For years, American evangelicalism has dominated the popular culture not only in the United States but also across the world. However, the various evangelical denominations across the United States do not share common viewpoints as some are relatively liberal while others are extremely conservative, particularly on matters affecting the modern society such as the legalization of same-sex marriage and abortion. Almost all evangelical denominations in America share a common belief in salvation by grace and not worthiness or hard work. Also, they believe in the holy Trinity and maintain that Jesus is the son of God. Unlike the fundamentalists, American evangelicals do not condemn the culture, but instead, believe that they can transform it positively through the application of Christian virtues. American evangelicals view themselves as the true Christian and strive to uphold the principles stipulated in the Bible. They take Bible to be the Word of God and thus, rarely make references outside the Bible or other sacred scriptures. Perhaps the most noticeable belief held by the American evangelicalism is the priesthood of all believers which allows them to speak directly to God without necessary seeking help from the priests. Hence, American evangelicals encourage one another to share the Word of God across the globe. American evangelicalism is less restrained and thus participates in the socio-economic and political affairs of the society.
The Belief of American Evangelicals
American evangelicals set themselves apart from others by embracing the belief of salvation by grace. They hold that salvation is never earned through deeds or hard work; instead, it is through acceptance that Jesus is the redeemer of mankind and a firm faith in his love and that his crucifixion saved all human beings. Hence, evangelicals are supposed to accept the offer of salvation that Jesus provides. The faith in the death of Christ on the Cross and his resurrection are embodied in the evangelical beliefs. In particular, they all agree that it is the love and grace displayed by Jesus on the cross that causes them to do good deeds. Hence, evangelicals believe that the eternal forgiveness of sins allows them to forgive one another since Jesus already paid the greatest price for them. Hence, evangelicals consider salvation as an undeserved gift. It is; therefore, clear that according to evangelicals salvation results from faith and not deeds. Individuals who accept salvation are considered “born again” or “saved” which means they have already made an eternal covenant with God and that they are all their sins are forgiven. Therefore, they are not liable to eternal condemnation or reproach for their past sins. They are thus encouraged to live a new life and obey the provisions of the Bible in order to form a personal relationship with God.
One of the primary beliefs of evangelicalism that distinguishes it from fundamentalists is the priesthood of all believers. This belief perhaps stems from the splitting of the temple veil into two after Jesus was crucified which is recorded in the Bible. This allowed all individuals to access God directly without seeking the intervention of priests. The particular events made Jesus the only way to the father and that all people irrespective of their race or physical characteristics would receive eternal salvation by faith and acceptance. Hence, the central belief of the evangelicals is that humanity does not require any intermediary to connect them to God since Jesus works on the cross were enough to render all believers salvation. This means that all Christians who are born again belong to the priesthood of Christ. Therefore, they are more or less priests but not pastors. Hence, all believers can be able to pray directly to God. Also, American evangelicals believe that as long as a person is born again, he/ she can be able to form a personal relationship with God based on love and grace. Hence, the priesthood of all believers more or less removes hierarchy in the American evangelical churches. The hierarchical system is evident in the Roman Catholic Church and priests resume important roles which includes intercessory and hearing confessions among the Christians. The priesthood of believers has remained a major contention between evangelicals and the fundamentalists. However, American evangelicals have emphasized the priesthood of all believers on various platforms including media.
American evangelicals believe strongly in the teachings of the Bible and that the Bible is infallible. The Bible is thus the perfect authority of God. The American evangelicals also believe in the Holy Trinity. Thus, they take Christ to be the son of God and also believe in the Father and the Holy Spirit all who make up the Trinity. American evangelicals consider the Three to be one and thus, there is only one God. Hence, Jesus is regarded as God in the form of human being. American evangelicals do not usually condemn the sinners instead they urge them to seek repentance and have faith in the works of Christ on the cross which guaranteed all believes eternal atonement of sins. At the same time, American evangelical seem tolerant to the modern culture include fashion and fads and thus, they do not provide major restrictions. Although evangelicals may appear to be the same as the Pentecostals, they have major difference particularly in the works of Christ and the Holy Spirit. The latter lay emphasis on the works of the Holy Spirit whereas the first focus on the completed tasks of Christ, especially the crucifixion. Jesus is thus the focus of American evangelists and his completed works at the cross.
Most evangelicals hold the conviction that they are supposed to carry forward the works of Christ and spread the good news to all parts of the world. Evangelists believe that they have an obligation to propagate the Gospel to those communities which do not know Christ or have not accepted him as their personal savior. This includes presenting the gift of salvation to the non-believers to enable them to become born again and lead a biblical Christian life. Hence, most evangelical churches in the United States carry out missionaries in the underserved regions such as African and South America. They offer socioeconomic assistance to these populations including food and missionary centers. Key evangelicals such as Billy Graham have played a significant role in spreading the Good News not only in the United States but also across the globe. Evangelicals usually conduct services in big facilities which can accommodate a large population. Televangelism is also an important attribute of the American evangelicalism which allows the evangelists to reach a large audience across the globe. At the end of the sermon, evangelists usually call for the audience to surrender their lives and accept the free gift of salvation. They have helped reaffirm the evangelical belief that only Jesus can take away the sins of the world and that he is calling for all people to accept the undeserved gift of salvation. The central message of evangelicals is thus salvation.
Conclusion
Although American evangelicals may appear to practice similar beliefs as other Christians, they have unique practices and beliefs that set them apart. They consider salvation as earned by faith and granted by grace. Hence, salvation is not earned by good deeds or adherence to the biblical teachings. They also emphasize the priesthood of all believers which diminishes the role of priests as the intermediary between God and humanity. Therefore, American evangelicals believe that as long as an individual is born again, he/ she can access God directly without requiring any intervention. This is a major contention between American evangelicals and the fundamentalists. Also, American evangelicals believe firmly in the Holy Trinity which makes up one God. Therefore, the evangelists believe that Jesus is God in the form of human being. Instead of focusing on the works of the Holy Spirit, evangelicals believe that the completed works of Christ are enough to set all sinners free and grant them eternal life. Hence, the American evangelists urge non-believers to accept the free gift of salvation in order to alter their lives and live according to the will of God. American evangelicals also believe that they have an obligation to share the Good News with other persons. Therefore, they conduct televised mission across the United States and overseas to share the Gospel to the multitudes.