I heard Dr. George Barna, a well-known Christian researcher, speak on the topic of what he called Christian Invisibility. A recent survey by Barna, director of research of the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University, shows that the majority of tweens are rejecting core tenets of the Christian faith, and that issue stems from the syncretic worldview of their parents and even children’s pastors.
When asked if they believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to experience salvation, 36 percent of children, 34 percent of parents, and 54 percent of children’s ministers said they believed that.
Only 25 percent of children said that the Bible contains the true words of God and should be a guide to right and wrong, compared to 44 percent of parents and 62 percent of children’s pastors.
Approximately 21 percent of children agreed that there are absolute truths, including things that are right and wrong, regardless of feelings or circumstances, while only 28 percent of parents and 36 percent of children’s pastors assented.
Barna said the answers show that parents shape a child’s worldview. “Children are intellectual and spiritual sponges in their preteen years. They are desperately trying to make sense of the world, their identity, their purpose, and how to live a meaningful and satisfying life.”
They have found that just 2 percent of children, 4 percent of parents, and 12 percent of children’s pastors have a biblical worldview.
Barna said that the decline has been ongoing for decades.
“If you follow the data, you learn that we have had a decreasing percentage of Americans embracing a biblical worldview since we started tracking this in the early 1990s. We have endured more than 30 years of consistent decline, with a very limited response by the Church,”
That’s a lot to take in.
Here’s a test to see if you concur with, what is commonly defined as, a Biblical Worldview.
7 Cornerstones of a Biblical Worldview
- Biblical View of the existence and nature of God.
- Humans are sinful by nature; sins have consequences.
- Jesus Christ is the sole means to salvation.
- Bible is true, reliable, relevant, and best morale guide.
- Absolute moral truth exists, defined by God.
- Success is consistent obedience to God.
- Life’s purpose is to know, love and serve God with all your heart, soul, mind, strength.
How’d you do? It matters folks. Take personal inventory and seek God’s wisdom as you live this in-between life, awaiting Jesus’ return.
And that’s the mid-week memo.
Steve
