--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Any honest evaluation of contemporary…" description: "\"“Any honest evaluation of contemporary evangelicalism will acknowledge that there are many people walking the streets and sitting in pews who have “obt..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18c/paul-washer-1468_evangelicalism_any-honest-evaluation-of-contemporary-ev_2676346.png" --- # Any honest evaluation of contemporary evangelicalism will… ![“Any honest evaluation of contemporary evangelicalism will acknowledge that there are many people walking the streets and sitting in pews who have “obtained like precious faith with us” as the demons (2 Peter 1:1).11 They know something of the person and work of Christ, and they will make something…” quote by Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18c/paul-washer-1468_evangelicalism_any-honest-evaluation-of-contemporary-ev_2676346.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18c/paul-washer-1468_evangelicalism_any-honest-evaluation-of-contemporary-ev_2676346.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18c/paul-washer-1468_evangelicalism_any-honest-evaluation-of-contemporary-ev_2676346.png) > ““Any honest evaluation of contemporary evangelicalism will acknowledge that there are many people walking the streets and sitting in pews who have “obtained like precious faith with us” as the demons (2 Peter 1:1).11 They know something of the person and work of Christ, and they will make something of a confession when it is convenient. However, there is little evidence of an ongoing reality of the saving work of Christ in their lives. Their hope of eternal salvation is founded upon a decision they made long ago, which they believed was sincere, to “accept Christ” by means of a simple prayer. Ministers of the gospel who should have known better confirmed their hope. Like demons, they are lost. Yet, unlike demons, they do not know it.”” [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Many claim faith but lack ongoing transformation; true salvation shows continual evidence of Christ's work. **In simple terms:** Faith without change is empty. Key Takeaway Seek genuine, lived faith. Themes faith authenticity spiritual growth Mood reflective serious Type theological expository When to use this quote - church community - personal discipleship - spiritual counseling Key Concepts salvation evidence of transformation Questions to Reflect On - How can we discern genuine transformation? - What practices nurture ongoing spiritual growth? A Different Perspective Faith without evidence can become mere ritual. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Contemporary Evangelicalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemporary-evangelicalism-813482/) [Evangelicalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evangelicalism/) [Evangelicalism Acknowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evangelicalism-acknowledge-2544269/) [Long ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-ago/) [Ministers Gospel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ministers-gospel-1396074/) [Salvation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/salvation/) ## Related quotes > [“If I have so far argued that Foucault is a kind of closet liberal and thus deeply modern, I need to be equally critical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-k-a-smith/if-i-have-so-far-argued-that-foucault-is-a-kind-of-closet-liberal-and/) [James K.A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-k-a-smith/) > [“The lifestyle of Christians matched their teachings, so that many early Christians were not afraid to say, 'Imitate us as we imitate Christ.' Unfortunately,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-woodbridge/the-lifestyle-of-christians-matched-their-teachings-so-that-many/) [John D. Woodbridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-woodbridge/) > [“From outside the evangelical community, this seems an astonishing confession. Since when is solitude one of the Seven Deadly Sins? But to a fellow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/from-outside-the-evangelical-community-this-seems-an-astonishing/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“Since when is solitude one of the Seven Deadly Sins? But to a fellow evangelical, McHugh's sense of spiritual failure would make perfect sense.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/since-when-is-solitude-one-of-the-seven-deadly-sins-but-to-a-fellow/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [ For the Christ of whom I speak has been revealed in this, the Dispensation of the Fulness \[sic\] of Times. He, together with His… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/for-the-christ-of-whom-i-speak-has-been-revealed-in-this-the/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [The first reform must be the attitude. The ministers of the Gospel must be people who can warm the hearts of the people, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-first-reform-must-be-the-attitude-the-ministers-of-the-gospel/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [This is evangelicalism today: sensual, carnal, unconverted people that have just enough deceptive religion to drive them straight into Hell! Are you that kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/this-is-evangelicalism-today-sensual-carnal-unconverted-people-that/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [“It is easy for us to multiply Ministers of the Gospel, but it is impossible for us to multiply such as are called of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-henley-thornwell/it-is-easy-for-us-to-multiply-ministers-of-the-gospel-but-it-is/) [James Henley Thornwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-henley-thornwell/) > [It is proclaimed by the great leaders of that party, by its political conventions, by its ministers of the Gospel, and by every other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-proclaimed-by-the-great-leaders-of-that-party-by-its-political/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ Ministers of the Gospel are excluded \[from serving as Visitors of the county Elementary Schools\] to avoid jealousy from the other sects, were the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/ministers-of-the-gospel-are-excluded-from-serving-as-visitors-of-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The general government is proscribed from the interfering, in any manner whatsoever, in matters respecting religion; and it may be thought to do this,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-general-government-is-proscribed-from-the-interfering-in-any/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [How many people do you know believe they're going to heaven because, they're not trusting so much in Christ as they are the sincerity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/how-many-people-do-you-know-believe-they-re-going-to-heaven-because/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [In that moment of salvation, of belief, they are opening their lives to the person of Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/in-that-moment-of-salvation-of-belief-they-are-opening-their-lives-to/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [The evidence that a person has truly opened their life to Christ is continued fellowship with Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/the-evidence-that-a-person-has-truly-opened-their-life-to-christ-is/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > ["But I got saved that way!" No, you got saved in spite of that way not because of that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/but-i-got-saved-that-way-no-you-got-saved-in-spite-of-that-way-not/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) ## More by Paul Washer > [The question is not whether you would like to pray this prayer and ask Jesus to come into your heart - after all, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/the-question-is-not-whether-you-would-like-to-pray-this-prayer-and/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > ["But I got saved that way!" No, you got saved in spite of that way not because of that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/but-i-got-saved-that-way-no-you-got-saved-in-spite-of-that-way-not/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [I would not trade the difficult years for all the prosperity in the world. God knows what each one of us must suffer in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/i-would-not-trade-the-difficult-years-for-all-the-prosperity-in-the/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [We must not adopt the world's view and then tweak it to make it Christian. We must draw a line in the sand and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/we-must-not-adopt-the-world-s-view-and-then-tweak-it-to-make-it/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [“There are few things more blasphemous than a preacher who compliments the unbeliever on the wonderful life he has made for himself, extolling all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/there-are-few-things-more-blasphemous-than-a-preacher-who-compliments/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [The person that I most admire is Jesus Christ. He is the only perfect Person. There is simply no comparison. The difference between Him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/the-person-that-i-most-admire-is-jesus-christ-he-is-the-only-perfect/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [The terrible sticky thing about truth is if it exists, it's coming for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/the-terrible-sticky-thing-about-truth-is-if-it-exists-it-s-coming-for/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [The evidence that a person has truly opened their life to Christ is continued fellowship with Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/the-evidence-that-a-person-has-truly-opened-their-life-to-christ-is/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [Over the epitaph of this generation it will say ENTERTAINED TO DEATH.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/over-the-epitaph-of-this-generation-it-will-say-entertained-to-death/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [“the proof or validation of genuine conversion is that the one who professes faith in Christ perseveres in that faith and grows in sanctification…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/the-proof-or-validation-of-genuine-conversion-is-that-the-one-who/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [In that moment of salvation, of belief, they are opening their lives to the person of Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/in-that-moment-of-salvation-of-belief-they-are-opening-their-lives-to/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [A lot of people think that Christianity is you doing all the righteous things you hate and avoiding all the wicked things you love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/a-lot-of-people-think-that-christianity-is-you-doing-all-the/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [ In modern day evangelism, this precious doctrine \[of regeneration\] has been reduced to nothing more than a human decision to raise one's hand, walk… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/in-modern-day-evangelism-this-precious-doctrine-of-regeneration-has/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [The