like a fire

I was emailed a link to this (thanks Brian) earlier in the week and skimmed the highlights of the Evangelical Manifesto. My gut reaction was that I wished they hadn’t used the word Evangelical. I understand that the word Christian is so misused that it is almost pointless to use that title for followers of Christ, but the word Evangelical isn’t much better. Also, I just can’t join the Hybels camp and call myself a Christ-follower. It just seems too long and too trendy.

My second reaction was “Why?” I don’t question the need to clarify what we believe and understand to be they way, but aren’t there already a bunch of creeds and confessions out there that do that? I wonder if we need another. I certainly applaud the effort and would probably agree with what it declares. I probably won’t bother to sign it though. It doesn’t really mean that much to me to align myself with it. I know who I am and what I believe and I am pretty sure of those around me. So I don’t know if I will go beyond skimming it.

Two parting thoughts though.

1. Why weren’t there any emergent people included?
2. Why not create a new word that helps understand who we are that isn’t so loaded with meaning already?