What is the Difference Between Born Again and Evangelical?

[gustava]

What's the difference? Jimmy Carter said he was a "born again." Today, would he call himself an evangelical? I'm so confused.

[Daenerys]

What's the difference? Jimmy Carter said he was a "born again." Today, would he call himself an evangelical? I'm so confused.

Born again implies you weren't always a Christian (at least in a free church like Baptist etc) but Evangelical just means you are a part of it, and you might always have been so.

[Brainsample]

There is no difference.

[Austin]

There is no difference.

That's my understanding - they're the same thing.

[Cran]

Born again implies you weren't always a Christian (at least in a free church like Baptist etc) but Evangelical just means you are a part of it, and you might always have been so.

Not necessarily. A person can, in this context, grow up in a Christian household and believe in Jesus as the Saviour all along, but is not considered a born again Christian until that person has a conversion experience in which the whole heart and life is given to Christ.

Evangelical refers more to the denomination, not the state of the soul. every Christian considers himself born again, I believe, but the definitions vary, some might say baptism already does the trick... or baptism and confirmation or whatever.

[xDreamerx]

They are the exact same. The term Evangelical has changed over the centuries in terms of what it refers to. People in the Reformation sometimes referred to themselves as Evangelicals because they were spreading the gospels. But in the current context, it simply means someone who is "born again". Ted Haggard used to be the leader of the National Association of Evangelicals. President Bush (Jr.) is an Evangelical as well. It is not a denomination but rather a heading that multiple denominations can fall under. I believe most Pentecostals would be considered Evangelical, some Baptists and other groups of Protestants as well. They share the process of being "born again" or "saved" and differ from mainline Protestants.

[Black Aliss]

Wikipedia actually has a pretty good explanation of what it means to be "an evangelical". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evangelicalism

[O Latin]

I've always thought of evangelical as referring to denominations that place a heavy emphasis on converting others/"soul winning"/spreading the good news/whatever, like the people in Jesus Camp who go stand on the street corners handing out tracts. Whereas born again Christians believed that you have to be "saved" at some point in your life, even if you grew up in that religion. They do often tend to be the same, though, so maybe there isn't any difference.

[puddle]

My understanding (which might be far off from "technical" definitions) is that "born again" refers to anyone who would say they have been saved by Jesus Christ's death, referring to the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus recorded in the gospel of John. Basically that would include any Christian, (I think) both Protestants and Catholics. "Evangelical" is a narrower term, referring to a group of denominations who tend to be rather conservative. It generally isn't used by Catholics or more liberal Protestants.

[anniebgood]

I am a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

We are a liturgical church with a history dating back to Martin Luther.

This church is committed to growing in diversity and strengthening its global, ecumenical and interfaith relationships around the world

In 2010, 21% of clergy on the ELCA roster are women. In seminaries, the numbers of women and men preparing for ministry are about equal.

Approximately 86% of ordained women and 83% of ordained men are actively serving in congregations.

This is what we believe

Lutherans are a diverse group of people, convinced that the Holy Spirit is leading us toward unity in the household of God.

Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America are connected to the faith of the church through the ages and around the world.

Lutherans believe in the Triune God. We are part of God’s unfolding plan.

When we gather for worship, we connect with believers everywhere and of every time.

When we study the Bible and pray, we are drawn more deeply into God’s own saving story.

When we serve others and address social issues that affect the common good, we live out our Christian faith.

The ELCA invites you into this community of Christian faith. Welcome, and explore.

Finally what Evangelical means to a Lutheran

Evangelical

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America understands "evangelical" as emphasizing the gospel or good news of salvation received apart from human works and, based on this, the ELCA values worship forms and confessions of faith of the historic Christian tradition. In the United States, the term “evangelical†is often associated with a religious and cultural movement known as "evangelicalism" that came to prominence in the 19th century and stresses individual conversion, the authority of the Bible, and moral and social reform.

[Austin]

Someone outside of a mainline protestant denomination who identifies as an evangelical believes that one must be "born again" as per the Jesus/Nicodemus conversation, sinner's prayer, altar call, ask-Jesus-into-your-heart stuff.

[xDreamerx]

Would Evangelical Lutheranism be considered mainline Protestant or Evangelical or somewhere in between? These kind of semantics, for lack of a better word, tend to get a bit tricky. By the same token would Methodism be considered a more Evangelical take on Anglicanism? Or would that be more true of Wesleyanism?

[Austin]

Would Evangelical Lutheranism be considered mainline Protestant or Evangelical or somewhere in between? These kind of semantics, for lack of a better word, tend to get a bit tricky. By the same token would Methodism be considered a more Evangelical take on Anglicanism?

My sons have been members of an ELCA Lutheran church for years (before the church left the ELCA recently because of teh gay) and I would consider it mainline Protestant, like Methodist, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, etc (not the crazy versions like the Bayly Bros brand of Presbyterian). Having been raised fundie-lite, that was always my understanding.

I'm not sure about the Methodist/Anglicanism thing.

[Rachel333]

I know Methodism is closer to Evangelicalism than Anglicanism is. It's kind of both Evangelical and Mainline Protestant. A church can have an evangelical approach and still not be considered an Evangelical church, though.

