What is an Evangelical:

This is a great little book. It contains helpful description of the evangelical faith, as well as advice for preserving it.Martyn Lloyd-Jones is a Welshman who was one of the most popular preachers in London for many years, and has published many books of bible expositions, especially on Romans and Ephesians.This book is a series of talks to the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students in 1971. Lloyd-Jones begins with a talk on Jude 3 in which he points out the necessity of "earnestly contending for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints." The Christian message, or evangel, he says, is worth fighting for! We must articulate this Christian faith, and also counteract heresy. This is why the early Christian creeds were created.He argues that Christian unity is important, but points out that true Christians are united by Christ, but it is a union based on truth: the truth of God. We must work hard to understand it, and be faithful to it. We are not interested in unity for the sake of it, or to make us look good in the eyes of the world.He says that there are four areas of importance for evangelicals:The importance of1. the preservation of the gospel2. learning from history3. maintaining negatives4. allowing no subtractions from or additions to the gospelSome evangelical priorities he lists include:1. Submit yourself to the Bible.2. Christian faith comes before denomination.3. Be watchful to maintain purity of doctrine.4. Keep reason and scholarship in their place.They are useful tools, but must be subservient to Scripture.5. Take a critical view of tradition and history.6. Act on your beliefs. 7. Maintain unity on essentials, and allow liberty on non-essentials.I think this book would be helpful to anyone who wants to know "what evangelicals are on about."Highly recommended