The purpose of this book is to examine the relationship between the biblical teachings and the contemporary realities shaping who we are as American evangelicals. It is not my intention to be a cavalier or clever cynic, but to join my brothers and sisters on a pilgrimage back to an evangelicalism that is both in theory and in practice a worthy successor to the apostolic faith. "The evangelical faith," according to Bloesch, is "the historic Christian faith grounded in apostolic witness, reaffirmed by Augustine in his battle with Pelagius, and rediscovered by the Reformers and the Puritans. Such an evangelicalism must be clearly distinguished from the ideological or cultural evangelicalism that is so pervasive in America today." Then, this volume will attempt to contrast authentic evangelicalism with the less authentic variety. - Introduction.