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 used by the Protestants during the Reformation.
For although the Protestants could be divided over various theological positions, such as methodology and procedural matters of worship, and in matters of church government, they could nevertheless agree on two central Christian doctrines:
These two essential doctrines embraced by all of 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 term “evangelicalism” we can see the difference between Protestants and Catholics even today.
In the matter of Holy 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 the Roman Catholic Church believes that belief and faith is essential to justification, they do not believe that justification of the believer 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 use any other source of authority beyond that of Holy Scripture.
To their credit, although I must say misguided, I am personally unaware of any other movement who as a whole are as well versed in Scripture as they are.
Nevertheless, the Churches of Christ do disagree with evangelical Christianity over the doctrine of justification by faith alone.
And it is the doctrine of justification by faith alone that sets evangelical Christianity apart from the Churches of Christ.