CULTURE: Survey Finds Most Christians View Bible as Wisest Daily Life Guide
(QUICK READ) — Evangelical Christians overwhelmingly view the Bible as the greatest influence on their personal decisions and discerning solutions to societal problems, according to an Institute for Faith & Culture study.
In a survey of 1,000 evangelical Americans on Christian cultural engagement, respondents identified as Protestant, non-denominational or within the evangelical religious tradition.
Among responses, learning from both personal Bible study and Bible-based church engagement reveals church attendance builds a capacity to share beliefs with others who hold different worldviews.
Southern Baptist church service (Photo by Benito sanity on Unsplash)
While 72 percent say they attend church on a weekly basis, and 37 percent say they read the Bible daily (with 32 percent reading it once to several times a week), a large majority at 79 percent say they believe the Bible is relevant for most daily decisions, suggesting a significant understanding of biblical teaching. A similar response at 80 percent say they understand how to apply what the Bible teaches to important life questions.
According to their website, The Institute for Faith & Culture “exists to equip Christians for this cultural moment to be salt and light in their sphere of influence, through the creation and curation of Biblical worldview resources.” The survey was conducted in partnership with Lifeway Christian Resources, a publishing house whose purpose, in part, is to equip churches to teach the Bible.
Upon application of biblical teaching to personal and societal problems, 25 percent of evangelicals said they always, with 32 percent often, test what they see in society against scripture.
While 24 percent responded that they have given up on culture and no longer attempt to influence it, 70 percent have not given up on American culture and are willing to seek to influence it through a biblical lens.
While few say they are not ready at all to share what the Bible says about hot-button issues, 35 percent are ready for most of these types of opportunities. Influencing culture as part of important discussions showed nearly half at 49 percent of those surveyed strongly agree they make political voting decisions based on biblical truth.
The study highlights a connection made by Bible-engaged respondents on personal decisions and cultural influence for repairing societal problems. Greg Koukl of Stand to Reason writes on the question of legislating morality and application of biblical understanding by evangelical Christians:
“If morality is not the basis for the proper use of legislative power, then what is? Personal whim? The interests of the elite? The private preferences of those in power? The fact is that morality is the only thing we can justifiably legislate.”
Koukl continues, “Aristotle observed that all law rests upon the necessary foundation of morality. Legitimate legislation enlists the power of government to advance the common good. Law not based on morality is tyranny.”