Evangelical
What does it mean
to be Evangelical?
Bill Morehouse – MBS, Thursday morning, September 28, 2023
The Gospel = Good News
The term “evangelical” comes from the Greek word euangelion, meaning “the good news” or the “gospel.” Evangelicals take God and His Word seriously and focus on believing in, sharing through their redeemed character and actions, and proclaiming or “preaching” the “good news” of Jesus’ lordship and salvation, as demonstrated and taught through His life, death, and resurrection.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
While the following music is playing, please try to follow Paul’s instructions to the Philippians:
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable,
whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
In other words, think about a time when the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
Want some more Good News?
The God who created us and our entire universe and who declared it “very good” is perfect, loving, all-knowing, and altogether Holy!
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness… Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness… And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good. Genesis 1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1
Bad News and The Gospel
Wherever there is Good News you will find Bad News contending with it:
Bad news = problem. Good news = solution.
Bad news = falsehood. Good news = truth.
Bad news = counterfeit. Good news = reality.
As an example of bad and good news, suppose you are gravely ill and your doctor says, “You have a deadly infection, but if you stay under my care and continue taking this antibiotic as directed you should recover and do well.”
If you have a good doctor that you can trust and believe in, a smart response would be to take heed and obey.
Jesus is our Great Physician (Luke 5:31)
The Gospel and News +/-
Good News: And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love [AKA “charity”]; but the greatest of these is love [agape in Greek]. God and His Word and His Works are good, all the time. And, like a Marine recruiter, He is looking for a few good men to be His witnesses.
Bad News: “Charity” and a lot of “social justice” work in today’s world is often toxic because it’s done apart from God’s leading. He has an ongoing Kingdom recruiting problem finding good men who will seek and obey Him, as Paul notes in Romans 3
As it is written [in Psalm 53], “God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one…” for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
OK, what’s the Bad News?
Is there any more Good News?
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
How do I “Take complete hold”?
Who will save the world?
God Himself will, with you as part of His solution instead of part of the problem.
What about “non-evangelical” Christians?
That’s a good question to ask God Himself.
What about “systemic racism”?
It’s a grievous part of our “systemic sin” problem.
What about other social justice issues”?
Let’s get into that one a bit deeper…
If I be lifted up I will draw all men unto me
Yes…
but are we lifting Him up or beheading Him?
The Goat and the Jackass
Solve et Coagula I’m so proud of me!
The difference between sheep and goats shows up when their master asks them to go with him:�
What do you call an educated jackass?
A smart ass.
The sheep say “Yes!” and then follow.�The goats say, “Yes, but…” and then BUTT!
The Sabbatic Goat Baphomet
Front End of a Jackass
Two Dates
Saturday 9/23/23
Bisexual Pride Day
Friday 9/29 -10/6/23
The Feast of Tabernacles
(read Zechariah 14)
The meaning of porneia in Greek
Strict construction works well for
both Bible and Constitution
The Greek word porneia occurs 25 times in 24 verses in the New Testament.
During this time, the word had a very broad meaning that included sexual behavior such as prostitution, extramarital sexual intercourse or adultery, pedophilia, promiscuity, homosexuality, lesbianism, incest, premarital sex and bestiality. It still carries the same meaning.
LGBTQIA+ flag
Flee porneia!
1 Corinthians 6:18
“The Look
of Pride”
by Sasha Velour
THE
NEW YORKER
Cover
June 12, 2023 Issue
Pride Month
2023
Drag Queen
Sasha Velour
Drawing the line with porneia
Flee from sexual immorality.
Every other sin a person commits is outside the body,
but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.
1 Corinthians 6:18
Porneia calls for conviction, repentance, and humble sanctification,
NOT
acceptance, affirmation, and proud celebration.
Seven deadly sins
1. Pride: an excessive love of self.
2. Greed: the desire for and love of possessions.
3. Lust: an intense desire, usually for sexual pleasure
but also for money, power or fame. Love is love is love?
4. Envy: desire for the possessions, happiness, talents or abilities of another.
5. Gluttony: overconsumption, of food, drink, or drugs.
6. Wrath: uncontrolled feelings of hatred or rage.
7. Sloth: physical laziness, also disinterest in spiritual matters or neglecting spiritual growth.
with demons
Lucifer
Mammon
Asmodeus
Beelzebub
Belphegor
Satan
Abaddon
Demon associations were made by John Wycliffe in 1409-1410 in a tract called The Lanterne of Light.
