The State of Theology in Cebu

11/1/2018 The State of Theology
The State of Theology
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What do Americans think about God, Jesus Christ, sin, and eternity?
Ligonier Ministries’ State of Theology survey helps uncover the answers.
Every two years, we take the theological temperature of the United
States to help Christians better understand today’s culture and equip the
church with better insights for discipleship. Read some of our key
findings from 2018 below and explore the data for yourself.
Evangelicals
Evangelicals have a great concern for the gospel, the evangel, yet a majority of
them also express some views that are contrary to the truth of the Bible. For
example, although evangelicals believe that Jesus died on the cross for their
salvation (see below), many do not fully understand the gravity of sin.
S TAT E M E N T N O. 1 1
Everyone sins a little, but most people are good by nature.
Evangelical respondents in 2018
Finding:
52% of evangelicals agree
40%
28%
30% 27%
25%
20% 17%
10%
3%
0%
D I S AG R E E N OT S U R E AG R E E
This idea flatly contradicts the Bible, which teaches the radical corruption of
every human being and declares that no one does good by nature (Rom. 3:10–
12). This is why we need the gospel in the first place—because none of us
is good.
Evangelicals are also confused about the exclusivity of Christianity and its
objective claims to truth. There has been a slight increase in people who agree
with this unorthodox view since 2016, though future surveys will need to confirm
this trend.
S TAT E M E N T N O. 3
God accepts the worship of all religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.

Finding:
2018: 51% agree vs. 42% disagree
50%
40% 36% 37%
30%
20%
14%
10% 6% 7%
0%
The Bible is clear that the gospel is the only way of salvation, and God will not
accept the worship of other faiths. It is only through Jesus Christ and by His
Spirit that we are able to worship the Father in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).
However, on an encouraging note, evangelicals overwhelmingly agree that

justification is by faith alone.
God counts a person as righteous not because of one’s works but only because of one’s
faith in Jesus Christ.
Finding:
91% agree vs. 7% disagree
90%
80%
81%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
10% 4% 3% 2%
0%
Strangely, while most evangelicals strongly believe in justification by faith alone,

they are confused about the person of Jesus Christ. On one hand, virtually all
evangelicals express support for Trinitarian doctrine. Yet at the same time, most
agree that Jesus is the first and greatest being created by God, which was a view
espoused by the ancient heretic Arius.
There is one true God in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the
Holy Spirit.
Finding:
100%
90% 94%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10% 2% 1% 3%
0%
0%
Jesus is the first and greatest being created by God.

Finding:
90%
80% 73%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20% 14%
4% 4% 5%
10%
0%
These results show the pressing need for Christians to be taught Christology,
especially as the outcome has gotten worse since 2016. There is a general lack of
teaching today on the person of Christ, a doctrine for which the early church
fought so hard. The Ligonier Statement on Christology has been carefully
formulated to restate historic, orthodox, biblical Christology.
Evangelicals were defined by LifeWay Research as people who strongly agreed with the following
four statements:
The Bible is the highest authority for what I believe.

It is very important for me personally to encourage non-Christians to trust Jesus Christ as
their Savior.
Jesus Christ’s death on the cross is the only sacrifice that could remove the penalty of my sin.
Only those who trust in Jesus Christ alone as their Savior receive God’s free gift of
eternal salvation.
U.S. Adults
The Holiness of God
When it comes to U.S. adults overall, a clear majority agree with well-known
doctrines of the Christian faith. But beneath the surface, they hold these truths
loosely. In particular, Americans do not seem to grasp the reality of
God’s holiness.
An alarming 69% of people disagree that even the smallest sin deserves eternal
damnation, with 58% strongly disagreeing.
Even the smallest sin deserves eternal damnation.
All participants in 2018
Finding:
If God is not holy, then sin is not a big deal. It is because of our understanding of
God’s holiness that we understand how significant sin is.
Moreover, a majority of Americans downplay the importance of the church’s

gathering together to worship God. This shows a characteristic American
emphasis on individuality, an individuality that runs counter to the
Bible’s teaching.
Worshiping alone or with one’s family is a valid replacement for regularly

