Many Americans Believe
in the Bible but Think Muslims Also Go to Heaven
BOB SMIETANA / LIFEWAY
Two-thirds of Americans (64 percent) say God accepts the worship of all religions, including Christianity, Judaism and Islam.
Americans don't know much
about theology.
.
Most say God wrote the Bible. But they're not sure everything in it is true.
.
Most say God wrote the Bible. But they're not sure everything in it is true.
Six in 10 say everyone
eventually goes to heaven, but half say only those who believe in Jesus will be
saved. And while 7 in 10 say there's only one true God—Father, Son and Holy
Spirit—two-thirds say God accepts worship of all faiths.
Those are among the
findings of a new survey of American views on
Christian theology from Nashville-based LifeWay Research.
Scott McConnell, executive director
of LifeWay Research, says most Americans still identify as Christians. But they
seem to be confused about some of the details of their faith.
For example, he says, about
two-thirds of Americans believe Jesus is God while half say Jesus is a being created
by God. Those two beliefs don't seem to match, he says.
"Contradictory and
incompatible beliefs are OK for most people," McConnell says.
The online survey on
theology was sponsored by Orlando-based Ligonier Ministries. Researchers asked
47 questions on topics from prayer and the Bible to heaven and hell.
Among the findings:
Americans think God likes
all religions.
Two-thirds of Americans (64
percent) say God accepts the worship of all religions, including Christianity,
Judaism and Islam. Twenty-four percent disagree. Twelve percent are not sure.
Americans of all ages hold
this belief, from those 18 to 34 years old (62 percent) to those 50 and older
(67 percent). More than half of African-Americans (69 percent), Hispanics (65
percent), whites (63 percent) and Asian-Americans (57 percent) agree.
The one holdout: Americans
with evangelical beliefs (48 percent) are less likely than Americans who don't
have evangelical beliefs (67 percent) to hold this view.
Evangelical believers say
hell is for real. Other Americans aren't so sure.
Eighty-four percent of
those who hold evangelical beliefs say hell is a place of eternal judgment,
where God sends all people who do not personally trust in Jesus Christ. Only 30
percent of Americans who don't have evangelical beliefs hold that view.
Overall, fewer than half
(40 percent) of Americans say those who don't believe in Jesus will go to hell.
Many evangelical believers
say everybody goes to heaven. They also believe that only those who trust Jesus
as their Savior are saved.
Two-thirds of those with
evangelical beliefs (64 percent) say heaven is a place where all people will
ultimately be reunited with their loved ones. That's slightly higher than
Americans in general (60 percent).
By definition, all those
with evangelical beliefs affirm that only people who trust in Jesus Christ
alone as their Savior receive God's free gift of eternal salvation. Overall,
about half of Americans (54 percent) say only those who trust in Jesus Christ
alone receive eternal salvation.
Everybody sins, but it's no
big deal.
Americans admit they aren't
perfect. But they give each other the benefit of the doubt. Two-thirds (65
percent) agree that everyone sins a little, but most people are good by nature.
More than half (57 percent)
say it would be fair for God to show His wrath against sin. But that wrath
seems to be reserved only for the worst sinners.
Three-quarters (74 percent)
of Americans disagree with the idea that even the smallest sin deserves eternal
damnation. That includes almost two-thirds (62 percent) who strongly disagree.
The resurrection really
happened, but not everything else in the Bible did.
More than half of Americans
(58 percent) say God is the author of the Bible. About half say the Bible alone
is the written Word of God (52 percent).
Two-thirds of Americans (64
percent) say the biblical accounts of the physical (bodily) resurrection of
Jesus are completely accurate. A quarter (23 percent) disagree. Thirteen
percent are not sure.
Almost all of those with
evangelical beliefs (98 percent) agree, as do more than half of Americans who
do not hold evangelical beliefs (56 percent).
Fewer than half of
Americans (47 percent) say the Bible is 100 percent accurate in all it teaches.
Forty-three percent disagree. Ten percent are not sure.
Americans are also split
over whether the Bible is literally true. Just under half (44 percent) say the
Bible contains helpful myths but isn't literally true. Forty-five percent
disagree.
Half of Americans (51
percent) say the Bible was written for each person to interpret as he or she
chooses. Forty percent disagree. Nine percent are not sure.
Americans believe in the
Trinity. But it's complicated.
Seven out of 10 Americans
(69 percent) agree there is one true God in three persons: God the Father, God
the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Six in 10 say Jesus is both divine and human
(61 percent).
But they're fuzzy on the
details of the Trinity. More than half (52 percent) say Jesus is the first and
greatest being created by God. And 56 percent say the Holy Spirit is a force
rather than a person.
The Holy Spirit seems to be
particularly confusing: A quarter (28 percent) say the Spirit is a divine being
but not equal to God the Father and Jesus. Half (51 percent) disagree.
Twenty-one percent are not sure.
Americans disagree about
sex, abortion, homosexuality and gender.
About half of Americans (49
percent) say sex outside of traditional marriage is a sin. Forty-four percent
say it's not a sin. Seven percent are not sure.
