Barely half of the nations senior pastors – but a leading 71 percent
of Southern Baptist pastors – hold to a biblical worldview, a new study
by Christian researcher George Barna shows.
Barely half of the nations senior pastors – but a leading 71 percent
of Southern Baptist pastors – hold to a biblical worldview, a new study
by Christian researcher George Barna shows.
The poll of 601 senior pastors representing some 50 denominations shows that
only 51 percent of the nations pastors held to a biblical worldview. The
survey included pastors from conservative, moderate and liberal backgrounds.
While Southern Baptists had the highest percentage, United Methodist pastors
had the lowest (27 percent).
In fact, only 28 percent of pastors from mainline denominations held to a biblical
worldview. Mainline churches include the American Baptist Churches USA, United
Church of Christ, Episcopal Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,
Presbyterian Church (USA) and the United Methodist Church.
“Worldview” describes the belief system by which a person understands
or makes decisions about the world.
For the Barna poll, those holding to such a view had to embrace the accuracy
of biblical teaching, the sinless nature of Jesus, the literal existence of
Satan, the omnipotence and omniscience of God, salvation by grace alone and
the personal responsibility to evangelize.
In December, Barna released another poll showing that only 9 percent of people
categorized as “born-again” held to a biblical worldview.
“George Barna has discovered a critical issue in the American church today
– many senior pastors do not hold to the basic tenets of historic Christianity,”
said Thom Rainer, dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and
Church Growth at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky.
“In this age of doctrine really doesnt matter, Barna
has shown us it does indeed matter,” Rainer continued. “If senior
pastors do not believe the key doctrines of the faith, the millions in the churches
will never be taught that which defines our faith. It is little wonder that
many churches today mirror the values of the world.”
Among other denominational segments, 57 percent of Baptist (non-Southern Baptist
Convention) senior pastors held to a biblical worldview, as did 51 percent of
nondenominational Protestant pastors, 44 percent of charismatic/Pentecostal
pastors and 35 percent of black church pastors.
Among geographic regions, senior pastors in the South (57 percent) and West
(58 percent) led the way; those in the Midwest (49 percent) and Northeast (43
percent) trailed.
Pastors under 40 (56 percent) were more likely to hold to such a worldview
than were those 40 and older (50 percent).
Russell Moore said true biblical preaching is essential to a congregation holding
a biblical worldview.
“All that a pastor must do to ensure that his people embrace an unbiblical
worldview is to stop preaching all of the Bible,” said Moore, assistant
professor of Christian theology at Southern Seminary. “The culture is glad
to fill in the rest. But I am optimistic when I see churches led by men of God
who are afraid of nothing and no one but the Lord, and who are willing to shepherd
the flock of God with the truth.
“Pastors who preach the Bible recognize that the church is not just a
collection of religious people; it is a declaration of war on the prince of
the power of the air. If that is the case, preaching means equipping men, women
and children not just to know something, but to confront the powers of this
age with the Gospel of a resurrected Christ.” (BP)