What's an Evangelical in America?

US News & World Report has a cover story titled Evangelicals in America. There are some interesting statements here:

* according to a Gallup survey, roughly 4 out of 10 Americans identify themselves as evangelical or born-again Christians

[This statement reminds me of John Stott's assessment of America years ago -- "What kind of salt is it? 0.4 pounds of salt cannot savor 1.0 pounds of meat?"]

* In the last presidential election, 40 percent of Bush's votes came from religious conservatives. But not all evangelicals have ended up at the conservative end of the political spectrum. Theologically conservative African-American evangelicals and a minority of white evangelicals combine to make the evangelical perspective a force to be reckoned with inside the Democratic Party.

* Evangelicalism is, in a way, a counterculture.

* Adaptable and improvisatory, emotionally engaging and sustaining, American evangelical religion has provided a most accessible spiritual home for a highly individualistic, egalitarian, and mobile people.

Men, there will always be a lot of discussion about labels. Take care. When we're called to account for our lives (see Heb 9:27) there won't be much conversation about the labels we so highly treasure.

As you go forward today, consider that God has already prepared good works for you, so that you may walk in them, and honor His Name by loving others. Purpose to live well today.