A Book Review from Books At a Glance
by Osbert B. Wei
Having been a Christian for some time, the word “evangelical” comes up frequently. Every time the word pops up in a conversation, I sense that I kind of know what is being talked about. Evangelical is a word that can be taken for granted, like the words “mystical” or “spiritual.” Honestly, I have never fully grasped what it means to be an evangelical and its importance in church history. What is all this buzz about evangelicals? Am I an evangelical? What do I make of “evangelicalism”?
In Gospel People, Michael Reeves brings much needed clarity to questions about evangelicals and their history. He observes “an identity crisis” exists among evangelicals: what it means to be an evangelical is not clear and so must be defined (p. 14). Accordingly, Reeves defines evangelicals as “gospel people,” people of the good news (p. 14), and devotes his book to explaining just exactly what he means. He provides a simple, yet powerful, understanding of who should be considered an evangelical: one committed to (1) revelation from God the Father, (2) redemption by the Son, and (3) regeneration through the Spirit.
Revelation from the Father. Scripture is God’s revelation to man (2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Pet 1:3), meaning its authority is unmatched. To be an evangelical is to submit to the supremacy of Scripture. God’s Word is not on the same authoritative plane as man’s reason or human tradition. A theme of Reeves’s book is that evangelicals must get the gospel right, which begins with giving Scripture the highest seat of authority. In Reeves’s words, “To be evangelical means Scripture trumps all” (p. 31). While evangelicals hold to the supremacy of Scripture, elevation of Scripture is not the ultimate end. Scripture points to Jesus, the giver of life (p. 44).
Redemption by the Son. To be evangelical is to consider along with the apostle Paul Christ’s crucifixion as of first importance (1 Cor 15:3-4) and to boast in Christ’s work on the cross as sufficient for salvation (Gal 6:14, p. 56; see 1 Cor 2:2). Redemption is not man’s work, but Christ’s. The commitment to Christ’s sufficient work of salvation aligns with church history, summarized by the concept “justification by faith.” Surveying key figures in church history, such as Tertullian, Basil of Caesarea, John Chrysostom, Martin Luther, John Stott, and Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Reeves writes, “Evangelicals…stand in continuity with Scripture, the early church fathers, the Reformers, the Puritans, and eighteenth-century revivalists when they cherish justification by faith alone.” (p. 63). God’s gracious works in revelation and redemption are complete in Christ (p. 53).
Regeneration through the Spirit. However, commitment to right doctrines is not the sole agenda of evangelicals (p. 65). They also live out the new life from above. In other words, evangelical faith is not just about believing the right things. Evangelicals are people with a changed heart, a work accomplishable only by the Spirit (p. 75; see Jer 31:31-34 and Ezek 36:26). Reeves states, “There is therefore no such thing as a Christian who is only justified” (p. 78) [italics original]. An evangelical will bear the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23). The utmost concern of evangelicals in salvation is not the moment of conversion, but whether one lives in repentance of their sin and demonstrates a lifestyle of worshipping God (p. 74).
Following his three-fold presentation of who should be labeled an evangelical, Reeves clarifies that evangelicals may not all agree! Evangelicals are unified in their belief in Jesus and his salvific work on the cross, not necessarily on all other Christian issues. Reeves states, “Evangelicalism is by definition cross-denominational” (p. 101). Said differently, there is room for healthy disagreement and learning from those with different convictions. Part of being evangelical is accepting that not all evangelicals will agree on secondary and tertiary issues. What is essential for evangelicals, however, is their agreement on what is of first importance: Christ and him crucified (1 Cor 15:3-4).
Reeves contends for a return to gospel integrity, meaning evangelicals must continually return to the gospel that is revealed by the Father in Scripture, centered on Christ’s sufficient work on the cross, and continued in the believer’s newness of life accomplished by the Spirit. Reeves writes, “if evangelicalism is to have a future worthy of the name, we who would be people of the gospel must cultivate an integrity to the gospel, and on more than paper” (p. 107). One committed to the truths of the gospel must also live it. Reeves presents evangelicalism as “a reformation movement”, one which continues to reform the church and individuals around the gospel (p. 106). Evangelicals need not abandon their name or movement because it is rooted in church history. Times and culture will change, but the gospel never does!
At the end of the book, appendices are provided: “Can Evangelicalism Be Defined?” and “Does Evangelicalism Have a History?” Regarding whether evangelicalism can be defined, Reeves believes that when it is defined theologically, not sociologically, there are striking similarities between various definitions of evangelicalism. Regarding whether evangelicalism has a history, there is evidently continuity of the movement in history. Though being faithful to the gospel looks different in different eras, a mark of evangelicalism is that it continually reforms around the gospel despite cultural changes.
For me, someone who had only a little familiarity with evangelicalism prior to reading Gospel People, this book was beneficial. Reeves’s clear writing made his book both insightful and easy to read. His many references to figures in church history and other books on evangelicalism provide readers with avenues to learn more about evangelicals and evangelicalism if they desire. Additionally, Gospel People is for individuals wanting to be refreshed on who should be labeled as an evangelical. Reeves writes, “The unity we need will be the fruit of a fresh humbling before the glory of Christ” (p. 113). Gospel People, for me, was a fresh humbling before Christ and the gospel (Jn 3:30). I know it will be for you as well.
Osbert B. Wei