Survey: Less Than 1 Percent of Young Adults Hold Biblical Worldview

By Jennifer Riley|Christian Post Reporter

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He also noted that the study raises questions on how effective of a job Christian churches, schools and parachurch ministries are doing in Christian education.

“Finally, even though a central element of being a Christian is to embrace basic biblical principles and incorporate them into one’s worldview, there has been no change in the percentage of adults or even born again adults in the past 13 years regarding the possession of a biblical worldview,” said the founder of The Barna Group.

Compared to previous similar Barna studies, the results for this year show that the overall American worldview has remained largely unchanged for more than a decade.

In 1995, for instance, seven percent of American adults had a biblical worldview, compared to the nine percent in 2008.

Even among born again adults the statistic remained the same with 18 percent having a biblical worldview in 1995, 22 percent in 2000, 21 percent in 2005, and 19 percent in 2008.

The report is based on four nationwide telephone interviews conducted by The Barna Group, each including between 1,002 to 1,005 adults randomly selected, in the years 1995, 2000, 2005, and 2008. Interviews were conducted among adults in the 28 continental states.

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jmromano »

Wed Mar 25, 2009 4:10 am Agree: 1 Disagree: 3

If this survey is accurate, then it will only lead to one conclusion: moral decadence for the young american generation. And then the decline of america as a world power.
Daniel Paul »

Sun Mar 15, 2009 10:17 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 1

The concept of being saved is that Jesus laid down His life in the place of yours. You pick up the life He laid down and live it in the place of yours. This is why you are known by your fruit.

Have you died to self and live the life Jesus laid down to replace your life?
pvlman »

Sun Mar 15, 2009 5:07 am Agree: 1 Disagree: 1

In how biblical worldview was defined, I can't find the results of the study surprising. By the time they are 19-24, many come to the realization of what they have been told may not necessarily be true, particularly if they note the moral ambiguity practiced by most,Christian or otherwise.
Hohnson »

Sat Mar 14, 2009 7:48 am Agree: 1 Disagree: 2

Thank you ID 4234,
I have to disagree with your statement that you "can't earn it." I read the Bible for myself without someone else's interpretation of it in my head, and I don't think it says that. I think a lot of people don't like the idea of Jesus washing the feet of his followers because they want him to be Angry, vengeful God of the Old Testament who will bring their own revenge fantasies to life and punish all the unwed mothers, and muslims, and that guy that picked on them in the 10th grade. This seems to me an important passage though and Jesus took the time to make sure they understood what he had done. "What I just did was to give you an example: as I have done, so you must do."
You make it seem like this serving of others is irrelevant. You have grace and that other stuff just comes naturally. Like if you are alive then your hair grows and whoop de doo, who cares? The serving of others seems more important to Jesus in the Gospels than you make it out to be.
johnmorrison9 »

Fri Mar 13, 2009 4:46 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 1

Milton Freedman warned about the state educating our children.
farout63 »

Fri Mar 13, 2009 10:44 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

Who is responsible for your spiritual growth? Who should teach you Biblical truths, and grow you in knowledge of the BIBLE?

IT'S YOU!

SURE THE PREACHER DOES HIS OR HER BEST ON SUNDAY, BUT YOU ARE TO BECOME A lIFE LONG LEARNER. The problem it it takes time and being in love with the Lord and Loving His Word.

How many of us can name the books of the Bible? Can we show someone to surrender to Jesus Christ? These are BASIC Christian things, how are we doing?

farout63
ChristinChip »

Thu Mar 12, 2009 2:47 pm Agree: 3 Disagree: 3

When the Lord comes, will he find faith on the earth?

Luke 18 as in the days of Noe and Lot, so shall the coming of the son of man be.

If you're one of the few that are in Christ in this last hour, be encouraged and know that few got out of Sodom, and few got out from under God's judgement when he flooded the earth. This is no surprise but brings to my heart much sorrow.
JC »

Thu Mar 12, 2009 12:25 pm Agree: 4 Disagree: 5

Beloved, do you think that there is any relation to this story and things like homosexuality, abortion, Islam, and other abominations getting a foothold here?
Cheisa »

Wed Mar 11, 2009 2:13 pm Agree: 4 Disagree: 4

Cowboy, though you are saved by the cross, you can slip away from God into an unholy life and need forgiveness through a confession of your sins. The sins are there because you left Christ for sin. Because Jesus saved us doesn't mean we can do what we like without consequence. We can put ourselves of the wrong side of God where His forgiveness is needed for us to get right again.

And top be approved by God we need more than a faith of words. St James and St Peter told us that faith without good deeds that show our understanding of what Jesus taught is an empty faith. Our deeds justify our faith. While our deeds alone cannot save us, Jesusu certainly didn't want us to sit on our butts claiming salvation instead of doing what He commanded us to do: feed the hungry, tend to the sick, clothe the naked, etc. These are not abstract things but concrete actions for us to take in dealing with our brothers as Chrisat would have. These deeds are inseparable from our faith, if it is a true faith.