[slh12280]

I am taking classes right now about what United Methodists believe, to see if I want to join. In the material the pastor gave me it talks about accepting Jesus as personal Lord and Savior. It lays out the typical evangelical steps to salvation and includes the sinner's prayer. I don't know if the church would be evangelical, as it is more liberal on some things. I have heard it called "progressive evangelical," however.

[genericJname]

I think of born again as meaning someone who had a "conversion experience."

[finleeport]

I always thought being "born again" meant being overly-emotional and touchy about Jesus; always praising him, acting like a Pollyanna, relying on God to much, crying and moaning when praying and claiming to receive 'spiritual gifts'.

[JesusFightClub]

I am a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

We are a liturgical church with a history dating back to Martin Luther.

This is what we believe

Finally what Evangelical means to a Lutheran

I think this may be like a church here where I live.

There are loads of churches, but this one is big on social justice causes. The Socialist Workers' Party meets there and they offer their rooms to many other groups (to protect refugees' rights, anti poverty and so on). They, well, I would call them politically liberal (not precisely a compliment) but they do seem to be very concerned about all these matters and they are lovely people.

I knew they were Lutheran, but it says Presbyterian as well, are these the same? I don't know their opinion on gay people but it says "inclusive" and "welcoming" on the sign. If you are willing to put a sign on your church door saying "Socialist Workers' Party Meeting, 7pm, ring for admission" you are probably OK with gays too ;)

Could this be a sister of ELCA?

[Brainsample]

Someone outside of a mainline protestant denomination who identifies as an evangelical believes that one must be "born again" as per the Jesus/Nicodemus conversation, sinner's prayer, altar call, ask-Jesus-into-your-heart stuff.

The word is a transliteration from New Testament Greek which means "the message." Mainline denominations who carry the name (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, for example) used to be very interested in carrying the message of Christianity with an interest in sharing that message. Over time, the word has taken on different connotation. The ELCA now pales in comparison to its Lutheran counterpart in the Missouri Synod who are far more evangelical (interested in actively informing society about the message of Christ).

The word "angel" which is a message bearer in the original language derives from the same root. Evangeline is a name for a girl as an alternate to angel, bearing that quality of the transliteration.

So in it's literal meaning, the word "evangelical" refers to those who want to share the message of Christ, as it was used for the first 300 years of the Church.

How it is understood culturally based on connotation that people in a post-Christian and postmodern society have ascribed to that meaning is different from what the term originally intended.

[Avalondaughter]

I rarely hear Catholics or even ordinary churchgoing-but-not-super-religious Protestants refer to themselves as born-again. Most people I know who refer to themselves as born-again are Protestants who made a very conscious prayer asking to be "saved" and make an effort to live like a saved person - however that can be defined. The ones I know are usually rather conservative, but not totally fundie, although they may have some fundie beliefs stuck in there (like belief in creationism).

I remember at my niece's baptism (Catholic) the priest called it a "rebirth" and said, "That's what we mean when we say someone is 'born again'." That was the first time I ever heard a Catholic use that term unless they were reading that particular passage in the Bible.

[snarkbillie]

"Born again" is talking about someone having a conversion experience. Usually outside of churches who use this term you go through confirmation and such. People who are "born again" did the whole altar call, sinner's prayer, believer's baptism thing.

Evangelical refers to someone who believes in "spreading the gospel" and trying to gain converts through witnessing and missions.

[gustava]

"Born again" is talking about someone having a conversion experience. Usually outside of churches who use this term you go through confirmation and such. People who are "born again" did the whole altar call, sinner's prayer, believer's baptism thing.

Evangelical refers to someone who believes in "spreading the gospel" and trying to gain converts through witnessing and missions.

Would it be accurate to say that most of those who call themselves evangelicals would also say they underwent a conversion experience so that they are born again?

[puddle]

Would it be accurate to say that most of those who call themselves evangelicals would also say they underwent a conversion experience so that they are born again?

Yes. Most if not all.

[snarkbillie]

Would it be accurate to say that most of those who call themselves evangelicals would also say they underwent a conversion experience so that they are born again?

Mostly. I don't know many evangelicals who have not been "born again" but I assume there is possibly one or two out there who would be persnickety about me saying "all".

[Guest Anonymous]

In my evangelical church days there was a general view that one must be 'born again' to enter the kingdom of heaven. But it was also accepted that for some people brought up in the faith, there may be no definite memory of a particular moment that they said the 'sinner's prayer' because their understanding of the gospel came to them so young. I guess it would depend on whether or not you were brought up in a home where the whole family is woken up whenever someone becomes a new Christian (http://lotsofwagners.blogspot.com/2011/11/salvation.html), or whether you were brought up in a quieter family.

I remember a favourite tale of an older Christian friend was that she used to pray with her very young grandchildren at night and pray that they would "grow up to know the Lord Jesus". At 3, one grandchild said indignantly "But I already know the Lord Jesus, Grandma". By their theology, it doesn't matter when the child said the sinner's prayer if she says she did, and given that the only evidence is if her life bears fruit afterwards.

In my Sunday School as a little child, being born again was so important that it was sung to you on your birthday...

"Happy Birthday to You

Only one will not do,

Take the Gift of Salvation

And then you'll have two!"