As time goes on, what is meant by the term 'evangelical' seems to be ever more fuzzy. Don Carson considers the possibilities.
What is an evangelical? If we are to reflect on evangelicals and the church we had better agree on who evangelicals are. Attempted definitions of evangelicalism and evangelical lie in one of three domains.
1. Social definition
The approach of social science is 'Those who call themselves or who are generally called evangelical are evangelicals.' In other words this is a social grouping which in some respects is self-defined. In one sense this is a generous approach. But it is also exceedingly slippery.