mark of a man of God is God upon the man,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/the-mark-of-a-man-of-god-is-god-upon-the-man/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [What can not be overcome in prayer? Answer me! What cannot be done by the hand of the Almighty? Answer me! What can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/what-can-not-be-overcome-in-prayer-answer-me-what-cannot-be-done-by/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) [Explore all 234 Paul Washer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) ## More Evangelicalism quotes > [“Pastor Ted and other evangelical pastors I hear about in the media seem to perceive just about everything to be a threat against Christianity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hemant-mehta/pastor-ted-and-other-evangelical-pastors-i-hear-about-in-the-media/) [Hemant Mehta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hemant-mehta/) > [“The lifestyle of Christians matched their teachings, so that many early Christians were not afraid to say, 'Imitate us as we imitate Christ.' Unfortunately,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-woodbridge/the-lifestyle-of-christians-matched-their-teachings-so-that-many/) [John D. Woodbridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-woodbridge/) > [“Those who would argue for the infallibility or the inerrancy of scripture logically should also claim the same infallibility for the churches in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-m-mcdonald/those-who-would-argue-for-the-infallibility-or-the-inerrancy-of/) [Lee M. McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-m-mcdonald/) > [Evangelicalism can only remain evangelical if it is passionately serious about truth and theology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/os-guinness/evangelicalism-can-only-remain-evangelical-if-it-is-passionately/) [Os Guinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/os-guinness/) > [“From outside the evangelical community, this seems an astonishing confession. Since when is solitude one of the Seven Deadly Sins? But to a fellow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/from-outside-the-evangelical-community-this-seems-an-astonishing/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [When the term Christian or even Protestant is used, it seldom refers to any particularly evangelical doctrine or way of life. More often it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-the-term-christian-or-even-protestant-is-used-it-seldom-refers/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“But in their defense of the supernatural, fundamentalists and their evangelical heirs resemble some cancer patients. In facing a drastic disease, they are willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-a-noll/but-in-their-defense-of-the-supernatural-fundamentalists-and-their/) [Mark A. Noll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-a-noll/) > [“I believe a significant segment of American evangelicalism is guilty of nationalistic and political idolatry. To a frightful degree, I think, evangelicals fuse the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/i-believe-a-significant-segment-of-american-evangelicalism-is-guilty/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [In many ways, American evangelicalism is somewhat stronger today than it was in, say 1955 - certainly more mainstream and influential in the culture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-douthat/in-many-ways-american-evangelicalism-is-somewhat-stronger-today-than/) [Ross Douthat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-douthat/) > [“Being that 'reason is not antithetical to faith' (Woods) and that Pentecost established the Reality of super-nature (Lewis) and that 'theology matters' (Wimber), then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/being-that-reason-is-not-antithetical-to-faith-woods-and-that/) [R. 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Sooner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-m-gay/as-peter-berger-has-noted-the-strategy-of-apologizing-for-christian/) [Craig M. Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-m-gay/) > [I don't think we've got the gospel right yet. What does it mean to be 'saved'? When I read the Bible, I don't see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/i-don-t-think-we-ve-got-the-gospel-right-yet-what-does-it-mean-to-be/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) > [ How many people in the pews know that \[ Jonathan Edwards\] is both a founder of evangelicalism and, say, an idealist who denied that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/how-many-people-in-the-pews-know-that-jonathan-edwards-is-both-a/) [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) [Browse all 65 Evangelicalism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evangelicalism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Any honest evaluation of contemporary evangelicalism will acknowledge that there are many people walking the streets and sitting in pews who have “obtained like precious faith with us” as the demons (2 Peter 1:1).11 They know something of the person and work of Christ, and they will make something of a confession when it is convenient. However, there is little evidence of an ongoing reality of the saving work of Christ in their lives. Their hope of eternal salvation is founded upon a decision they made long ago, which they believed was sincere, to “accept Christ” by means of a simple prayer. Ministers of the gospel who should have known better confirmed their hope. Like demons, they are lost. 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