Have Our Spiritual Shepherds Become Wolves? Pastors Abandon Biblical Worldview from Prophecy News Watch
New analysis from Arizona Christian University’s Cultural Research Center reveals a “particularly shocking” absence of biblical worldview among pastors of evangelical churches, “because evangelical churches, by definition, believe that the Bible is God’s true and reliable words to humanity.”
The latest release of the American Worldview Inventory, conducted in February and March of this year, revealed that 37% of Christian pastors held a biblical worldview, and the numbers are only slightly better among pastors of evangelical (51%) and independent or non-denominational (57%) churches.
“With barely half of evangelical pastors possessing a biblical worldview — and that number continuing to decline — attending what may be considered an ‘evangelical’ church no longer ensures a pastoral staff that has a high view of the scriptures,” said George Barna, Senior Research Fellow with FRC’s Center for Biblical Worldview.
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“We’re really not being the kind of light in the darkness that Christ has called us to be,” said Barna, who conducted the research. “American culture is doing more transforming of the American church.” The report comes as the nation continues to reel from recent mass shootings in Texas, New York, and California. “Historically, in times of tragedy, Americans look to the pulpit for answers,” said FRC President Tony Perkins. “Fewer pulpits believe the Bible actually has the answers.”
The research showed pastors without a biblical worldview (62%) hold to a blending of biblical ideas with other philosophies “best described as Syncretism,” resulting in “a unique but inconsistent combination that represents their personal preferences.” Barna’s research identified a biblical worldview according to 54 questions in eight categories, which found a majority (57%) of pastors aligned with the Bible in only one category, “the purpose of life and their calling with it.”
The lowest category (39%) “might have been expected to top the list: beliefs and behaviors related to the Bible, truth, and morality.” Only two percent of pastors aligned with the Bible in this category while lacking a comprehensive biblical worldview.
A biblical worldview is “a combination of beliefs and behavior because you do what you believe,” said Barna. “Everybody makes decisions all the time … and so we make those choices on the basis of our worldview, … the intellectual, emotional, and spiritual filter that … enables us to make sense of the world around us and our place within it.”
