Lutherans as Genuine Evangelicals

 Over time, many biblical and theological terms have been used and sometimes abused in different ways. One word that has been used in different ways is "evangelical." The term "evangelical" is derived from the Greek for "good news or gospel," and it can certainly be applied in different contexts. There is the context of biblical literature related to the four books about Christ, which are called the Gospels (Latin, evangelii) and whose writers are called evangelists. There is also the context of Acts and the apostolic epistles, where the term "evangelical" can be applied to the Christian message in general and to those in the church who share this message.

While acknowledging such uses of the term "evangelical," in this post, the focus is on the Protestant context from the 16th century to the present. Martin Luther and his associates and followers used the term "evangelical" (German evangelisch) as a description of their renewed understanding of the Scriptural message. They also applied the term to their churches, which proclaimed Scripture, and to themselves as adherents of the message of justification by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Evangelical was the older and preferred self-description before the terms Lutheran or Protestant developed.

There have been varied developments and differing uses of the word "evangelical" over the last five centuries. This is especially true in the English-speaking world. In 18th-century England, Calvinist and Methodist renewal movements were described as evangelical. In the 19th century and early 20th century, emotional revivalism was characterized as evangelical, especially in the US. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, certain popular, personal, and emotional approaches to Christianity have been described as evangelical. These historical developments have led to some confusion about the meaning and value of the term evangelical.

Nevertheless, I maintain that the description "evangelical" was and is best exemplified in confessional Lutheran doctrine and practice. Other Christians may be more or less evangelical, but this description is at the heart of Lutheran origins and history. Evangelical or Gospel-centered reflects the central concern of historic and orthodox Lutheranism. Healthy Lutheran expressions always focus on the gospel message of salvation proclaimed by Jesus Christ and His apostles. This message is foretold in the promises of redemption in the Old Testament, and it has been proclaimed by faithful Christians through the ages. The Christian message is not the property of revivalism, pentecostalism, or other recent movements. The evangel or Gospel is about our Lord's message of salvation. The Gospel is rooted in Christ's life, death, and resurrection for our sake. It is about divine grace forgiving repentant sinners and engendering faith through the living Word. So, despite popular distortions over time, those who are sincere followers of Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions remain the most authentic evangelicals.