WHY I AM STILL AN EVANGELICAL
Romans 1:1-17

A sermon given by the Rev. Richard H. Taylor
July 3, 2005 / 7th Sunday of Pentecost

"I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ."

Before I came to Beneficent, when I was engaged in the pastoral church process, I interviewed with a church in another state. During the interview a member of their search committee asked me, "On a scale of one to ten, one being the very conservative, and ten being very liberal, where would you place yourself?" I think I responded by saying, "You really don't want me to answer that do you?" They said they did.

Actually it's a trick question. Conservative or liberal in relation to what? In relation to other ordained ministers in the United Church of Christ, where I might be one place; or in relationship to all of the people in the country, which might put me at some other number? Or - in relation to what? Where am I on a scale of one to ten around social issues, or a scale of one to ten around theological issues? Or did they have in mind a few specific issues that had been troubling them lately, and undescribed, did they want me to rate myself unknowingly?

Well, since I had to answer, one being conservative, and ten being liberal, I said I was a three. Several people later said that is probably why I wasn't offered the job.

I always get tied up in this kind of language. I often go around Beneficent saying I am really much more conservative than most people think I am. Some people take bold exception to that. They say, "you are pastor of Beneficent Church, which has to be one of the most liberal Protestant Churches in the state. How can you possibly say you are a conservative?" But a few people who know me well say, "Oh you are. You are such a curmudgeon. You are almost a reactionary."

Well, as I said, all these questions hinge on conservative or liberal in relation to what?

How would you have answered?

So let me move away from spectrum language to something more concrete. I am still an evangelical. I believe body and soul that I am an evangelical.

Actually, though, this word doesn't do much better in many conversations. Many Americans are rightfully frightened by the violent and exclusive agenda being pushed in our country by people who call themselves "evangelical Christians." Others have been overwhelmed and beaten down by loud, raucous, "evangelists" who are always talking about sin, blood, and punishment, accusing and deriding.

But please don't give up on the word "evangelical" because of the way some people use it. Words often get misused. Take for instance the word "good." We know what the word good means. The fact that some people call evil ways, or cheating schemes "good," does not eternally contaminate the word good. Feel the same way about the word evangelical.

The Greek word evaggelion, basically means "Good news." It has hidden inside of it the Greek word aggelom, or "angel," which means messenger. An evangelical is a messenger of good news. Evangelical is usually translated in the English Bibles as "gospel." So when today's passage in Romans uses the word "gospel" five times, it means "good news." "I am not ashamed of the gospel," I am not ashamed of the good news. "The gospel concerning his son," the good news concerning God's son.

When I say to you "I am still an evangelical," I am saying I still see myself as a messenger of good news. I have good news. I know good news. I want to tell you about good news.

And I have good news. God loves you. Creation is good. Life is bound for heaven. Sharing, and caring, and healing and love are possible here in this world. Isn't that good news? Don't you want to share it?

And I must admit, I'm also kind of traditional about where I have found that good news. I've found it in the Bible. I've found it in the life, teaching, healing, sharing, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In Jesus Christ I see the message from eternity that the be all and end all of creation is good news. When God created, God saw that it was good.

Now it is true, as I said, that some people do odd things with words. A local church in my neighborhood left this flier in a bag on my door knob. It says that I "must believe that there is a penalty for sin." It insists on punishment. Some people equate justice with punishment, spread the violence, be vengeful, hurt someone in return. That's not very good news to me. What's good to them doesn't seem very good to me.

Let me tell you the kind of good news I believe in. Let me tell you the kind of evangelical I am. I see good news by looking at Jesus.

In Jesus I see the good news that God can use the poor and the humble for helping others.

In Jesus I see the good news that God's people pay attention to children, welcome them, speak with them.

In Jesus I see the good news that the hungry are fed, and hunger ends through sharing.

In Jesus I see the good news of pious and simple living. In the sermon on the mount I see a gracious and caring way to live.

In Jesus I see the good news of an available internal power to resist temptation.

In Jesus I see the good news of forgiveness for the penitent.

In Jesus I see the good news of a spiritual life, and the renewing power of prayer.

In Jesus I see the good news of the breaking down of national and racial barriers, and the welcoming of Samaritans and Roman centurions, and many more.

In Jesus I see the good news that seeks peace for the cities and nations of this world.

In Jesus I see the good news of the acceptance and honoring of the skills of women.

In Jesus I see the good news of an abiding and continuing compassion for the sick and an energetic desire for healing.

In Jesus I see the good news of a burning sense of justice which drives out thieves and cheaters.

Even in the death of Jesus I see the good news that even if the innocent suffer, they can still forgive and inspire justice and compassion.

And in the resurrection of Jesus I see the good news that announces that life at last is victorious, that the movement of all our efforts is towards goodness, and an announcement that there are powers beyond what seem the boundaries and parameters of our earthly existence.

And it is all good news. It is all evangelical. That's why I am still and evangelical. I see good news. I believe in good news. I announce good news to you. And I look forward to that day when life shall swallow up death; when the light shall shine unquenched; when peace shall over all the Earth its ancient splendors fling; when good shall triumph, and death, nor crying, nor pain shall be anymore.

That is the good news I believe in. That is the good news I have seen in Jesus. That is the good news I believe is coming, and that is why I am still an evangelical.

And rightly hearing the word, I hope you are an evangelical too. I hope that you are a good news person. I pray that you are a good news person.
It is such a wonderful gospel. And I hope and pray that each day Beneficent Church will grow in its evangelical identity and witness. I pray that we can let the world know that there is good news, and that the world may rejoice.

Amen.