Strategic Trends

Volume 14 Issue 2, 2007

What's in a Name?
Evangelicals' Definition, Identity Differs

According to research by The Barna Group, although the media are quick to refer to surveys describing the behaviors and opinions of “evangelicals,” the term should be noted as perhaps too encompassing. A full 38 percent of the population accepts that term. However, Barna’s two decades of research has distinguished the “self-described” evangelicals from what he refers to as the “9-point evangelicals.”

The latter group is identified by characteristics such as: Being born again; believing they have a personal responsibility to share their faith with non-Christians; believing that Satan exists; believing that eternal salvation is attainable only by grace; believing that Jesus lived a sinless life on earth; and believing that the Bible is the inerrant, infallible Word of God.

Compared to the 9-point evangelicals, the self-described group are:

60%	less likely to believe that Satan is real
53%	less likely to believe that salvation is based on grace, not works
46%	less likely to say they have a personal responsibility to share their religious beliefs with others
42%	less likely to list their faith in God as the top priority in their life
38%	less likely to believe that Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on Earth
27%	less likely to contend that the Bible is totally accurate in all of its teachings
23%	less likely to say that their life has been greatly transformed by their faith

Osteen, Graham, Hybels Among Nation’s Most Influential Christians
Bill Hybels, Billy Graham, T.D. Jakes, and Joel Osteen were rated among the top of the nation’s 50 Most Influential Christians, according to The Church Report. The list is compiled by more than 200,000 nominations across the country.

The top 10 on the list are:

1.	Joel Osteen
2.	Billy Graham
3.	Bill Hybels
4.	Bishop T.D. Jakes, The Potter’s House, Dallas, Texas
5.	Dr. James C. Dobson, Focus On The Family, Colorado Springs, Colo.
6.	Paul Crouch, Trinity Broadcasting Network Santa Ana, Calif.
7.	Joyce Meyer, Joyce Meyer Ministries Fenton, Mo.
8.	Leonard Sweet, Drew Theological School, Madison, N.J.
9.	John Piper, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minn.
10.	Rob Bell, Mars Hill Bible Church, Grandville, Mich.

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