Evangelism and Evolution

I get a kick out of the media labeling people. One of the labels I especially notice is when someone is termed "an evangelical Christian." Let me ask you something. Have you ever heard anyone in the news called a "non-evangelical Christian?" Let's just stop right now and ask a personal question:
What kind of Christian are you?

There are Christians who like to shout "alleluia" and wave their hands in the air.
There are Christians who kneel silently and mutter words that are barely heard while making the sign of the cross.
There are Christians who march in the streets and demand a change in the principalities and powers.
There are Christians who feel like unless you say the faith a certain way and make a definite profession of faith you are not "really" a Christian after all.
There are Christians who go to church if it is convenient but who think that "Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John" are kind of like "Ben and Jerry."
What then exactly is an "evangelical Christian?" The word "evangel" means to "tell a message of good news." Are we not all supposed to be evangelical Christians then? We are to be messengers of good news.

Anyway my rambling is to smile at the fact that Francis Collins has been nominated to be the new Director of the National Institute of Health. He is the author of, "The Language of God" and the past director of the Gnome Project that mapped the human gnome.

He is a scientist who professed atheism until he studied medicine and began the investigation into the origins of life. This scientific inquiry led him to a belief in God. He also believes emphatically in evolution and sees no conflict in holding that view while believing in God's creative activity in forming both the universe and life.

Now the media seems to be enjoying the use of the label "evangelical Christian" to describe Francis Collins. They might just think this will alarm many people who believe that the National Institute of Health will now be having prayer meetings and handing out Bibles on the street while professing an archaic view of life.

If Francis Collins is an "evangelical Christian"...and by the way he is...maybe people will open the window of their minds to just what "telling the good news" really is.
jody jseymour@davidsonumc.org