Baptist and Evangelicals very similar?

[saved33]

Originally Posted by Dad_loves_to_cook

I find it interesting that some mainline denominations like the Lutherans will put the word "evangelical" in front of their church name. If we are teaching that Christ died for our sins, there is only one way to heaven and that is through salvation given by God through Jesus Christ, then that is what an evangelical church believes.

I'm not sure why there is a need to put the word evangelical in front of the name except maybe it tells the public they are more conservative than other Lutheran churches.

From Wiki:

The term evangelical has its etymological roots in the Greek word for "gospel" or "good news": ευαγγελιον (evangelion), from eu- "good" and angelion "message". In that sense, to be evangelical would mean to be a believer in the gospel, that is the message of Jesus Christ.
By the English Middle Ages the term had been expanded to include not only the message, but also the New Testament which contained the message, as well as more specifically the four books of the Bible in which the life, death and resurrection of Jesus are portrayed.[3] The first published use of the term "evangelical" in English was in 1531 by William Tyndale, who wrote "He exhorteth them to proceed constantly in the evangelical truth."[4] One year later, the earliest recorded use in reference to a theological distinction was by Sir Thomas More, who spoke of "Tyndale [and] his evangelical brother Barns".[4]
By the time of the Protestant Reformation, Protestant theologians began to embrace the term evangelical as referring to "gospel truth". Martin Luther [who the "Lutheran" church is named after] referred to the evangelische Kirche or evangelical church to distinguish Protestants from Catholics in the Roman Catholic Church.[5][6] In Germany, Switzerland and Denmark, and especially among Lutherans, the term has continued to be used in a broad sense.[7] This can be seen in the names of certain Lutheran denominations or national organizations, such as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, and the Evangelical Church in Germany.

[bchris02]

Originally Posted by Thomas R.

As a Catholic "Once Saved, Always Saved" is not us. Traditionally Catholics, even those who went through Confirmation, were taught we can end up in Hell if we die in a state of unrepentant mortal sin. Some Catholics are leaning toward Universalism of late, but I don't think that's the same thing as "Once Saved, Always Saved."

You might be confusing it with how Catholics say "Once Catholic, Always Catholic." To be honest I didn't really believe that phrase as a kid, but I gather it is the teaching. Here's something on it.

Once a Catholic always a Catholic - Catholic Diocese of Salina

Unless "Once Saved, Always Saved" means something different than I think the two ideas are different. (Some sites I find say Baptists don't believe "Once Saved, Always Saved" and that few churches really do. That what they believe is "The Perseverance of the Saints", but even that is not like Catholic teaching. Catholics, even bishops and theologians, do not inevitably become saintly people or never fall. Catholics struggle a good deal)

Some "evangelical Baptists" hold to this theology. The church I was raised in, though Baptist, shares many theological similarities with the catholic church. With the exception of prayers to saints and to Mary, we are very similar. That said, I am undecided on the issue of "once saved, always saved." These days I am leaning more towards it being true but I am not completely sure on that. I do think many evangelicals highly misunderstand Catholicism and it makes me cringe when they say Catholics aren't Christians.

[jghorton]

Drawing a direct parallel between Baptists and Evangelicals ... is like drawing a parallel between Bankers and people who wear ties.

Some Christians are 'Evangelicals,' but, not all classified as "evangelicals" are Christians
(frankly, some whom people categorize as evangelicals are not even evangelicals)
.... Just like all true disciples of Christ are Christians, but, not all "christians" are disciples of Christ.

Similarly, some Christians are Baptists, but, not all Baptists (or other denomination) are Christians.

Many Baptist churches aggressively promote the spread of the Gospel and leading people to Christ (which is an 'Evangelical' thing to do). But, not all people who attend (how often?) Baptist churches, are even Baptists, much less, committed to the 'evangelical principles' of the Baptist church heiarchy.

The bottom line is that 'labels' most often tend to distort the truth, rather than define it.

[Jerwade]

Originally Posted by jghorton

The bottom line is that 'labels' most often tend to distort the truth, rather than define it.

Nice quote.

"Few have been branded; a mark made by burning or otherwise."