Defining 'evangelical,' or not, in 2013

Evangelicals, of course, have been known to argue about who belongs on that list. In recent years, it has become increasingly obvious that the experts are struggling to decide who is and who is not an evangelical in the first place.

"I know what the word 'evangelical' is supposed to mean," said Warren, 58, leader of the 20,000-member Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., with its many branches and ministries. "I mean, I know what the word 'evangelical' used to mean."

The problem, he said, is that many Americans no longer link "evangelical" with a set of traditional doctrines, such as evangelizing the lost, defending biblical authority, helping the needy and proclaiming that salvation is found through faith in Jesus Christ alone.

Somewhere during the George W. Bush years the word "evangelical" -- a church-history term -- "got co-opted into being a political term," said Warren, in a recent telephone interview.

Debates about this vague word are not new. During a 1987 interview with the Rev. Billy Graham, I asked him point blank, "What does the word 'evangelical' mean?"

The world's most famous evangelist responded, "Actually, that's a question I'd like to ask somebody, too. ... You go all the way from the extreme fundamentalists to the extreme liberals and, somewhere in between, there are the evangelicals." Ultimately, Graham said "evangelicals" preach salvation through faith in Jesus and believe all the doctrines in the Nicene Creed -- especially in the resurrection.

Warren said he would certainly agree with Graham's bottom line, which is that "evangelical" must be defined in doctrinal terms. The problem is that this isn't how the term is being used in public life, especially by the news media.

During the George W. Bush administration, he said, most journalists "seemed to think that 'evangelical' meant that you backed the Iraq war, for some reason or another. ... But right now, I don't think there is any question that most people think that evangelicals are people who oppose gay rights -- period. Unfortunately, that's all the word means."

Warren based this judgment, in part, on his experiences during 22 recent interviews with major newspapers, magazines and television networks -- a blitz marking the release of an expanded, 10th anniversary edition of his book "The Purpose Driven Life: What On Earth Am I Here For?" The book has sold more than 32 million copies around the world, with translations in 50 languages.