Evangelicalism

Some people follow a way called evangelicalism.

This is part of being a Christian. The name means "good news."

Many people believe in the Bible. They think it is very special. They use it to guide their lives.

Many followers want to be "born again." This means they feel a new start in their faith. They want to live holy lives.

They also like to share their news. They do this by preaching to others. They also do kind work in the world.

People follow this way in many different ways. It is a big group of people around the world.

Evangelicalism is a large group within Protestant Christianity.

The name comes from a Greek word. It means "good news." This refers to the message of Jesus Christ.

Many people in this group share four main ideas. First, they believe in conversion. This is often called being "born again." It means having a personal start in faith. Second, they value the Bible. They see it as a special guide for life. Third, they focus on the death and resurrection of Jesus. This is called crucicentrism. Fourth, they believe in activism. This means they share their faith through preaching or helping others.

This movement grew a lot in the 1700s and 1800s. It spread through big religious meetings called revivals. Today, it is a global movement. One group says there are 600 million believers.

People follow these ideas in many different churches. They belong to many different traditions. Some are Baptists or Methodists. Others belong to groups that have no single name.

Evangelicalism is a large movement within Protestant Christianity.

The name comes from a Greek word, "euangelion." This word means "good news." For these believers, the good news is the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. It is a worldwide group that includes many different kinds of churches. Because it covers so many different groups, scholars often debate how to define it. Some say it is too diverse to be one single movement.

Many people use four main ideas to describe this faith. The first is conversionism. This is the belief in being "born again" through a personal change. The second is biblicism. This means having a very high respect for the Bible. They see the Bible as the ultimate authority for how to live. The third idea is crucicentrism. This puts the death and resurrection of Jesus at the center of everything. Finally, there is activism. This is the desire to share the gospel through preaching or social action.

The roots of this movement go back to the 16th-century Protestant Reformation. During that time, thinkers emphasized the authority of the Bible. The modern movement we see today began around 1738. It was shaped by groups like the Moravians and the Puritans. A key person was Nicolaus Zinzendorf, who worked with the Herrnhut community. Later, the movement grew during the First Great Awakening. Leaders like John Wesley and George Whitefield played huge roles in this time.

Many famous leaders have helped lead this movement over the years. These include names like Jonathan Edwards, Billy Graham, and John Stott. The movement grew very fast in the 19th and 20th centuries. It moved from the United Kingdom and the United States to the whole world. Today, the World Evangelical Alliance says there are 600 million believers. That is about one in four Christians globally. In the United States, evangelicals make up about one quarter of the population.

Evangelicalism is not just one single church. It is "interdenominational," which means it spans many different traditions. You can find evangelicals in Baptist, Methodist, and Pentecostal churches. They are also in groups like the Presbyterians and the Quakers. Some churches follow a style called congregational polity. This means the local group helps run its own affairs.

Whether they are in a large building or a small group, they share a focus on the "good news."

Evangelicalism is a massive, worldwide movement within Protestant Christianity.

It is often called evangelical Christianity or evangelical Protestantism. The term itself comes from the Koine Greek word *euangelion*. This word means "good news." For followers, this news refers to the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. Because the movement includes so many different groups, scholars often debate its exact definition. Some critics argue the term covers too many diverse beliefs to be a single, unified movement.

To understand how evangelicalism works, historians often look at a "quadrilateral" of four core priorities.

The first is conversionism. This is the belief that a person must experience a personal change, often called being "born again." This experience involves repentance, which means turning away from sin. The second priority is biblicism. This is a deep reverence for the Bible as the ultimate authority. Many evangelicals believe in biblical inerrancy, meaning they believe the text is without error. The third is crucicentrism. This places the death and resurrection of Jesus at the very center of the faith. Finally, there is activism. This is the drive to share the gospel through preaching or social action.

These beliefs manifest in many different types of church structures.

Evangelicalism is transdenominational. This means it is not limited to one single tradition. You can find evangelicals in Baptist, Methodist, and Pentecostal movements. They are also present in Reformed traditions like Presbyterianism and Congregationalism. Some belong to Anglicanism, Lutheranism, or the Plymouth Brethren. Many of these groups follow congregational polity. This is a system where the local congregation helps govern its own affairs. Others may use episcopal or presbyterian structures to manage their churches.

The history of this movement has several important stages. Its theological roots began with the Protestant Reformation in 16th-century Europe. During that time, reformers emphasized the authority of Scripture. However, the modern movement is generally dated to around 1738. It was influenced by groups like the Pietists, Puritans, Quakers, and Moravians. Nicolaus Zinzendorf and the Herrnhut community were very important during this era. Later, the movement gained massive momentum during the First Great Awakening. Figures like John Wesley and George Whitefield were central to this growth.

The movement has grown significantly over the last few centuries. It had a strong presence in the Anglosphere, especially in the United Kingdom and the United States. During the 19th and 20th centuries, it expanded globally. Today, the scale of the movement is quite large. The World Evangelical Alliance claims there are 600 million believers in 2025. This accounts for roughly one in four Christians worldwide. In the United States, evangelicals represent about one quarter of the total population. They are the largest religious group in that country.

Many notable leaders have shaped the history of evangelicalism. These individuals include George Fox, Jonathan Edwards, and William J. Seymour. Other influential names are Billy Graham, John Stott, and Luis Palau. Leaders like Gudina Tumsa and Francisco Olazábal also played roles. These people helped spread the movement across different cultures and continents. Their work contributed to the diverse global presence seen today.

Evangelicalism connects to many broader social and religious systems. It is often linked to various reform efforts and missionary impulses. The term "evangelical" is sometimes used even outside of religion. For example, it can describe a generic impulse to reform or redeem something. Within the church, it connects to the idea of the "believers' Church." This doctrine teaches that membership comes through a personal profession of faith. This idea originated with the Anabaptists during the Radical Reformation. Today, these connections continue through many voluntary religious groups and organizations.