Would Jesus identify as an evangelical?
If you follow the news, you’ve probably noticed scandals involving high-profile evangelicals, loud voices from culture wars, and behaviors that seem far removed from the teachings of Jesus. It’s no wonder that the label “Evangelical” has developed a bad reputation, even becoming a reason why many are turning away from Christianity.
Let's face up to reality, the evangelical movement needs to re-align itself with the central figure of Christianity—Jesus Christ. We asked Constantine Campbell, a New Testament scholar and author of Jesus vs. Evangelicals, to help us with the tough question: How closely does Evangelicalism mirror the teachings of Jesus?
Evangelicalism in Popular Culture
Beyond the scandals, Evangelicalism has come to represent something in popular culture, a political and sometimes combative approach to public engagement. This approach doesn’t reflect the radical message of love, humility, and compassion that Jesus preached. This disconnect has become a serious stumbling block for many.
The Church is seen as hypocritical
The 2023 Barna report Openness to Jesus Isn’t the Problem—the Church Is highlights a staggering truth: Jesus remains highly popular among people, even those outside the faith. It’s the church—and particularly the evangelical label—that turns people away. Similarly, the *Faith and Belief in Australia Report* (2017) by McCrindle Research shows that while Christians are often seen as caring, they’re also perceived as hypocritical—an echo of Jesus' own warning in Matthew 23 against religious hypocrisy.
Not ALL Churches
Hearteningly, despite the criticism, 76% of Australians believe churches make a meaningful difference in their communities (*Australia’s Changing Spiritual Landscape Report*, 2021). It's not too late to shift from culture wars and politics back to a Christ-centered approach. After all, if Evangelicalism truly wants to be a reflection of Jesus, the focus should be on love, service, and humility—not power or division.
To hear more from Con about evangelicalism and its public persona, listen to the full episode HERE
