Every family's heritage reaches back many centuries and includes various branches. The Christian family is much like this, contend Phillips and Okholm, as they examine the "evangelical branch" of the church. Intended as a college-level introduction to the Christian faith, the book is divided into three sections: part one develops the concept of control beliefs as they relate to worldviews; part two explores the framework of the biblical revelation, that is the Christian worldview; and part three, the largest section, provides an overview of church history, emphasizing the various ways the church has related the Christian worldview to the culture in which it exists. Previously published as Welcome to the Family, this textbook now includes sidebars, charts, a lexicon of key terms, reflection questions, bibliographies, a substantive discussion of postmodernism, and primary source appendices. "A helpful introduction to the evangelical heritage and a forthright challenge to remain true to this heritage"--Donald G. Bloesch, Dubuque Theological Seminary "The authors stake out the essentials of an evangelical Christian worldview and trace its development from the early church through the variety of post-Reformation traditions to today's evangelical diversity--always with an eye to how Christianity relates to culture. A first-rate text."--Arthur Holmes, Wheaton College "Evangelical ecumenicity at its best: an understanding of the worldview we share in common and an appreciation for the distinctives that make us unique."--Dennis Hollinger, Messiah College "The authors present a balance of content with narrative style to produce a unique book: one which offers an overview of systematic theology coupled with a readable history of theology, leading up to present concerns that face the church as the church faces the world."--W. Gary Phillips, Bryan College