From Lifeway Research:
By Aaron Earls
Most American evangelicals believe Jesus’ Golden Rule—“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”—applies to politics. Some, however, see the political realm leading up to the 2020 elections as no place for niceness, according to a new study.
A Lifeway Research study sponsored by the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention (ERLC) explored the perspectives of American evangelicals on civility, politics, media consumption and how likely they are to engage with views different from their own.
“The results of this polling project were occasionally encouraging, frequently surprising and in some cases very much indicting,” said Russell Moore, president of the ERLC. “What this polling clearly shows is that there are forces driving the church apart from one another. That shouldn’t surprise us. But it should convict us.”
Most Evangelicals Say They Want to Play Nice in Politics
If nothing changes and statistical patterns hold, the U.S. church will continue to shrink in size and influence. But that’s not our only option.
By Aaron Earls
“You have two choices: change your habits or die.” Sometimes we need doctors to speak directly about the damage we’re doing to our bodies. They intend the seemingly harsh words to awaken us to the consequences we’re facing so we’ll adjust our lifestyles.
The church in the U.S. can’t get a similar, rousing diagnosis, but we can look at recent research that paints a troubling portrait.
The 2022 State of Theology study demonstrates the American public’s confusion about or maybe contradiction toward historic Christian theology. Unfortunately, the issues extend to many Christians in the U.S.
Dr. Jim Denison at FGGAM: More than ever before in American history, America’s Christians will need to be both courageous and persuasive. We will need to stand for biblical morality whatever the personal cost, remembering that “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). And we will need to persuade our fellow citizens that biblical morality is best for them and for society since we can no longer depend on legislation and legislators to do that job for us.
FGGAM Shares a Biblical Worldview Everyday:
“The Biblical worldview says there is a God—One who is personal, powerful and caring—who created the world and everything in it. It states unequivocally that man is created in God’s image, living in essence as God’s co-regent over creation. Mankind—born and unborn, rich and poor, able and disabled—has intrinsic worth. Almighty God is a sovereign God, ruler over nations, states, empires, and governments. He is to be worshiped and obeyed through the precepts and principles revealed in His infallible Word. He not only exists, but He is sovereign over all of history according to His wisdom and purposes, and He is intimately involved in every aspect of life.”