{"id":37033,"date":"2016-02-15T15:01:03","date_gmt":"2016-02-15T20:01:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/trinities.org\/blog\/?p=37033"},"modified":"2016-03-22T08:13:21","modified_gmt":"2016-03-22T12:13:21","slug":"podcast-126-what-is-an-evangelical-with-kermit-zarley","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/trinities.org\/blog\/podcast-126-what-is-an-evangelical-with-kermit-zarley\/","title":{"rendered":"podcast 126 &#8211; What is an evangelical? With Kermit Zarley"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"powerpress_player\" id=\"powerpress_player_5796\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-37033-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/trinities\/p\/trinities.org\/blog\/wp-content\/podcast\/trinities126.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/trinities\/p\/trinities.org\/blog\/wp-content\/podcast\/trinities126.mp3\">http:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/trinities\/p\/trinities.org\/blog\/wp-content\/podcast\/trinities126.mp3<\/a><\/audio><\/div><p class=\"powerpress_links powerpress_links_mp3\" style=\"margin-bottom: 1px !important;\">Podcast: <a href=\"http:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/trinities\/p\/trinities.org\/blog\/wp-content\/podcast\/trinities126.mp3\" class=\"powerpress_link_pinw\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Play in new window\" onclick=\"return powerpress_pinw('https:\/\/trinities.org\/blog\/?powerpress_pinw=37033-podcast');\" rel=\"nofollow\">Play in new window<\/a> | <a href=\"http:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/trinities\/p\/trinities.org\/blog\/wp-content\/podcast\/trinities126.mp3\" class=\"powerpress_link_d\" title=\"Download\" rel=\"nofollow\" download=\"trinities126.mp3\">Download<\/a><\/p><p class=\"powerpress_links powerpress_subscribe_links\">Subscribe: <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/7FuUF9DZM3zhtN41n6RJ6l\" class=\"powerpress_link_subscribe powerpress_link_subscribe_spotify\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Subscribe on Spotify\" rel=\"nofollow\">Spotify<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/subscribebyemail.com\/trinities.org\/blog\/feed\/podcast\/\" class=\"powerpress_link_subscribe powerpress_link_subscribe_email\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Subscribe by Email\" rel=\"nofollow\">Email<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/trinities.org\/blog\/feed\/podcast\/\" class=\"powerpress_link_subscribe powerpress_link_subscribe_rss\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Subscribe via RSS\" rel=\"nofollow\">RSS<\/a><\/p><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-37043\" src=\"http:\/\/trinities.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/evangometer-2.png\" alt=\"evangometer\" width=\"378\" height=\"358\" srcset=\"https:\/\/trinities.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/evangometer-2.png 378w, https:\/\/trinities.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/evangometer-2-300x284.png 300w, https:\/\/trinities.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/evangometer-2-90x85.png 90w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 378px) 100vw, 378px\" \/>According to recent research, about 3 in 10 Americans are evangelical Christians. But what exactly <em>is<\/em> an evangelical? <strong>A fairly standard definition<\/strong> is given by historian David Bebbington. In his view, an evangelical is someone with the following four beliefs:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Conversionism<\/strong>: the belief that lives need to be transformed through a \u201cborn-again\u201d experience and a life long process of following Jesus.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Activism<\/strong>: the expression and demonstration of the gospel in missionary and social reform efforts<\/li>\n<li><strong>Biblicism<\/strong>: a high regard for and obedience to the Bible as the ultimate authority<\/li>\n<li><strong>Crucicentrism<\/strong>: a stress on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross as making possible the redemption of humanity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>And here is the\u00a0recent, <strong>revised four points<\/strong> used in research by the National Association of Evangelicals and LifeWay Research, according to which anyone who <strong>strongly affirms all four<\/strong> counts as an evangelical:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The Bible is the highest authority for what I believe.<\/li>\n<li>It is very important for me personally to encourage non-Christians to trust Jesus Christ as their Savior.<\/li>\n<li>Jesus Christ\u2019s death on the cross is the only sacrifice that could remove the penalty of my sin.<\/li>\n<li>Only those who trust in Jesus Christ alone as their Savior receive God\u2019s free gift of eternal salvation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It is frequently asserted by some theologians that the Trinity is <em>the<\/em> most central Christian and evangelical belief. But belief the Trinity usually isn&#8217;t given as a defining belief on an evangelical. However, the NAE on their website mentions the Trinity as if it were an essential belief; they appear to be assuming that trinitarian belief is<strong> obviously entailed by<\/strong> commitment to the Bible.<\/p>\n<p>As we discuss, in the evangelical churches attended by Mr. Zarley, the traditional catholic Trinity and two natures doctrines <em>were<\/em> strongly emphasized. But in the evangelical churches I&#8217;ve attended, these were very much on the back burner &#8211; on the books, but not a central part of our belief or practice, and the ancient catholic formulations were nearly always ignored. We were <strong>functionally non-trinitarian<\/strong>, but officially trinitarian. Yet all these churches were firmly in the evangelical world. Mr. Zarley and I agree that an evangelical is not <em>by definition<\/em> a trinitarian.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Do you agree?\u00a0Let us know<\/strong> what you think in the comments below, in our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/trinities\/\" target=\"_blank\">Facebook group<\/a>, \u00a0upload audio feedback for possible inclusion in a future episode of this podcast,\u00a0<a title=\"upload audio feedback for the trinities podcast here\" href=\"http:\/\/www.mediafire.com\/filedrop\/filedrop_hosted.php?drop=96df5ea43b9b7c6582cb95b8c5a7259d7cd8109e0cd009d4a5ecd099cc7e64fb\" target=\"_blank\">putting the audio file here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>You can also <strong>listen t<\/strong><strong>o this episode on<\/strong>\u00a0<strong><a title=\"trinities podcast @ stitcher\" href=\"http:\/\/www.stitcher.com\/s?fid=54067&amp;refid=stpr\" target=\"_blank\">Stitcher<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0or\u00a0<strong><a title=\"trinities @ itunes\" href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/id690304581?mt=2&amp;uo=4&amp;at=11l5XS\" target=\"_blank\">iTunes<\/a>\u00a0(please subscribe, rate, and review<\/strong>\u00a0us in either or both \u2013 <strong><a title=\"how to rate us at iTunes and Stitcher\" href=\"http:\/\/trinities.org\/blog\/review\/\" target=\"_blank\">directions here<\/a><\/strong>). It is also available on\u00a0<strong><a title=\"trinities podcast youtube playlist\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/4S0K6zotjCg\" target=\"_blank\">YouTube<\/a><\/strong> (you can\u00a0<a title=\"youtube subscription link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/khanpadawan?sub_confirmation=1\" target=\"_blank\">subscribe here<\/a>).