In a 2003 study, the Barna Research Group found that only 4% of American adults have a Biblical worldview as defined by six basic beliefs: evangelism, God as both omniscient and omnipotent, the sinlessness of Christ, the Bible as accurate in all of its teachings, the reality of Satan, and salvation as a gift from God. This finding is truly surprising in light of other figures: 84% of define themselves as “Christian”; 75% report that they are at least “somewhat” committed to Christ; 40% attend a place of worship every Sunday. Furthermore, even in the most Bible based churches, those who hold a Biblical worldview are in a small minority according to this definition: Independent-- 13%; Pentecostals-- 10%; Baptists-- 8%.
How do we explain this overwhelming discrepancy? If we subtract our 4% of people with the Biblical worldview from the 75% who claim they are at least somewhat committed to Christ, we’re left with 71% of Americans who either don’t understand or don’t believe the basics of the Biblical faith despite their commitment to the Christian faith.
Why would they not understand or believe the basics? According to a 2001 Barna survey, less than 33% of the adults who identified themselves as “born again” believe in absolute truth! This is doubly significant in light of another Barna finding. Holding a Biblical worldview has a profoundly positive effect upon moral behavior.
When we look at Western society, the reasons for this disparagement of doctrine come into sharper focus. Outside of the Church, the philosophy of the day says that doctrine doesn’t matter; even worse, that it’s counter-productive. While spirituality is now trendy, “doctrine” rings of repression and bondage! Why? We’ve internalized postmodern “wisdom” that says:
Even within the Church, we hear equally dismissive bits of “wisdom”:
While many able voices within the Church are sounding the alarm against these destructive ideas, much still has to be done. The challenge is immense. Barna has found that only 51% of the nation’s pastors hold this Biblical worldview.
This seminar both uncovers the fallacies of modern and postmodern thought and exalts the wisdom of Scripture There’s a growing need to demonstrate that the Bible doctrines are relevant to our lives psychologically and relationally, that what we think determines who we are and the way we live our lives.
Barna concluded that, “The reason that people do not act like Jesus is because they do not think like Jesus.” In addition to this, the reason that we largely fail to experience intimacy with Jesus is that we fail to understand Jesus. This seminar seeks to provide a foundation for this understanding.
Daniel Mann has been teaching Bible, Theology, Comparative Religion, and Apologetics at the New York School of the Bible in midtown Manhattan for the past 12 years.
Knowing Scripture Ministries
Phone: (718) 237-0510
e-mail: daniel@knowingscripture.com
Web: www.knowingscripture.com
The “Theology Isn’t a Dirty Word” seminar can be hosted by your church, or facility as an eight hour, two-day seminar or in other installments.
Please also inquire about other seminars available to your churches:
“Blooming in the Valley: Biblical Principles For Handling Depression and Despair” (10 hours)
“Reasons to Believe: A Defense of the Christian Faith” (40 hours)
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Tim. 3:16-17
A “Knowing Scripture Ministries” Seminar