American Churchgoers Are Abandoning Biblical Values
by Victoria Manning
Just 39 percent say the Bible is their primary moral guide, a new study shows.
American Christian leaders are failing to teach their parishioners about biblical values relevant to today's world issues. Recent studies show that large numbers of evangelicals aren't voting or even registered to vote. Shockingly, a majority of regular churchgoers don't even believe in the importance of a biblical worldview or understand the dangers of socialism.
Paul warned in Romans 1 about God's wrath against sinful humanity giving in to the things of the world. Paul says in verse 28, "just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done."
Romans 12:2 instructs: "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
How many pastors and priests are instructing from the pulpit on how not to be conformed to the world?
The Data is Alarming
Research released in November revealed shocking and concerning realities about American churchgoers. The study, conducted by Arizona Christian University's Cultural Research Center (CRC), found that less than half of adult churchgoers believe it is very important to have a biblical worldview. Only 46 percent vote for a candidate based on their ideological alignment with the Bible.
A mere 51 percent of survey respondents believe the Bible is clear and decisive on the morality of aborting an unborn child. Thirty-two percent said they prefer socialism to capitalism, and more than 22 percent didn't know their preference between the two. People under 50 were twice as likely as older adults to prefer socialism.
The most concerning survey result among reported Christians was that only 39 percent said their primary moral guide in life is the Bible.
It's clear that the breakdown of the family has harmed the nation. The welfare state and a culture that pushes women into the workforce rather than motherhood have certainly changed family dynamics. As of 2023, 40 percent of children are born to unmarried mothers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
These results shouldn't be surprising since the church is failing to teach basic biblical principles. The CRC study found that 30 percent of churchgoers do not believe it's important for society to facilitate families that have a father, mother, and children living together.
Setting the Standard
Pastor Gary Hamrick of Cornerstone Chapel in Leesburg, Virginia, recently spoke on the church's instructional failings. He pointed out that the world has one objective: to conform people to its image. But it's the church, or body of believers, who should be encouraging transformation through a relationship with Christ—not conformity to the ways of the world.
Hamrick emphasized that there are only two things restraining evil in this world—the presence of the church and the power of the Holy Spirit. Often, church leaders refuse to speak to their congregations about critical issues such as abortion, gender and sexuality, marriage, religious freedom, or parental rights. Since it's not discussed in church, people seek guidance from the world on these hot political topics.
It is imperative for the church to act as a check upon government. As author Eric Metaxas chronicled in his book, Letter to the American Church, spiritual leaders in Nazi Germany thought that if the church were "too political," nonbelievers would be turned off to the gospel. That same excuse is used by pastors today across America.
History must not be forgotten, or it will repeat itself.
The Bible instructs that truth is only found through Jesus. Yet on important political issues, many pastors leave their parishioners to fend for themselves rather than guide them on how biblical principles should inform their views.
Hamrick also pointed out in his message that 90 million self-identified evangelical Christians are eligible to vote, yet 40 million do not, including 15 million who aren't even registered. "We've left the voting up to those who oppose our views and wonder what's happening," he said.
Unless church leaders begin to speak truth from the pulpit on the issues of today, morality—and the family structure—will continue to deteriorate.
Encourage your pastor to speak truth from the pulpit. There should be no topic that's off limits and kept outside the church doors. Be not conformed to this world, and remember these words from Jesus in John 15:
If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.
Darkness cannot coexist with light. Christians are called to be light. It is time for the church to answer that call.
Republished with permission from Restoration News.
Victoria Manning is a Senior Investigative Researcher for Restoration News specializing in education freedom, immigration, and military issues. She is the author of Behind the Wall of Government Schools. Victoria served 8 years as an elected school board member and has a master’s degree in law. She also brings the perspective of a military spouse and mother to her reporting.
