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TechnoratiThe word "evangelical" floats around in churches, the media and particularly this year's election but Americans often have no idea what an evangelical is, a new study shows.
As Christians themselves still have a hard time agreeing on what exactly defines an evangelical, Ellison Research asked the average adult American what they believe is an "evangelical Christian." Thirty-six percent of them said they had no idea.
"I'm not sure; all I can think of is Billy Graham," said one 40 year-old woman from Florida who does not attend worship services, in the survey.
"I am not sure, and I am a Christian," said a 55-year-old man from Indiana.
Although Americans who would call themselves evangelical were much more likely to have an actual definition for the word than others, the survey, released Wednesday, found that 14 percent of those self-described evangelicals couldn't guess what an evangelical is.
Evangelical leaders were also asked to provide a definition.
Richard Cizik, vice president for Governmental Affairs at the National Association of Evangelicals, gave a three-fold definition: "(1) the Bible is authoritative (i.e., infallible and inerrant in original autographs) in faith and practice; (2) born-again experience (i.e., a conversion to believe in and follow Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord through rebirth by the Holy Spirit); (3) shares this message of faith with others through evangelism and social witness."
He admitted, however, that even his three-fold test is not perfect.
Dr. Leon Morris from the World Evangelical Alliance described an evangelical as "a gospel man" or woman – someone who makes the Gospel of Christ central to his or her preaching, thinking and living.
Those most unlikely to know the definition of an evangelical were people who attend Roman Catholic worship services, people who do not attend any sort of worship, political moderates, Democrats and independents, according to Ellison Research, which surveyed 1,007 Americans adults. Younger Americans were also less likely to have even a guess.
The most common perception Americans have of an evangelical is that they evangelize. According to the study, 18 percent said an evangelical is a Christian who tries to spread his or her faith. Of those who associated evangelicals with evangelism, some described it as proselytizing and others saw it in a more positive light – telling others about Jesus.
Some Americans defined evangelicals as just a specific type of Christian – whether it's Protestant, born-again, charismatic or spirit-filled, liberal, modern, white, etc. Nine percent held this perception.
"A born again, conservative, fundamentalist Christian," a 22-year-old self-described evangelical man from California responded. "I believe it's a Baptist," said a woman from Nevada.
Another 9 percent said evangelicals are just Christians who are particularly devoted or zealous about their faith (although not to the point of fanaticism), and are totally sold out to their beliefs.
"I think an evangelical Christian is someone who does not waver on their beliefs in the truth of the Word of God (the Bible) and the presence of God in our country," a 35-year-old woman, who attends a non-denominational church and calls herself an evangelical, said. "I believe they are more concerned about what God thinks of them than what the world thinks of them and are willing to say what needs to be said to fight to keep God in our country."
One 22-year-old woman who does not attend worship services and does not know any evangelicals said she believes an evangelical is "one who is very strong with their ideas about their faith and in turn might push those ideas onto others."
In other responses, 8 percent of Americans defined an evangelical as focusing strongly on the Bible, believing in the Bible as God's word and as inerrant, allowing the Bible to guide their lives, and believing in a literal interpretation of the Bible. Older Americans, Protestant churchgoers and political conservatives were more likely to give this response. Continue »
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