Posted: March 31st, 2023

The Role of Evangelicalism in Shaping Christianity’s Future

Book Evangelicalism & the future of Christianity
Half a page (or more the better for question 2) for each question

Question 1

In a Word document, answer the following question and complete the following tasks. If you need assistance in completing your APA references, refer to the APA & Turabian Requirements module here.

a) Briefly explain, in your own words, why references are important for an academic paper. Cite any sources you use for your answer.

b) (i)Create an accurate APA reference for the book Evangelicalism & the future of Christianity by Alister McGrath. The book is located in the library catalog. Note: You do not need to check the book out in order to complete this; all of the information you need is listed in the library catalog.
(ii) Create an accurate APA reference for the article, The Evangelical church as a learning community in a changing world. Select the “Articles” tab in the Search bar to find this article.

Question 2
This week you examined several documents that outlined and described the distinctive of Colorado Christian University (CCU). Recently, a friend of yours asked what the word “Christian” means in the university’s name: Colorado Christian University.

In a Word document, answer the following questions. Write your answers to the questions in a question/answer format, including each question bolded in your Word document and your answer written below each question:

> What does the word “Christian” mean in the university’s name – Colorado Christian University? (Hint: Review the Biblical Perspective for the week)
> How does this meaning impact your view of your education here at CCU?
Be sure to make some direct connections to the reading this session. Use APA citing and referencing.

How to reference the reading assignments for this session:

CAGS adheres to APA Style for references, citations, and the general format of student papers. Examples of how to cite some of the reading assignments are provided for you. You can also access a template for APA formatted papers in APA & Turabian Requirements module here.

Be sure to update the date of your citation and reference to correspond with the year you are accessing CCU course material. In other words, if you view CCU course material in 2022, the following in-text citations and references should look like this.

In-text Citations

(Statement of faith at Colorado Christian University, 2022)

(Session 1 Biblical Perspective, 2022)

Strictly NO USE OF AI. I WILL DISPUTE!!!!!

References Page

Colorado Christian University. (2022). Statement of faith at Colorado Christian University. https://www.ccu.edu/about/statement-of-faith/

Colorado Christian University. (2022). Biblical perspective [Course content]. Brightspace. https://mycourses.ccu.edu

References

https://www.ccu.edu/about/statement-of-faith/

https://mycourses.ccu.edu

The Role of Evangelicalism in Shaping Christianity’s Future
Evangelicalism has played a significant role in Christianity over the past several centuries and will continue to influence the direction of the faith going forward. As the world changes rapidly due to globalization, technology, and social movements, evangelical beliefs and practices will adapt while maintaining core theological convictions. This article will explore the history and defining characteristics of evangelicalism, examine current trends and challenges, and consider how evangelicalism may evolve to engage new generations and cultures.
Evangelicalism emerged in the 18th century as a revival movement within Protestantism that emphasized the authority of Scripture, personal conversion, and spreading the gospel message (McGrath, 2022). Central to evangelical identity is a “born again” experience and sharing the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ (The Evangelical church as a learning community in a changing world, 2022). Over the past two centuries, evangelicalism grew internationally through missionary efforts and now constitutes over one-quarter of the world’s 2.2 billion Christians (Pew Research Center, 2011).
Evangelicalism’s core doctrines center around key biblical teachings. These include the divine inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture, the deity and atoning work of Christ, salvation by grace alone through faith, and the imminent second coming of Jesus (Statement of faith at Colorado Christian University, 2022). While diverse in denominations, evangelicals unite around affirming these essential Christian truths. Their commitment to biblical authority shapes evangelical approaches to theology, ethics, social issues, and more.
In recent decades, evangelicalism has faced challenges to its traditional stances. Rapid cultural changes have prompted debates over women in leadership, sexuality, environmentalism, and other topics (McGrath, 2022). Younger evangelicals, in particular, increasingly embrace progressive stances at odds with inherited conservative positions. At the same time, some evangelical leaders have aligned themselves closely with nationalist political agendas, risking the perception that their faith is partisan rather than transcendent (The Evangelical church as a learning community in a changing world, 2022). These tensions threaten evangelicalism’s unity and witness.
However, evangelicalism’s flexibility and ability to contextualize the gospel message for new cultures point to a resilient future. While upholding core doctrines, evangelical thinkers are reexamining approaches to issues like science, gender, and public life (McGrath, 2022). Younger evangelicals are also redefining what it means to follow Christ in today’s world through initiatives like social justice, environmentalism, and interfaith cooperation (The Evangelical church as a learning community in a changing world, 2022). Emerging global evangelical voices from the Majority World will likely reshape evangelicalism with their perspectives.
Overall, evangelicalism appears poised to remain a foremost force within global Christianity by adapting to modern realities while staying grounded in eternal truths. Its commitment to Scripture, evangelism, and orthodox theology provide an enduring foundation even amid change. With openness to new understandings, evangelicalism can engage hearts and minds in every culture with the hope of the gospel. Though challenges exist, evangelicalism’s flexibility and message of grace make it well-equipped for Christianity’s future.