If it's all about Grace . .

Then why is there so much 'law'?

This is a question that I have had put to me regarding what evangelicals believe.

First and foremost I don't see Christianity as being about rules, for rules are what makes for religion and what does religion make? (Well, in my book it certainly isn't prizes, that's for sure).

The problem is that so many people lump 'evangelicals' 'into a one size fits all' approach. RThis of course falls hollow and worthless to the floor as soon as it is uttered because we have so many brands, types and groups all clamouring to use the label evangelical.

Some use 'evangelical' to bring some form of credibility to their position i.e. Evangelical Universalists, Evangelical Gays, etc. Others, oddly, use it to presume that any viewpoint outside of being 'evangelical' (their type) that might be held has to be wrong.

The problem as it was dealt to me is that we have evangelicals bearing the label: Reformed, Neo-reformed, Open, Closed, Conservative, liberal, revisionist and even Post-Evangelicals (who appear to be perhaps disaffected evangelicals with a dash of confusion and a pinch of liberalism added for flavour) evangelicals too!

Having explained the many (and I'm sure I have missed some) types of evangelicals, I was posed with this question:

"But ALL evangelicals are taken up with law and legal terms (like justification) and hold to the same views regarding sin, redemption and Christian living, aren't they?"

Well, Let's see, shall we?

I'd be most happy for anyone who has another label or can provide and pointers to through their all into this topic as the more input the clearer (hopefully) we find the emerging picture.

Pax