Reformed Evangelical Movement Page


	"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16)

What is Evangelicalism?

Impact Evangelism holds to the beliefs and ethos of classic Biblical Christianity, a position often referred to as "evangelicalism".

What is meant by the term evangelical? It has its root in the Greek word euangelion, or 'gospel'. Evangelical Christians, in other words, are 'gospel-centred' people.

This core principle informs the way in which evangelicals understand their faith and go about living it out. This is shown in a number of important labels or controlling definitions that attach to evangelicalism:

	reformed - evangelicals emphasise that salvation is by grace and not by works, through faith alone as the free gift of God (pertains to the question of 'soteriology')
	biblical - evangelicals hold that the revelation of God in Scripture is the sole and final authority for truth and doctrine, not only in determining correct answers but also in arriving at the correct questions about life (pertains to the matter of 'epistemology')
	protestant - evangelicals typically subscribe to a non-papal and non-hierarchical form of church government, from the 'grass-roots up' rather than 'top down' (pertains to the question of 'ecclesiology')
	creedal - evangelicals subscribe to the historic heritage formulations of the doctrine of God found in the great confessions of faith such as the Apostles creed and the like (pertains to the question of 'theology')
	apostolic - evangelicals hold that God has revealed himself specifically in history through the chosen prophets and apostles, and their deposit is unique, distinctive, special and unrepeatable in God's purposes, thereby denying that God continues to reveal himself in the same way today through so-called charismatic revelations (Ephesians 2:20)
	evangelistic - evangelicals believe the gospel of Jesus Christ is the sole hope for men and women, and that proclamation of that gospel is the core mission of the church (pertains to the question of 'missiology')


	For further reading on the nature of evangelicalism, a helpful document is Saving the Heart by Mark Thompson (Matthias Media) or The Cambridge Declaration, Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals (April 1996, Philadelphia). Copies of the latter are available from Impact Evangelism on request by e-mailing us at resources@impact.au.nu

	Another helpful recent statement of evangelical belief can be found at www.christianity.net/ct/9T7/9T7049.html


	A number of associations exist that aim to uphold and advocate conservative evangelical Christianity:

	*Anglican Church League* (ACL) www.acl.asn.au Promotes evangelicalism in the Anglican Diocese of Sydney.
	*New Cranmer Society*: Promotes evangelicalism in the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne. Contact: David Powys Tel: (03) 9775 3302 Fax: (03) 9775 3302 e-mail powyses@fox.net.au
	*Conservative Evangelical Baptist Fellowship* (CEBF): Promotes evangelicalism in the NSW Baptist church. Tel: (02) 9894 6274
	*EMU* (Evangelical Members within the Uniting Church in Australia): Exists to encourage and nurture the evangelical faith on which the Uniting Church is founded. Contact: PO Box 41, Fairy Meadow, NSW 2519
	*Reform* www.reform.org.uk UK association of evangelicals e-mail reform@legend.co.uk
	*Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals* www.Alliancenet.org US association: c/- 1716 Spruce St, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 USA e-mail ACEorg@aol.com


	Useful periodicals by evangelicals include:

	*Essentials* - published by EFAC Australia: e-mail rbezzant@stjudes.org.au view articles at http://vicnet.net.au/~efac/essentials.htm
	*The Briefing* - published by Matthias Media: e-mail matmedia@ozemail.com.au website www.matthiasmedia.com.au
	*Modern Reformation* - published by the US Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals: e-mail ACEorg@aol.com website www.Alliancenet.org
	*Perspective Online* - published by a group of Australian pastors: e-mail editor@perspective.org.au website www.perspective.org.au

	For more evangelical links click here