Rob Bell wants his own definition of "evangelical"

Rob Bell, author of Velvet Elvis (my copy is currently resting, still unread, in a box in a storage facility with many other books), is defining the term evangelical in a new way. He said that he will "embrace" that word "if by that we mean a belief that we together can actually work for change in the world, caring for the environment, extending to the poor generosity and kindness, a hopeful outlook. That’s a beautiful sort of thing."

So, in Bell's mind, it really doesn't matter if a person is a confessing Christian, Muslim, Taoist, or Hare Krishna. Or even an athiest. As long as she wants to "work for change in the world," or she is "caring for the environment," or she has a "hopeful outlook," she is an evangelical.

Hmmm. Bell brings to mind someone else who saw differences in the meaning of words.



(HT: Pyromaniacs)