The Evangelical Movement: Billy Graham, the NAE, and Post-War American Christianity

Summary of the Argument

The evangelical movement that emerged in the United States after World War II represented a self-conscious attempt to chart a middle course between the cultural accommodation of liberal Protestantism and the cultural separatism of fundamentalism. The founding of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) in 1942, the establishment of Fuller Theological Seminary in 1947, and the rise of Billy Graham as the preeminent evangelical evangelist of the twentieth century all marked the emergence of a new evangelical coalition that sought to engage culture while maintaining theological orthodoxy.

The evangelical movement's theological commitments—the authority of Scripture, the necessity of personal conversion, the centrality of the cross, and the importance of evangelism—drew on the Reformation and Puritan traditions while adapting them to the challenges of the modern world. Its institutional infrastructure—seminaries, publishing houses, parachurch organizations, and media ministries—created a distinctive evangelical subculture that shaped American Christianity for the second half of the twentieth century.

Critical Evaluation

Billy Graham and Mass Evangelism

Billy Graham's crusade ministry, which began with the 1949 Los Angeles crusade and continued for over fifty years, demonstrated the continuing power of mass evangelism in the modern world. Graham's simple, direct preaching of the gospel, his use of modern media, and his willingness to work across denominational boundaries created a model of evangelism that influenced the entire evangelical movement. His integrity, his avoidance of financial scandal, and his consistent focus on the gospel rather than political or social issues gave him a credibility that few religious leaders have achieved.

Graham's influence extended beyond evangelism to the broader evangelical movement. His support for Fuller Theological Seminary, his founding of Christianity Today magazine, and his relationships with political leaders from Eisenhower to Obama demonstrated the breadth of his influence. His willingness to work with Catholics and mainline Protestants in his crusades, while controversial among fundamentalists, reflected the evangelical movement's commitment to cooperation across denominational lines for the sake of evangelism.

The Evangelical Coalition

The evangelical coalition that emerged in the post-war period was diverse and sometimes fractious. It included Reformed Calvinists and Arminian Wesleyans, charismatics and cessationists, social conservatives and social activists. What united them was a shared commitment to biblical authority, personal conversion, and the importance of evangelism. This coalition, while sometimes strained by internal disagreements, created a powerful force in American religious and cultural life that continues to shape Christianity in the United States and worldwide.

Relevance to Modern Church

Contemporary Significance

The evangelical movement's legacy continues to shape American Christianity and global Christianity in the twenty-first century. Its emphasis on biblical authority, personal conversion, and evangelism remains central to evangelical identity, even as the movement faces significant challenges from cultural change, political polarization, and internal theological debates. Understanding the history of the evangelical movement is essential for navigating the contemporary challenges facing evangelical Christianity.

For ministry professionals, the evangelical movement's integration of theological orthodoxy with cultural engagement provides a model for ministry that takes seriously both the demands of the gospel and the challenges of the contemporary context. For credentialing in church history and evangelical theology, Abide University offers programs that engage this important tradition.

Implications for Ministry and Credentialing

The evangelical movement's integration of theological orthodoxy with cultural engagement provides a model for ministry that takes seriously both the demands of the gospel and the challenges of the contemporary context. For credentialing in church history, Abide University offers programs recognizing expertise in evangelical theology.

For ministry professionals seeking to formalize their expertise, the Abide University Retroactive Assessment Program offers a pathway to academic credentialing that recognizes prior learning and pastoral experience.