And you can tell by people's actions whether they have truly accepted Christ and truly have faith. I recognize sinful behavior when I see it. Don't you? And if the sinner never repents, never changes his ways, then he has no real faith. He has not truly accepted Christ and he is not saved.

We have responsibility for our actions and no one stressed that more than Christ. Salvation isn't automatic, without penalty for sinners or rewards for the righteous. Salvation is only justified when we strive each day to live as He commanded with faith, hope and charity governing our lives and our actions.
ID4234 »

Wed Mar 11, 2009 2:03 pm Agree: 6 Disagree: 1

To Hohnson

We actually say that if you believe in the Biblical sense of the word (in the Greek it means to hold a view so strongly that it causes you to act) and trust Jesus as your Savior after having repented of your sins, then you are saved. Salvation is completely by grace. You can not earn it. But you will be a different person after receiving it. You will want to flee from sin, to perform good deeds in the Savior's name, and to tell others about His wonderful mercy, grace, and work. All of the passages you sight are ones we agree with. One saying we use is "no change, no salvation" because Jesus said that you could tell His followers by the good fruit they bore. Hope this helps.
Cheisa »

Wed Mar 11, 2009 1:59 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

Hohnson- "I don't have an agenda. I just don't understand the concept that it doesn't matter what you do in life, all you need to do is believe in Jesus, and you are saved."

I don't understand that concept either. If you believe in Christ and His teachings, if you believe the writings of the Apostles and grasp the 2nd of the Two Great Commandments, you can't separate faith and the good works that will spring from the application of that faith.

St James and St Paul warned us against a false faith that is only words and doesn't lead to works, concrete actions that justify your faith and make it an actual force in your life. You cannot profess belief in the Word and then not act on it, if you truly wish to live as God intends. Faith that you profess is empty without actions to back it up and to back it up is what Christ demands of all of us. While we cannot be saved through our good works alone, nor can we be saved by faith alone because without Christian deeds to justify our faith, it is not real faith. Jesus would not be pleased with us if we sat on our butts while claiming we believe in Him. He demanded that we act as well.
Daniel Paul »

Wed Mar 11, 2009 12:18 pm Agree: 2 Disagree: 1

It may be in how you ask the questions. For example, "do you believe absolute moral truth exists" or "do you believe that God is absolutely right" you will get two different answers.

Still, children learn from their parents. Too many parents are afraid to teach their children about Christianity for fear they will be accused of "forcing" their religion on their children. THEY ARE YOUR CHILDREN!!! You are responsible before God to teach them.

Deu 4:9 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;
bryan90new »

Wed Mar 11, 2009 11:20 am Agree: 2 Disagree: 0

Ever considered that maybe, that just maybe, the 99% are not on the wrong? That maybe, that just maybe, Barna's opinion on "biblical worldview" is faulty? That maybe, just maybe the 99% do follow Christian values, but just differ in interpretation with the 1%?

I know this comment is like going to be censored anyway, like all my other comments, but that doesn't mean I can't keep trying.
steveh20 »

Wed Mar 11, 2009 1:59 am Agree: 1 Disagree: 0

"The bible says narrow is the way to life and broad is the way to destruction. Any questions?"

Yes, I have two questions john. How does you leaving that short pithy statement from scripture, then disappearing into the internet ether help move the issues this article raises forward. How would what you wrote resolve this issue? Please can you elaborate further.
Thanks
Steve
pvlman »

Wed Mar 11, 2009 12:02 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

A lack of moral absolutes among Christians is nothing new, so why be surprised as it appears in the general population? Too many Christians have no problem with rationalizing killing, stealing or lying. Sorry I forgot it's the fault of the adulators, and homosexuals that the world is the shape it's in. :(
Hohnson »

Tue Mar 10, 2009 10:44 pm Agree: 3 Disagree: 0

I don't have an agenda. I just don't understand the concept that it doesn't matter what you do in life, all you need to do is believe in Jesus, and you are saved. I read the bible every day. Would someone please tell me how they disregard the following?:

Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me,
naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.'
Then the righteous will answer him and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?
When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?
When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?'
And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.' Then they will answer and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?'
He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.'
And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
DelightntheLord »

Tue Mar 10, 2009 8:35 pm Agree: 4 Disagree: 1

WiseReaction;

Is this the same "Creational Covenant Marriage" where if one has remarried after divorcing an adulterous mate...you advocate divorcing the new spouse as a remedy?

When you first posted, I checked out the website and responded to your post but you are only here to promote your website, not in answering questions.

You advocate MORE divorce and have no solutions for the second families. (You should rename yourselves "over-reaction") God's grace IS SUFFICIENT.

You are under law and not under grace and what you promote is worse than the thing you are trying to prevent.

