81: Only 13% of Born Again Christians Think Biblically—And It Shows

Why do so many Christians claim faith but think like the world? In this episode, we break down shocking new data showing that only 13% of born-again believers hold a biblical worldview. Learn how syncretism shapes church culture, worship, morality, and discipleship—and what it takes to reclaim a faith fully rooted in Scripture.

Biblical Worldview Assessments mentioned in the episode:

 - Arizona Christian University Biblical Worldview Assessment: https://acuworldview.com/

 - Summit Ministries Worldview Checkup: https://www.worldviewcheckup.com/cgi-bin/tssw12.cgi?f=SummitWVCU+5RWV50038

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Episode Transcript

(00:00):
I'm Eddie Lawrence and this is the Ready
for Eternity podcast, a podcast and blog
exploring biblical truths
for inquisitive Bible students.
I recently learned that only 13% of
born-again Christians think biblically,

(00:22):
and it explains a great deal.
Sometimes I'm a little late to the party.
I've recently learned that as of 2025,
only 13% of born-again
Christians have a biblical worldview.

(00:42):
This statistic has been available for a
few years, but I've only
recently stumbled upon it.
That shocking information comes from the
Cultural Research Center at Arizona
Christian University
and George Barna's
biblical worldview inventory.
Even among those who call themselves

(01:03):
Christians, most don't see or interpret
life through the lens of
Scripture consistently.
For Americans in general, that number is
even lower, only 4%.
Barna's stats said that that number
referred to born-again Christians.

(01:24):
So, who counts as born-again?
The CRC defines "born-again" as people
who "believe they will go to heaven after
they die, but only because they've
confessed their sins and accepted Jesus
Christ as their Savior."
This excludes Roman Catholics, Eastern
Orthodox, mainline Protestants, and

(01:47):
non-Trinitarian groups because of beliefs
and practices that don't
align with the CRC's definition.
So this stat pretty much applies to
evangelical Protestants.
Among pastors, the picture is better, but
still shockingly low.
About 37% of all pastors

(02:10):
hold a biblical worldview.
In more conservative groups, such as the
Southern Baptist Convention, the number
rises to roughly 78%.
Even there, however, many congregants
follow non-biblical patterns.
What is a worldview?
A worldview is simply how we perceive and

(02:31):
interpret the world.
It shapes what we believe, why
we believe it, and what we do.
Everyone has a worldview of some kind.
Regarding a biblical
worldview, George Barna says,
A biblical worldview is a means of
experiencing, interpreting, and

(02:51):
responding to reality in light of
biblical perspectives.
This view provides a personal
understanding of every idea, opportunity,
and experience based on the
identification and application of
relevant biblical principles so that each
choice we make may be consistent with
God's principles and commands.

(03:11):
At the risk of seeming simplistic, it is
asking the question, "What would Jesus do
if He were in my shoes right now?"
And applying the answer without concern
for how we anticipate
the world will react.
A biblical worldview
is thinking like Jesus.
It is a way of making our faith practical
to every situation we face each day.

(03:35):
Being a biblical theist, which is another
term Barna uses to describe those with a
biblical worldview, being a biblical
theist isn't just adding the Bible to
your existing worldview.
Instead, it replaces a non-biblical
framework with Scripture
as the final authority.

(03:56):
Every belief, value, and decision must
flow from God's Word.
Without a biblical worldview, Christians
unconsciously adopt cultural assumptions.
They mix Scripture with personal
preference, emotion, or societal trends.
Barna calls this syncretism, and it

(04:19):
combines core beliefs and behaviors from
a variety of well-defined worldviews such
as Marxism, secular humanism, Eastern
mysticism, and postmodernism into an
individualized, customized blend.
It flows from emotions and
feelings more so than reason.

(04:42):
Syncretism is the dominant worldview of
92% of adults in the United States.
It's also the worldview of 87% of
born-again Christians, and it shows up in
beliefs and church practices.
So what does a biblical
worldview look like in practice?

(05:05):
Let's compare it with the alternatives.
A biblical worldview interprets truth,
morality, identity, and
purpose through Scripture.
Non-biblical worldviews rely on feelings,
culture, and convenience.
For example, the Bible defines right and
wrong as "God has revealed it."

(05:28):
In other words, there is
such a thing as absolute truth.
A non-biblical worldview adjusts our
behaviors, practices, and
morality based on context,
social norms, or feelings.
Among regular churchgoers, Barna found
that 49% say there is no

(05:50):
such thing as absolute truth.
These differences show up in how
Christians live, vote, worship, and
handle daily decisions.
And 87% of born-again
believers lack a biblical worldview.
It explains many puzzling church trends,
behaviors, and beliefs.

