible, authoritative word of God." I believe God also expresses His truth through science, life experiences, and personalized messages.
All that said, my article contains facts. Voters who identify as "evangelical" are disproportionately white, believe patriarchy leadership, love to emphasize "masculinity," most likely to side with the military, and believe that America was originally based upon Christian foundations (and thus a Christian theocracy is the goal). An excellent source for you to read would be the book "Jesus and John Wayne."
Now none of these facts changes that you (as an evangelical) and me (as a progressive Christian) will both be hugging Jesus for eternity! And I love that commonality.
