A friend on Face Book, who attends my church, recently shared a post from a political website that was a very harsh and critical description of “Evangelical Christians”. My friend’s post seemed to describe the Pharisees and Sadducees of Jesus’ time rather than any born again Christian I have ever known; hypocritical, judgmental and even hateful. I commented that I thought he was an Evangelical Christian and to my dismay he responded with a laughing emoji. I have been one since I knelt at that church altar in 1954 and accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. It is obvious to me that my friend’s definition does not match my lifelong experience. I defined an Evangelical Christian on Face Book from my long experience as one, but it was immediately taken down by the Face Book “fact checkers” who evidently prefer my friend’s definition to my truthful experience. I want to share my definition with you.
The foundation of my faith is the fact that the Bible is the inspired and infallible word of God. After all, it was God’s word that introduced me to Jesus and into a personal relationship with His Father. I became a Christian by simply accepting the gift of eternal life and spiritual rebirth described by Jesus in the third chapter of the gospel of John. As a result, God’s Holy Spirit took up residence in my heart to instruct, guide and comfort me throughout my life. The “Evangelical” part is simply my desire to share that wonderful gift with others. It is natural to want to share such a beautiful experience and it is also in obedience to the “Great Commission” Jesus commands of us as His followers. That is what being an Evangelical Christian has meant to me.
I think it is the concept of sin that confuses nonbelievers’ view of Christians. Every man and woman who has lived, is living or will ever live is created in the image of God with a free will and therefore deserves our love and respect. But since creation, there has only been one man who remains without sin and that man is Jesus, who took on the sins of the world for all who believe in and follow Him. It is not only possible to love a person without accepting their sinful actions or lifestyle; it is required of those of us who have become followers of Jesus Christ.
If I was in a burning building and knew the only safe way to escape, I would try to take as many people with me away from the fire to safety as I could. Our world is ablaze with destructive sin and I have found Jesus is the only way out, so I try to convince others to escape to safety through Him. I certainly don’t condemn or hate them for wanting to remain in sin until the flames eventually destroy them. It breaks my heart to even think about it. But it thrills me so to know that angels in heaven join me in celebrating each and every person who makes it out of that fire alive.