Forty-nine percent say
abortion is a sin. Forty percent say it is not. Eleven percent are not sure.
Almost 4 in 10 (38 percent) say gender identity is a matter of choice. Half (51
percent) disagree. One in 10 (11 percent) is not sure.
Forty-two percent of
Americans say the Bible's condemnation of homosexual behavior doesn't apply
today. Forty-four percent disagree. Fourteen percent are not sure.
Women (53 percent) are more
likely than men (45 percent) to say sex outside of marriage is a sin. Those who
are high school grads or less (56 percent) are more likely to agree than those
with bachelor's degrees (44 percent) or graduate degrees (40 percent).
Those with evangelical
beliefs (91 percent) are more than twice as likely to agree as those who do not
have evangelical beliefs (40 percent).
Americans with evangelical
beliefs (87 percent) are more likely to say abortion is a sin than other
Americans (41 percent). They are also less likely (32 percent) to say gender
identity is a choice than other Americans (40 percent).
Personal salvation takes
work.
Three-quarters of Americans
(77 percent) say people must contribute their own effort for personal
salvation. Half of Americans (52 percent) say good deeds help them earn a spot
in heaven.
Sixty percent agree that
Jesus Christ's death on the cross is the only sacrifice that could remove the
penalty of their sin.
Withholding communion is
frowned upon.
Sixty-two percent of
churchgoers disagree with the statement, "My local church has the
authority to withhold the Lord's Supper from me and exclude me from the
fellowship of the church." Twenty-nine percent agree. Nine percent are not
sure.
Men are more likely to
agree (32 percent) than women (27 percent). Churchgoers with household incomes
over $100,000 (65 percent) are more likely to disagree than those with incomes
less than $25,000 (56 percent).
Those with evangelical
beliefs (38 percent) are more likely to say a church can withhold communion or
exclude people than churchgoers who do not hold evangelical beliefs (25
percent).
Most Americans don't buy
the prosperity gospel—especially if they have money.
Two-thirds (63 percent)
disagree with the idea that God will always reward true faith with material
blessings. A quarter agree. Twelve percent are not sure.
Men (28 percent) are more
likely to believe in the prosperity gospel than women (22 percent). Poor
Americans—those with incomes under $25,000—are more likely (28 percent) to
agree than those with incomes over $100,000 (20 percent).
Those with high school
degrees or less (33 percent) are more likely to believe that God blesses the
faithful with material blessings than those with graduate degrees (18 percent).
Americans with evangelical
beliefs (37 percent) are most likely to agree with the prosperity gospel.
Americans who do not hold evangelical beliefs are more skeptical (23 percent).
McConnell said Christian
theology is both simple and complicated. Most Americans agree with simple
truths like "Jesus arose" and "Jesus saves," he said, but
few believe they need saving or they are not good by nature.
"Basic Christian
theology is easy to find on a church's beliefs webpage, yet most Americans
don't understand how the pieces are related," he said.
.
.
RELATED POSTS:
Is Jesus the Only Way?
.
Examine Yourself
.
.
..
What
do I need to know in order to survive the end times?
http://puricarefiles.blogspot.com/2016/05/end-times-bible-is-gods-revelation-to.html.
.
.
.
.
.
.
"Standing
on the Promises"
Russell K.
Carter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56e3XFRtmY8WorshipVideos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAO0ML8waRcbetheldugger
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rx1gjcXroZQKidsWorshipSongs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzyV8CZ-8Zscanaanoptical
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haL8xlX2KYUTheTrueSeven
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D88yJ36nwNsTheStatlerBrothers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyrbWS8-ZGUnormelsanira
lyrics
1. Standing on the
promises of Christ my King,
Through eternal ages let His praises ring,
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.
Through eternal ages let His praises ring,
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.
o
Refrain:
Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God my Savior;
Standing, standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God.
Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God my Savior;
Standing, standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God.
2. Standing on the
promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.
3. Standing on the
promises I now can see
Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me;
Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free,
Standing on the promises of God.
Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me;
Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free,
Standing on the promises of God.
4. Standing on the
promises of Christ the Lord,
Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord,
Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,
Standing on the promises of God.
Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord,
Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,
Standing on the promises of God.
5. Standing on the
promises I cannot fall,
List’ning every moment to the Spirit’s call,
Resting in my Savior as my all in all,
Standing on the promises of God.
List’ning every moment to the Spirit’s call,
Resting in my Savior as my all in all,
Standing on the promises of God.
"And this is what he has promised us, eternal
life." 1 John 2:25
3 Reasons Why you should
read Life in the Spirit. 1) Get to know the Holy Spirit. 2) Learn to enter
God's presence 3) Hear God's voice clearly! Go
deeper!
Has God called you to be a leader? Ministry
Today magazine is the source that Christian leaders who want to serve with
passion and purpose turn to. Subscribe now and receive a free
leadership book.
http://www.charismanews.com/culture/60247-many-americans-believe-in-the-bible-but-think-muslims-also-go-to-heaven
No comments:
Post a Comment