\u00a0You can <strong>support the trinities podcast by ordering anything through Amazon.com<\/strong> after <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/ref=assoc_res_sw_logo?tag=trinitiesorg-20&amp;linkCode=w14&amp;linkID=ISZSX35I27NLT3KG\" target=\"_blank\">clicking through one of our links<\/a>. We get a small % of your purchase, even though your price is not increased. (If you see \u201ctrinities\u201d in you\u00a0url while at Amazon, then we\u2019ll get it.)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Links for this episode:<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/kermitzarley.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Kermit Zarley home page<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-37034 alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/trinities.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/circle-the-wagons.jpg\" alt=\"circle the wagons\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/trinities.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/circle-the-wagons.jpg 400w, https:\/\/trinities.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/circle-the-wagons-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/trinities.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/circle-the-wagons-90x68.jpg 90w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a> <\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/kermitzarleyblog\/\" target=\"_blank\">Kermit Zarley blog<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><em><a href=\"http:\/\/kermitzarley.com\/product\/the-restitution-of-jesus-christ\/\" target=\"_blank\">The Restitution of Jesus Christ<\/a><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/trinities.org\/blog\/podcast-86-kermit-zarley-on-distinguishing-jesus-and-god\/\" target=\"_blank\">podcast 86 \u2013 Kermit Zarley on distinguishing Jesus and God<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/trinities.org\/blog\/podcast-87-kermit-zarley-on-the-deity-and-preexistence-of-jesus\/\" target=\"_blank\">podcast 87 \u2013 Kermit Zarley on the deity and preexistence of Jesus<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>NAE&#8217;s <\/strong><a href=\"http:\/\/nae.net\/what-is-an-evangelical\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>&#8220;What is an evangelical?&#8221;<\/strong><\/a>\n<ul>\n<li>Wheaton College&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.wheaton.edu\/isae\/defining-evangelicalism\" target=\"_blank\">&#8220;Defining Evangelicalism&#8221;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.lifewayresearch.com\/2015\/11\/19\/nae-lifeway-research-publish-evangelical-beliefs-research-definition\/\" target=\"_blank\">LifeWay&#8217;s recent research announcement<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Mark 13:32; Matthew 23:36<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/trinities.org\/blog\/how-trinity-theories-conflict-with-the-new-testament\/\" target=\"_blank\">How Trinity theories conflict with the New Testament<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/trinities.org\/blog\/podcast-29-arius\/\" target=\"_blank\">podcast 29 \u2013 Arius<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/trinities.org\/blog\/podcast-30-the-council-of-nicea\/\" target=\"_blank\">podcast 30 \u2013 The Council of Nicea<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/trinities.org\/blog\/podcast-31-william-hasker-on-the-arian-controversy\/\" target=\"_blank\">podcast 31 \u2013 Dr. William Hasker on the \u201cArian\u201d Controversy<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/trinities.org\/blog\/the-lost-early-history-of-unitarian-christian-theology\/\" target=\"_blank\">The Lost Early History of Unitarian Christian Theology<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.iep.utm.edu\/reli-div\/#SH3c\" target=\"_blank\">traditional Catholic and Protestant views on whether any non-Christians can be saved<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li>James 2:14-26<\/li>\n<li>1 Corinthians 3:1-17<\/li>\n<li>This week&#8217;s <strong>thinking music is <a href=\"http:\/\/dig.ccmixter.org\/files\/w1av\/37266\" target=\"_blank\">&#8220;Doria&#8221;<\/a><\/strong> by\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/dig.ccmixter.org\/people\/w1av\" target=\"_blank\">Robert Anthony Ruzzo<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>According to recent research, about 3 in 10 Americans are evangelical Christians. But what exactly is an evangelical?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":37043,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"","neve_meta_content_width":0,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6,58,4,57,43],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-37033","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-complaints","category-creeds","category-heresy-orthodoxy","category-podcast","category-unitarianism"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/trinities.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37033","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/trinities.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/trinities.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trinities.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trinities.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37033"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/trinities.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37033\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":37305,"href":"https:\/\/trinities.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37033\/revisions\/37305"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trinities.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37043"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/trinities.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37033"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trinities.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37033"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trinities.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37033"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}