Worldview Legacy | The Think Institute #174 Stop Being Embarrassed About the Name "Evangelical" (9 Verses Explain Why)
What is an evangelical, really—and is evangelicalism actually biblical? In this episode, Joel from The Think Institute makes a robust, Scripture-packed case that evangelicalism (rightly defined) is not a shallow, American invention but a deeply biblical, historically rooted movement. He walks through the history, four core pillars, and nine key Bible passages that together challenge Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholics, and others to take a fresh look at evangelical faith.
Joel also shares how The Think Institute exists to help Christian men become the worldview leaders their families and churches need, and why he’s stepping into the gap as a Protestant apologist engaging Eastern Orthodox critics and online “ortho-bros.”
In This Episode You’ll Hear About:
Why the word evangelical has fallen on hard times—and why Joel refuses to abandon it.
How evangelicalism is a movement, not a single denomination, and why Joel calls it “the most biblical form of Christianity” (without claiming to be the one true church).
The historical roots of modern evangelicalism
The four pillars of evangelicalism
- Joel’s response to the claim that there are few strong Protestant apologists engaging Eastern Orthodoxy—plus why Joel happily says, “I’m your huckleberry.”
- Live Q&A highlights, including questions about repentance, hell, worship, and whether Jesus is the only one who ascended into heaven.
Key Scriptures in This Episode
Use these passages to follow along or study later:
Acts 17:10–12 – The Bereans and noble-minded Scripture testing
2 Timothy 3:16–17 – Scripture as God-breathed and sufficient
Romans 3:23–25 – Christ as our propitiation
1 Corinthians 15:3–4 – “Of first importance”: Christ died, was buried, and was raised
Ezekiel 36:26–27 – New heart and new Spirit
John 3:3–7 – “You must be born again”
Acts 3:19 – “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out”
Matthew 28:18–20 – The Great Commission and discipling the nations
James 1:27 – Pure and undefiled religion before God
Next Steps for Christian Men
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