A disturbing lack of perspective....

If you'd like to listen to this post, you can listen via our youtube channel here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuiM15Lpu3Q

If I made the assertion, that the United States is NOT a "Christian" nation, would you believe me? 

If I said that because the United States is comprised of people who primary are uninformed and uninfluenced by Christ, would you believe me? 

You might ask what evidence I had to make such a statement. 

Over the last few days I've been diving into research of "christian" perspectives on life. Many refer to this as "worldview" research. The most notable group conducting survey's relating to "biblical" or "christian" worldview are the Barna group. Since 1984 (and maybe before) the Barna group has been conducting research on this topic. Asking Americans who self proclaim as "born-again" (You can find a definition for this term by the Barna group here) using questions like:

1. Do absolute moral truths exist?
2. Is absolute truth defined by the Bible?
3. Did Jesus Christ live a sinless life?
4. Is God the all-powerful and all-knowing Creator of the universe, and does He still rule it today?
5. Is salvation a gift from God that cannot be earned?
6. Is Satan real?
7. Does a Christian have a responsibility to share his or her faith in Christ with other people?
8. Is the Bible accurate in all of its teachings?

(The source for these questions comes from: https://www.focusonthefamily.com/faith/whats-a-christian-worldview/)

As stated by the research done at the Barna group and recounted by Focus on the Family, 9% of "born-again" believers answered yes to all of these questions. Do the beliefs of 9% of a nations population mean the nation should be described by the beliefs of that 9%? Or to put it another way, is it a more faithful representation of a nations viewpoint to point to the 9% or the 91%? 

The statistics from Barna from 1984 are interesting, but we might dismiss the research if the results only held true for a time over 35 years ago. The Barna group has continued researching christian worldviews and has published results of surveys from 1995, 2000, and 2005. According to the Barna research, 7% of "born again Christians" had a christian world view in 1995, with 10% in 2000, 11% in 2005 and 9% in 2009. 

At first glance of the questions, we may have some questions regarding the questions. Firstly, no one from Barna (or here at Toman's tome) is saying that an answer "yes" or "no" to any of the survey questions definitively makes a person a christian, or not a christian. Only the work of God through the Holy Spirit can take a person who is dead in their sins, and make them alive through faith in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. Survey questions don't qualify, or disqualify someone before God. Survey questions do provide insights into how a person's belief in Christ is informing their day to day thoughts, words, and actions. 

According to the Barna breakdown of responses to each question, we see some patterns emerge. In response to question #1 "Do absolute moral truths exist" 46% believe in absolute moral truth. That's a startling number of people who take on a perspective that there is nothing centering reality. There is nothing at the core of the universe that makes something definitively true, or definitively false. Without absolute truth, there is only perspective to rely on. Those who live in the United States who believe there is an absolute truth are outnumbered not just by unbelievers, but also by those who claim to be believers! 

In this regard if you appeal to truth in any kind of absolute way for the resolution of a concern, the majority (even those who are self described as born again) will disagree with your method. You are far less likely to engage a person who is seeking 'absolute truth' than you are likely to engage a person who will simply rely on their own 'perspective' on any given topic. Absolutes are absolutely forbidden in the pantheon of perspectivism. 

Question #2 is a bit strange in light of question 1. "Is absolute truth defined by the Bible?" will of course provide a low amount of responses in light of question 1. I wonder how many said "No" to question #1 but then said "Yes" to question number 2. 

Only 40% of born again adults believe that Satan is real. Think about that for just a moment. The book of Job speaks about Satan in relationship to the overall backstory of Job (Job chapters 1 & 2). If Satan isn't real, then what does that reveal about the book of Job? If Satan isn't real, then what about the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness? Jesus' temptation is accounted for us in three out of four of the Gospels in the New Testament (Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, and Luke 4:1-13). 

62% of born again Christians believe that Jesus Christ lived a sinless life while He was on earth. Think about that for just a moment. 38% of people who confess that their eternal hope is in God and dependent on Jesus, also believe that Jesus sinned. 38% of self identified born again Christians cannot faithfully sing:

"Because a sinless Savior died,

My sinful soul is counted free;

For God, the Just, is satisfied

To look on Him and pardon me"

        (https://hymnary.org/text/before_the_throne_of_god_above_i_have_a_) 

47% of born again Christians reject earning salvation through their own works or efforts. What is there to be saved from if we are not in need of saving? If you or I are capable in any way of contributing towards our road to redemption, then we are not really dead in our sins, we're just in serious danger. Our eternal course is not already bound for destruction, we're just taking a different route towards eternal peace, one that we set! 

You might be thinking that the recent epidemic has shown the church isn't needed. The church is beset by all sorts of voices saying that the church and its work are not of consequence. Yet the reality is that now more than ever the church, and it's proclamation of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus are fundamental and foundational for eternal security. 

There is a seriously disturbing perspective that has crept into the church regarding its nature, its purpose, and its responsibilities. The pantheon of perspectivism isn't something that Christians can ignore or find respite from even within the community of believers. Perspectivism, relativism, and a denial of the truths of God's Word are rampant and numerous even within the church. This ought to be a motivator and a reminder that missions and evangelism are needed here! In your neighborhood, even among your friends and loved ones who would say they are born again! Encouragement and instruction to look to the Word of God for direction is needed for those who are in Christ, and proclamation and call to repentance are needed for those who awake to find themselves dead in their trespasses and sins. 

The United States is not a Christian nation. It's not made up of people who are primarily Christians. It's not lead by people who are Christian in their words or actions (I cannot know what is in a mans mind, except that out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks). It is a land of tremendous blessing, and a land of tremendous gifts given by a gracious God who sends provision for both the just and the unjust. The people of the United States, just as the people of any nation around the world, are in desperate need of hearing about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. 

 The United States is not a Christian nation. Therefore, as with any nation that is not looking to Christ, it has great and immediate need for Jesus. I began today's discussion with a statement, and I'll end with a question. Will you be a part of that work today in your plans, in your words, and in your actions?