(06:12):
Here's a few I've noticed.
Attendance is valued
over biblical discipleship.
Many churches focus on metrics to the
exclusion of spiritual edification.
Pastors track attendance, donations, and
programs rather than spiritual growth.

(06:33):
Pastors prioritize marketing, special
events, or entertainment.
Meanwhile, members leave Scripture study
and personal discipleship behind.
The syncretistic source behind this is
secular success culture.
In other words, results
and growth define value.

(06:54):
The biblical counterpoint is that God
measures faithfulness
and obedience, not numbers.
Another trend is entertainment as the
focus of church gatherings.
Sunday mornings often feel like a show.
Dramatic lighting, multimedia, and
high-energy music dominate.

(07:15):
People measure spirituality by emotional
response and how pumped up they feel when
leaving the church building.
Socialship and obedience to Scripture are
put on the back burner.
The syncretistic source of this is a
therapeutic culture.
Feeling spiritual
replaces truth as the measure.

(07:37):
The biblical counterpoint is that we are
to worship God in spirit and in truth,
offering our lives in service
to Him, not just our emotions.
We've all noticed the moral compromise
that's happening in
the American churches.
Even in conservative churches, moral
standards are sometimes flexible.

(08:00):
Cohabitation, divorce without repentance,
or selective sexual ethics go
unchallenged to avoid
conflict or losing members.
A 2019 Pew Research study that analyzed
sermon content across the nation
determined that just 3% of all sermons

(08:25):
preached even mention the word sin.
The syncretistic source behind this is
cultural relativism.
Morality adjusts to avoid offense.
The biblical counterpoint?
God's commands define right and wrong.
Christians must confront and rebuke sin.

(08:48):
Another trend that lots of people have
noticed is a consumerist
mentality among churchgoers.
Churches have become a
spiritual marketplace.
Members choose congregations for
programs, music, or convenience.
Barna says that people view the local
church as a source of benefits rather

(09:10):
than a center for mutually accountable,
faith-based community.
Attendance becomes a lifestyle choice
rather than covenantal commitment.
The syncretistic source
behind this is consumerism.
Faith is a product or a
service for personal benefit.

(09:32):
The biblical counterpoint is that church
exists to serve God and edify one another
spiritually, not to
satisfy personal preference.
And the last one I'll mention is
redefining evangelism.
Outreach often focuses on events, sports
leagues, or social programs.

(09:55):
While they do sometimes attract people,
the gospel isn't clearly presented.
Men-d's enjoy community without
understanding
repentance or faith in Christ.
The syncretistic source here is
pragmatism and cultural accommodation.
Success is measured by participation, not

(10:17):
spiritual transformation.
The biblical counterpoint is that
evangelism declares Christ, and it calls
people to repentance and faith.
So why does this matter?
World view drives behavior.
World view shapes every decision.
How we vote, how we spend our money, how

(10:40):
we raise children and
respond to suffering.
Without a biblical lens, even born-again
Christians adopt cultural
assumptions over God's truth.
Syncretism explains behaviors that
otherwise seem contradictory.
Leaders can preach scripture
but act as if it isn't final.

(11:02):
Members claim faith
while conforming to culture.
Church gatherings
become entertainment events.
Moral standards are flexible, and
discipleship takes a back
seat if it happens at all.
A biblical worldview changes this.
It calls believers to think with God's

(11:23):
mind, to act according to His Word, and
let scripture shape every perception.
This isn't about legalism.
It's about seeing the world through the
truth that never changes.
So how do you stack up?
Where are you on the worldview spectrum?
Arizona Christian University offers a

(11:45):
biblical worldview assessment to help you
see where you fall on
the worldview spectrum.
While it isn't free, it is probably
scientifically rigorous.
If you'd like a quick free alternative,
Summit Ministries provides a brief
worldview checkup that
takes just a few minutes.
I'll put links to both of these in the

(12:07):
episode description.
So this episode is an introduction, and
this topic is a deep well.
Understanding the
problem is only the first step.
In the coming weeks, I'll tackle a few
topics on modern church trends which have
clearly emerged from thinking that
doesn't flow from a biblical worldview.

(12:31):
Barna notes that the biblical worldview
is shuffling toward the edge of a cliff.
As things stand today, biblical theism is
much closer to extinction in America than
it is to influencing
the soul of the nation.
So if churches and parents want their
children to retain a biblical worldview,

(12:54):
they must teach scripture consistently,
model obedience, and
challenge cultural assumptions.
Without intentional discipleship, the
American church's destiny is that which
now exists in Europe.
Only a remnant of true believers remain.
If we want to reverse this trend, we must

(13:17):
return to scripture in
every part of our life.
Home, church, and community.