Who is Lucifer in the Bible?
Abaddon – Hebrew for "destruction"
Accuser
Adversary
Angel of Light
Angel of the bottomless pit
Antichrist
Apollyon – Greek for "destroyer"
King of the Bottomless Pit
Lawless One
Leviathan
Liar
Lucifer
Murderer
Power of Darkness
Prince of the Power of the Air
Beast
Beelzebub –
"Ruler of the demons"
Belial
Deceiver
Devil
Dragon
Enemy
Evil One
Father of Lies
Ruler of the Darkness
Ruler of this World
Satan
Serpent of Old
Son of Perdition
Fallen Star
Tempter
Thief
Wicked One
Did God say?
Who is God in the Bible?
Abba
Almighty One
Alpha
Ancient of Days
Anointed One
My Banner
Christ
Creator
Judge
King
LORD
Lord Most High
Lord of Hosts
Maker
Messiah
Merciful One
Elohim
El Shaddai
Eternal One
Father
Fortress
Healer
Holy Spirit
Jehovah
Omega
Provider
Refuge
Savior
Shalom
Shepherd
Yahweh
Yeshua
Do you want to listen to what Satan has to say?
Temples of the Living God
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,
“I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:14-18
Global Christian Populations
Roman Catholic 1,200,000,000
Orthodox 200,000,000
Protestant (mainline A) 375,000,000
Evangelical (born again B) 625,000,000
Total 2,400,000,000
A) “Mainline” has come to mean primarily liberal or modernist “non-evangelical Protestant” and includes members of the “seven sisters of American Protestantism” which refers to the seven major denominations that comprise the mainline:
1. American Baptist Churches 2. Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
3. Episcopal (not Anglican) Church 4. Evangelical (evangelisch*) Lutheran Church
5. Presbyterian Church (USA) 6. United Church of Christ
7. United Methodist Church *vs. evangelikal
B) Primarily conservative or fundamental and includes charismatic/Pentecostal. How many Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Mainline Protestant members are functionally “born again”?
Global Religious Populations
Religion Million %
Religion Mill %
*Projection for 2020 (Pew Research Center, based on 2010 baseline estimates)
Drawn from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_religious_populations
(estimated that about 117 billion human beings have ever been born on earth)
Notes:
Roman Ca 1,200
Orthodox 200 (2)
Mainline 375 (4)
Evangelical 625 (8)
Total 2,400
2. Confucianism
and others
3. Excluding some
in separate
categories
US pop 300 (4)
all <0.01 percent
Two Different “Binaries”?
Political - World
Left – Right
Progressive – Regressive
Liberal – Conservative
Woke – Bigoted
Blue – Red
Democrat – Republican
Socialist – Capitalist
Sadducee – Pharisee
Biblical - Kingdom
True – False
Right – Wrong
Good – Evil
Saved – Unsaved
Light – Darkness
Kingdom of God vs.
World, Flesh, Devil
Confusion, granular spectra, or binary choices?
THE
DOOR
JESUS
Alternative Futures
Worldly Ideologies
Biblical Eschatology
What will the end of the age look like?
Course 1 - Foundations�All three books of Course 1 in The Joy of Christian Discipleship Series – 2020-21
“Saved”
“Sanctified”
“Sent”
Course 2 - Equipping�The first two books of Course 2 in The Joy of Christian Discipleship Series – 2022
“Awakening” of Truth
“Kingdom” of God
Final guide “Heaven”�The third and last book of Course 2 in The Joy of Christian Discipleship Series – 2023
You’re invited to join us as we study “Heaven” together this fall.
Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom… but enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.
Luke 12:32 and Matthew 7:13-14
Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come! Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.
Revelation 4:8-11
Some Resources
ESV Study Bible: www.esv.org
His Kingdom and Us: www.hiskingdom.us
e.g. Names of God
Celebrate Salvation! www.celebratesalvation.org
e.g. Awakening and the Wesleyan Revival
FIRST THINGS magazine: www.firstthings.com
e.g. PERMANENT REVOLUTION by R. R. Reno, June 2023
Biblical Critical Theory: Zondervan Academic, Grand Rapids, MI, 2022
Christopher Watkin with foreword by Timothy Keller
Zechariah 14: The Coming Day of the Lord