Not wanting to be identified, when asked by strangers, as an 'evangelical', but rather as a 'Christian', I'm often having to ferret around in my head for convincing reasons to separate myself from the worst of what is automatically associated with the term 'evangelical'. Packer gave me some useful pointers. In our prayer we must focus firstly on GOD (as in the 'model' prayer ' Our Father.....'). We need to be able to separate out praise of God FOR HIMSELF and praise of God for what He does for 'us' (including 'mankind' in a general sense). If we can't do this we are so man-centred as to become indistinguishable from humanists. Evangelicals then, are, 'functional humanists' - that's why I dont' want to wear that label. Doubtless someone will try and shoot me down - but I have other arguments.
'Evangelistic' Carol services nauseate me. Can't we FOR ONCE (we don't do it the rest of the year) just Praise God without ulterior motive? Shame about 'pet services' 'homosexual alliances' and women vicars, but at least in the essence of the Anglican church there is a concept of worshipping God for who He is, BECASUSE He is. Maybe 'evangelical' Anglican churches are actually taking a step in the wrong direction if their focus become 'the unsaved' rather than the Almighty Creator of the universe, worthy of all praise from great and small from the foundation of the world......
Glad I am to know that the unfolding plan here on earth is God preparing His bride to be fit for the great feast which will be the beginning of perfect worship for the endless 'ages' of eternity - which makes me breathless with excitement to contemplate being a part of.