Divorce is NOT good and God hates it..but it does happen in a world of faithless, unloving and cruel people and God will sort it out.
believer »

Tue Mar 10, 2009 8:04 pm Agree: 2 Disagree: 0

How can we even expect kids raised in Christian home and even in Evangelical churches to hold a view they have never been taught or seen in the lives of Christian adults!
abishag98 »

Tue Mar 10, 2009 7:18 pm Agree: 6 Disagree: 0

The church is simply mimicking the world in the foolish hope that they might in some form or fashion "win" their souls. We've become way too tolerant, way too numb towards sin.

When you have so-called Christians who see nothing wrong with abortions, homosexual lifestyles, teaching evolution, taking God out of our schools, out of our courtrooms and replacing Him with porno, liberal teachings, and other licentious philosophies . . . it's no small wonder than Barna finds only 1% has a biblical worldview.

Even our new modern bibles such as The Message, the NLT, the TNIV, CEV, and other thought-for-thought versions dumb down the Word of God . . . and the church preaches and teaches from these! Not only that, instead of preaching the absolute truth as written by those moved by the Spirit of God, they "go the way of the world" with their secular marketing and promotional "strategies."

Anymore it's a "feel-good" mentality, that "it's all about me!" religion that's dooming the church today. Jesus is no longer the focus in the church, the ravages of sin no longer is mentioned. The hope of life eternal with God is only, at best, an afterthought. Shame of us!
WiseReaction »

Tue Mar 10, 2009 6:17 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 7

No wonder the professing Church has a problem accepting that re-marriage is adultery! If you compromise on re-marriage(adultery) you open the door and start to compromise on Gods Word. Creational Covenant Marriage is an Ethical/Moral absolute. WiseReaction.org
philo777 »

Tue Mar 10, 2009 6:06 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

This interesting article in the Christian Science Monitor seems to echo this survey:

http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0310/p09s01-coop.html
The Watch »

Tue Mar 10, 2009 5:41 pm Agree: 2 Disagree: 1

This is, to me a scary article, because it shows the lack of understanding some churches in the body of Christ have. What I am saying is alot of churches forget to be Salt and Light. They put aside Matthew 5 as a way of living and live a very twisted way of world Mon-Sat and Church on Sunday. You canot be salt and light unless you walk the walk and talk the talk. How do you expect young adults live a Jesus based world view unless the people who are the examples in their lives live that world view. If you want your children to read the bible, they need to see you read the bible. If you want them to have a prayer life, they need to see you in a prayer life. We do a great job at teaching the kids the vocabulary, but an awful job at what the words actually mean. You can be half in, in your sprituality, but it shows and it reflects the light is dim and the salt is flavorless. You gotta be all in for Jesus, because he went all in for you. The bible does say narrow is the way and that is a fact, but it is also a challenge to not cop out with that understanding, because we are told we are salt and light which means we are to be active. Starting in our own homes, church and communities to try and change these numbers.
rhill24 »

Tue Mar 10, 2009 4:04 pm Agree: 2 Disagree: 3

Mt.7:13-14
song2vs4 »

Tue Mar 10, 2009 2:57 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 2

If the article is correct, then it is safe to assume that parents are failing to train up their children and/or they don't believe in moral absolutes either. SCARY!!!
The-Innkeeper »

Tue Mar 10, 2009 2:55 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 3

I have said for at least 11 years now that I am a 1 percenter - meaning that if only ONE % of Christians today were true Christians then what a different world it would be. However this poll proves that not even that one percent is alive anymore since Jesus is on the back burner to them as well as the rest of this nation
DannyPoo »

Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:48 pm Agree: 2 Disagree: 0

John5796 hit the nail on the head.
cowboyfan88 »

Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:29 pm Agree: 2 Disagree: 2

Nobody is teaching doctine in church. It's all about numbers, baptism, tithing, youth trips, singing or whatever will get people in the door. Once you get them in there, it's not what Jesus did for you it's what you can do for Him. Just as in these two things from this article:

only because they confessed their sins and accepted Christ as their savior. That is not salvation. Your sins were forgiven on the cross so they are already paid for. You can't confess something that's not there!

less than one out of ten Americans demonstrate such knowledge through their action You demonstrate your knowledge by knowing His word but you can't know His word until you have the Holy Spirit to teach you. You only get that by a knowledge of the gospel and good luck finding someone that actually knows what that is.

It's not about YOU! When you get that, and you are sealed with the Holy Spirt which comes only when you BELIEVE the gospel found in 1 Cor 15 1-4. Then you can get into His word and find these doctrines out. Study to show yourself approved. Not work to show yourself approved. You are made righteous immediately at the point of belief. You cannot judge someone's salvation by their actions!
John5796 »

Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:13 pm Agree: 15 Disagree: 4

The bible says narrow is the way to life and broad is the way to destruction. Any questions?

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