What is meant by the term evangelical Christianity?

Since we will not find the term 'evangelical Christianity' within the pages of Holy Scripture, perhaps some background information will be helpful to us in our study.

The Encyclopedia Americana (Year 2000 Edition) defines evangelicalism "a distinctly Protestant movement that stresses the Reformation doctrine of salvation solely by faith in Jesus Christ. (See also Evangelical Alliance.)"

Here we may even wish to think of it as a unifying term historically used by the Protestants during the Reformation. For although the Protestants could be divided over various theological positions, such as over the significance of Christian ordinances, methodology and  procedural matters in worship, and church government, they could nevertheless agree on two central Christian doctrines.

These two essential doctrines embraced by evangelical Christianity were the supreme authority of Holy Scripture in doctrinal matters of the church and the doctrine of justification by faith alone.

Here, under the banner of Evangelicalism, we can see how Protestants and Catholics can be set apart even to this day.

In the matter of scripture, although the Roman Catholic Church considers the New Testament authoritative, it also places equal authority in the Pope and the decisions of various church councils.

And in the matter of justification, although Catholicism does believe that faith is essential to justification, they do not believe that justification is by faith alone.

Now lest I be misunderstood in this comparison of evangelical Christianity and the Churches of Christ, I am not for a moment suggesting that the Churches of Christ disregard the authority of New Testament Scripture. Rather to their credit, I am personally unaware of any other movement as a whole who are as well versed in scripture as they are.

Nevertheless, the Churches of Christ do disagree over evangelical Christianity's doctrine of justification by faith alone. And it is this doctrine of justification by faith alone that sets evangelical Christianity apart from the Churches of Christ.