Yes, pastors need to stop assuming those sitting in the seats know the basics of the Christian faith; they also need to believe the whole word of God and preach it. Wholly. Holy.
And those in the seats have a responsibility, a duty, to get ahold of a Holy Bible and READ IT EVERY DAY. Not only one verse on a calendar, or some daily devotional. READ, STUDY, MEDITATE UPON — think deeply on what is read — DAILY. In quiet. Contemplative. To pray to the Holy Spirit for discernment, wisdom, and understanding of what is read. To seek out another brother or sister sound in the faith, sound in doctrine, more mature in the faith, to discuss Biblical matters with.
Believe what is read. Follow references within the Word of God. There are no contradictions, mistakes in the God-breathed words to select men led by the Spirit, in God’s inerrant, infallible, unchangeable [not one word, not one jot, not one tittle changed], eternal, living and active word.
If doing this, it is likely such an individual will be more mature, better versed, of greater discernment, and Scripture coming alive, aflame in their heart and spirit, than many pastors in American churches. This is written considering what is taught, not taught, how seminaries and Bible colleges — many of them — are now operating. Not in putting a foundation of rock-solid Biblical doctrine in its students and graduates. But a foundation of everything else.
Want to prosper? Truly? Then read God’s word daily, nightly, and spend as much time in the Holy Bible as possible. Not distracted. As much as possible.
That’s how a person being well-grounded and equipped for anything that may come their way happens.
That is a rock-solid foundation.
Or, build upon the sand, with straw, living on milk, or even watered-down milk, with the rising thought of the one at the pulpit, “I can’t say anything to have anyone leave. They need to like me, I need to make them feel good.”
Wrong.
Gimme some truth, gimmie nothing but the truth, gimme as much truth as possible.
How about you? Is that truly what you’re craving? Greater than any other craving in this life?
Humm…
Take personal responsibility. For it will be only you alone before the LORD at a later date.
Rely first and foremost on God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit — and that only comes via a healthy prayer life and knowing and living out the word of God.
Take personal responsibility. For it will be only you alone before the LORD at a later date.
Read on…
Tuesday, October 7th, 2025
Pastors Need To Stop Assuming Their Congregations Know The Basics Of The Christian Faith
October 6, 2025
By Ken Ham
Reprinted from Harbinger’s Daily
Well, the results of the new State of Theology survey from Ligonier Ministries and Lifeway Research is now available, and it’s as disappointing as the 2022 version. The answers were an inconsistent mess, highlighting U.S. Evangelicals’ lack of knowledge regarding what the Word of God teaches regarding doctrine and theology. Biblical illiteracy is an epidemic.
I’ll give you just a sampling of the results, filtered for Evangelicals, but first, here is their definition of an Evangelical:
Evangelicals were defined by Lifeway Research as people who strongly agreed with the following four statements:
- The Bible is the highest authority for what I believe.
- It is very important for me personally to encourage non-Christians to trust Jesus Christ as their Savior.
- Jesus Christ’s death on the cross is the only sacrifice that could remove the penalty of my sin.
- Only those who trust in Jesus Christ alone as their Savior receive God’s free gift of eternal salvation.
So what do these Evangelicals believe beyond those four basic beliefs?
Well,
- 64% believe that “Everyone is born innocent in the eyes of God.”
- 53% agree that “Everyone sins a little, but most people are good by nature.”
- 53% think that “The Holy Spirit is a force but is not a personal being”—compare this with the fact that 98% agreed with the statement: “There is one true God in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.” Talk about inconsistent!
- 47% agree that “God accepts the worship of all religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.”
- 28% say that “Jesus was a great teacher, but he was not God.”
- 17% believe that “The Bible, like all sacred writings, contains helpful accounts of ancient myths but is not literally true.”
- 19% affirm that “Modern science disproves the Bible.”
- 16% likewise say that “The Bible’s condemnation of homosexual behavior doesn’t apply today.”
- 28% think that “Religious belief is not about objective truth”—and another 19% aren’t sure how to answer this question.
Whew, what a shocking mess! To be considered an Evangelical on the survey, each respondent had to answer that they “strongly agree” that “The Bible is the highest authority for what I believe,” and yet 19% think science has disproven it, a similar percentage likewise don’t think what the Bible says about homosexuality applies to us today, and nearly half are confused about objective truth and Christianity!
Similarly, 98% affirm the doctrine of the Trinity, but over half think the Holy Spirit is just a force, and 28% think Jesus was just some great teacher. That doesn’t make sense!
They also affirmed it’s important for them to tell others about Jesus and that Jesus’ death is the only way to be forgiven, and yet nearly half think God accepts the worship of other religions. Again, such inconsistency in beliefs!
The state of theology among so-called Evangelicals is sobering. It really should be a wake-up call to both pastors and parents. We’ve raised generations on “Bible stories” without giving them the meat of God’s Word, teaching them to think biblically, or shaping their biblical worldview. Instead of being guided by Scripture, they’re guided by a mishmash of biblical teaching and our culture’s beliefs.
So what can we do about these kinds of survey results? Well, first, parents need to be teaching their children! Don’t just assume your children are learning what they need to know about God, the Bible, and salvation at church. Ultimately, it’s your responsibility to teach and disciple your children. Have you prioritized that in your home? Are you even equipped to do this kind of teaching with your children? If not, start and learn together!
Secondly, pastors and other Christian leaders need to stop assuming their congregations know the basics of the Christian faith, and they need to start incorporating theology and doctrine into their teaching. Pastors are called to be shepherds, discipling the flock. Part of that is teaching doctrine and theology so their churches are filled with robust Christians who’ve moved on from “milk” to “meat.”
I pray these shocking results serve as a wake-up call to the church to obey Christ’s parting command before his ascension: “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen” (Matthew 28:18–20).
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