Fewer pastors hold biblical worldview

A respected Christian pollster says only half of Protestant pastors nationwide hold a biblical worldview. According to the newest study by the Barna Research Group, only 51 percent of ministers, representing a random cross-section of Protestant churches, have a biblical view on six core beliefs (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).

A recent Barna survey of 2,033 adults found that only 4 percent of Americans possess a biblical worldview, while just 9 percent of born-again Christians and 7 percent of Protestants have such a perspective on life. The new survey of 601 senior pastors in seven denominational segments discovered that there are significant variations by church affiliation and other demographics.

“The most important point is that you can’t give people what you don’t have,” said president George Barna. “The low percentage of Christians who have a biblical worldview is a direct reflection of the fact that half of our primary religious teachers and leaders do not have one. In some denominations, the vast majority of clergy do not have a biblical worldview, and it shows up clearly in the data related to the theological views and moral choices of people who attend those churches.”

The Southern Baptists had the highest percentage of pastors with a biblical worldview (71 percent), while the Methodists were lowest (27 percent). Among the other segments examined, 57 percent of the pastors of Baptist churches (other than Southern Baptist) had a biblical worldview, as did 51 percent of non-denominational Protestant pastors, 44 percent of pastors of charismatic or Pentecostal churches, 35 percent of pastors of black churches, and 28 percent of those leading mainline congregations.

The survey revealed some unexpected differences based on pastoral background, with the most intriguing relating to theological training. Educationally, the pastors least likely to have a biblical worldview are those who are seminary graduates (45 percent). In contrast, three out of five pastors (59 percent) who have not attended seminary operate with a biblical worldview.

— Charisma News Service