By Walter R. Strickland II, TGC.
The Christian narrative is a global story composed of a “cloud of witnesses” (Heb. 12:1) from “every nation, tribe, people, and language” (Rev. 7:9, CSB). A striking feature of John’s kingdom vision is its multiethnic composition unified in worship to the risen Lamb.
In the 20th century, the evangelical movement witnessed unprecedented globalization that reflects this end-times scene. While the evangelical movement originated in the West, sprouting from the Protestant Reformation and Great Awakenings, the 20th century confirmed that “good news” people are no longer a Western-dominant demographic. Evangelicals and those who share evangelical theological convictions are scattered across the globe.
Despite the excitement of evangelicalism’s expanding reach, American evangelicals are in a crisis of definition. Cable-news anchors and other culture shapers regularly use “evangelical” to reference a voting bloc more than than a Christian movement. Consequently, American Christians with historically evangelical commitments actively debate the term’s usefulness.
Conceding the use of “evangelical” to secular pollsters is deeply flawed by an American-centric gaze that forgoes meaningful connection with the global evangelical family. InterVarsity president Tom Lin explains,
Any evaluation of the word evangelical or evangelicalism must be done in the context of the global church. The decision of some American evangelicals to abandon the term is insensitive to our overseas sisters and brothers; it reflects the worst impulse of American exceptionalism and self-absorption. We have long since passed the era when American evangelicals may act independently. Even a cursory look at the global church provides great hope for the future of evangelicalism.
Despite the confusion, I contend that as American Christians grasp the beauty, wonder, and scale of the global evangelical movement, an abiding impulse to reclaim American evangelicalism’s theological and missiological heritage will emerge. This is more than prevailing over a populous evangelical narrative marked by cultural and political captivity; it is akin to being reunited with long-lost family members.