attending church.
Finding:
Why do so many people have this casual outlook? Perhaps because of relativism,
the popular idea that religious beliefs are purely personal opinions.
Religious belief is a matter of personal opinion; it is not about objective truth.
Finding:
Even 32% of evangelicals say their religious beliefs are not objectively true.
Religious belief is a matter of personal opinion; it is not about objective truth.
Finding:
32% of evangelicals agree
If Christianity and its doctrines, such as the holiness of God and the resurrection
of Christ, are merely matters of personal opinion, then we are truly lost. This
statistic is a reminder that Christians must contend for the “true truth” of
Christianity when engaging with the culture. Jesus believed in absolute truth,
and He said that the truth would set people free (John 8:32).
Ethics
This year, for the first time, more Americans agree that the Bible’s teaching on
same-sex relationships is outdated than disagree.
The Bible’s condemnation of homosexual behavior doesn’t apply today.
Finding:
In only a few short decades, America’s sexual ethic has changed significantly,
and it continues to move away from a Christian ethic to a secular and
relativistic one.
However, the media may be exaggerating the extent of this upheaval. Many
Americans continue to agree with biblical ethics. Our 2018 survey finds a slim
majority in the United States now agree that abortion is a sin, up from 49%
in 2016.
Abortion is a sin.
Finding:
Age
The survey picks up some fascinating, and perhaps unexpected, results in the
Millennial (18–34) age range. The views of Millennials will eventually shape the
future of America. The 2018 results indicate strong confusion among Millennials,
and it will be important to monitor these trends in future surveys.
There has been a significant change for the better among Millennials across a
range of questions when compared to previous State of Theology surveys—so
much so that they score higher than any other age group in several areas.
Whether this is an anomaly or will continue unabated in future years remains to
be seen.
The percentage of those in this age range having evangelical beliefs rose
significantly to 18% in 2018 (up from 14% in 2016).
There was also a large increase in the percentage of Millennials affirming that
salvation is found in Christ alone and that Jesus Christ will return to judge
the world.
Only those who trust in Jesus Christ alone as their Savior receive God’s free gift of
eternal salvation.
Participants age 18–34 in 2016

Finding:
62% of participants age 18–34 agree, up from 53% in 2016.
There will be a time when Jesus Christ returns to judge all the people who have lived.
Finding:
At the same time, young adults appear to be drifting away from the Christian
worldview in other areas. Millennials are most likely to agree that the Bible is not
literally true.
The Bible, like all sacred writings, contains helpful accounts of ancient myths but is not
literally true.

Finding:
53% of participants age 18–34 agree, higher than both 2016 (46%) and 2014 (44%).
And a growing minority of Millennials see God as removed from their daily lives.
God is unconcerned with my day-to-day decisions.

Finding:
36% of participants age 18–34 agree, up from 30% in 2016 and 21% in 2014.
These results overall may indicate an increasingly stark polarization of views

among young adults.
Finally, the views of Millennials on ethical issues are noteworthy. Millennials are
most likely to say abortion is a sin—an increase from 2016.
Abortion is a sin.

Finding:
They are also most likely to disagree with sexual relations outside marriage.
Sex outside of traditional marriage is a sin.

Finding:
However, at the same time, this age group has the most liberal views on
homosexual behavior and gender identity—showing the powerful impact of our
increasingly secular culture on people’s thinking.
The Bible’s condemnation of homosexual behavior doesn’t apply today.
Participants age 18–34
Finding:
51% of participants age 18–34 agree
Gender identity is a matter of choice.
Participants age 18–34
Finding:
46% of participants age 18–34 agree
Conclusion
The 2018 State of Theology survey reveals deep confusion about the Bible’s
teaching, not only among Americans as a whole, but also among evangelicals.
There is something very wrong when a majority of Americans can give the
correct answers to basic Bible questions and at the same time say that their
beliefs are purely a matter of personal opinion.
These results show the urgent need for sound biblical teaching and the bold
preaching of the gospel. Millions of people do not understand the holiness of
God, the reality of sin, and the one way of salvation in Jesus Christ. There is
much work to be done, but it is our hope that these findings will serve the church
in its efforts to reach more people with the faithful proclamation of the truth of
God’s Word.
Explore all the survey results
V I S I T DATA E X P LO R E R
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11/1/2018 The State of Theology

The State of Theology

Everyone sins a little, but most people are good by nature.

Evangelical respondents in 2018

Evangelical respondents in 2016

40% 36% 37%

However, on an encouraging note, evangelicals overwhelmingly agree that

Evangelical respondents in 2018

Strangely, while most evangelicals strongly believe in justification by faith alone,

Evangelical respondents in 2018

97% agree vs. 3% disagree

Jesus is the first and greatest being created by God.

Evangelical respondents in 2016

The Bible is the highest authority for what I believe.

Even the smallest sin deserves eternal damnation.

All participants in 2018

Moreover, a majority of Americans downplay the importance of the church’s

Worshiping alone or with one’s family is a valid replacement for regularly

All participants in 2018

Religious belief is a matter of personal opinion; it is not about objective truth.

All participants in 2018

Religious belief is a matter of personal opinion; it is not about objective truth.

Evangelical respondents in 2018

The Bible’s condemnation of homosexual behavior doesn’t apply today.

All participants in 2018

All participants in 2018

Participants age 18–34 in 2016

Participants age 18–34 in 2016

Participants age 18–34 in 2018

Participants age 18–34 in 2014

God is unconcerned with my day-to-day decisions.

Participants age 18–34 in 2014

These results overall may indicate an increasingly stark polarization of views

Participants age 18–34 in 2016

Sex outside of traditional marriage is a sin.

Participants age 18–34 in 2016

The Bible’s condemnation of homosexual behavior doesn’t apply today.

Participants age 18–34

Gender identity is a matter of choice.

Participants age 18–34

46% of participants age 18–34 agree

Explore all the survey results

An Outreach of Ligonier © 2018 | Privacy Policy

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