At the Religion Newswriters Conference on Friday morning, panelists said more and more Christians are hesitant to identify as “Evangelical” or “born again.”
Sara Pulliam Bailey, managing editor of Odyssey Networks, said that's partly because young Christians aren't sure if they can be Evangelical and at the same time support issues like same-sex marriage.
“A lot of young Evangelicals know where they came from, but don't know where they are now,” she said.
What about you. Do you openly identify as an Evangelical Christian?
I used to find that word to be a fair description of the general street I dwelt on in the Evangelical neighborhood. But the neighborhood is really changing these days and I have been trying to figure out what a move looks like and what it would require. When I moved here, I knew there were some ‘bad’ neighbors but every faith neighborhood has them…but these days, I fear for my deeper life more and more.
I’d answer in much the same way as I did to the question as to whether I considered myself “religiously affiliated”. I prefer not to be entangled in anyone’s label. I’m not in the least bit afraid to call myself born again, I thank God that I am even though totally undeserving of it. Jesus said that anyone who wants to inherit the kingdom MUST be born again (John 3:7). I just want to continue following the Lord where He leads me and either keep my mouth open or closed as He would want me to. Evangelical and born again may or may not always be compatible, I’d rather call myself a born again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.