Introduction

Abstract As the introduction of this Oxford Handbook explain, evangelicalism is complicated. Evangelicals are not simply white American Protestant Christians who support the Republican Party. Instead, evangelicals are part of a multifaceted movement that has a rich history stemming from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Evangelicals are Christians who emphasize the authority of the Bible, stress the need for a personal relationship with God, believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, whose death allowed individuals to partake in eternal salvation, and who support missionary endeavors to share this good news. Despite sharing these common traits, evangelicals often disagree on other theological matters, vary in church polity, and are not limited to one gender or race.