Recently The Barna Group released an update entitled “Christianity Is No Longer Americans’ Default Faith”. The 3 major points made in the update were: (1) 50% of Americans now believe that Christianity is just one of many options to choose from when selecting a faith; (2) a huge majority of adults pick and choose what they believe; and (3) 74% of adults agreed their faith was becoming even more important to them than it used to be as a source of objective and reliable moral guidance.
In reading the article, what really jumped out at me were the stats related to how people are choosing what they believe. According to Barna’s study, 71% of adults said they were personally more likely to develop their own set of religious beliefs rather accept a comprehensive set of beliefs taught by a particular church or denomination. I guess that shouldn’t be too surprising, given our post modern culture that says absolute truth doesn’t exist and every individual can decide what’s right for them. But, what I found especially troubling was that 61% of born again Christians (according to Barna’s research) were adopting the pick and choose approach to what they believed. So now, not only do you have churches and denominations watering down the truth of God’s word, but you also have more and more individuals picking out what they like in the Bible and tossing out the rest of its teachings.
Data from the survey showed the following beliefs among those who describe themselves as Christian:
- Close to half believe that Satan does not exist
- 1/3 believe Jesus sinned while He was on earth
- 40% say they don’t have a responsibility to share the Christian faith with others
- 25% don’t believe the Bible is accurate in all of the principles it teaches
As you can imagine, when people start picking and choosing which of the Bible’s truths to believe, while discarding what they don’t like (Barna referred to it as being their own theologian-in-residence), you get some pretty conflicting theology. In his analysis of the research, Barna points out that “millions of Americans who consider themselves to be Christian now believe that the Bible is totally accurate in all of the lessons it teaches at the same time that they believe Jesus Christ sinned.” Another resulting contradiction is that “millions also contend that they will experience eternal salvation because they confessed their sins and accepted Christ as their savior, but also believe that a person can do enough good works to earn eternal salvation.”
In reflecting on this report, I was both discouraged and encouraged. Discouraged that more and more people are choosing not to accept the absolute truth of the Bible and at the same time, encouraged that religious faith is even more important to people than it used to be as a source of objective and reliable moral guidance. People are searching for answers. What are we going to do to help them?
The only reason you are discouraged is because you are finding out that most of this country doesnt agree with YOU. In your mind the bible is “absolute truth” therefore you cant even bare the thought that you might be wrong. I find the numbers relaxing, knowing that people choose to build a belief system based on an open minded approach towards life. To recognize different religions for what they are and live life based on tenants they believe to be the key to their own success. You are entitled to your beliefs, as long as you know they are YOUR beliefs, and nothing more.
By: dastarvinartist on January 21, 2009
at 9:59 pm
dastarvinartist, The problem one encounters with your position is that nothing can confirm that being sincere about a belief system which originates within the mind and heart of an individual has any reality in fact. You are certainly correct to say Byron is entitled to his own belief as he would give to you the same entitlment. So we are all entitled to our beliefs.
Byrons frustration comes from a belief that God does exist, He is personal, He is transcendent and He has chosen to reveal Himself to humanity and He has provided to us a way of salvation. I underscore “a” way. I realize that is a counter-cultural presupposition, but that is the source of the frustration not only to Byron but to me and millions of others as well.
It would make no difference to you that we hold such a belief, because your presupposition is that we can each find our own way, a way as you say “live life based on tenants they believe to be the key to their own success.” But surely you can understand why others of us must experience frustration and concern if we actually believe what we say we believe. If we live up to our creed to love God and neighbor, and we believe that Jesus knew what He was saying when He said, “. . . no man comes to the Father except through me.” then we must be concerned for others who say “I am going to find my own way.” You certainly have the right to go any way you choose, but we must retain our mission to share with you that there is only one way. Hopefully we will share it with respect. And if you decide not to hear our message, hopefully you will reject with respect.
By: Stephen Drake on February 1, 2009
at 10:37 am
dastarvinartist – I’d like to add one thing to what Steve said in his comments. You mentioned that because I believe in the absolute truth of the Bible, then I can’t bare the thought of being wrong. That’s not correct. In fact, I have thought about that from time to time.
If I’m wrong about Jesus being the only way to Heaven, then what have I lost by placing my faith in Christ as my Savior? If, on the other hand, the Bible is absolutely true and Jesus is the only way, then those who choose not to believe will lose everything. It is my belief in this reality that causes my discouragement. I’m not discouraged that everyone doesn’t agree with me. I’m sad and discouraged because I believe that the Bible is true when it says that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) and that those who choose not to accept Christ as their Savior will spend eternity in hell.
Again, it’s not whether I’m right or wrong. It’s all about whether or not the Bible is true. I choose to believe that is.
By: Byron on February 1, 2009
at 12:49 pm
We will never agree on this subject, STEPHEN DRAKE sais ” The problem one encounters with your position is that nothing can confirm that being sincere about a belief system which originates within the mind and heart of an individual has any reality in fact”, well nothing can confirm the Christian belief system either. Which brings me back to saying we all have our own way of getting through life, there is no wrong or right, and there is no ONE absolute religion.
You can believe that the god that is described in both of the testimates are true if you like and thats fine, its when you push your beliefs on others is when I have a problem with it (“we must retain our mission to share with you that there is only one way.”- steven Drake) Its a problem when religion is infused with our government policies, its a problem when you tell a family man who is a honest law biding citizen that he is going to hell because he isnt a christian, and its definatly a problem when you go to starving countries( as “missionaries”) and hold food and water over the natives heads while saying “this food can be yours, as long as you exept Jesus as your lord and savior”.
Byron sais he “chooses” to believe that the bible is true, fine, just know that I am not going to hell( which there really is none) just because of what YOU CHOOSE!! I “choose” to believe that religions are double edged swords that can either help or hinder us. Empires used Christianity to maintain control of the masses not long after Jesus was killed, its been used to descriminate against every group that isnt considered “normal”, and its also known to be a crutch for those who have no sence of self responability, you have a right to your opinion, just dont pretend to know whats gonna happen to me becuase of my opinion.
By: Dastarvinartist on February 1, 2009
at 1:26 pm
[...] Hill summarizes the report well: In reflecting on this report, I was both discouraged and encouraged. Discouraged [...]
By: Designer Religion on the Rise « Turnaround Churches on February 8, 2009
at 11:51 pm