What Is the Worldview of Americans, of Evangelicals?

What is the worldview of Americans in the evangelical Dr. Steven Nichols doing this today here on the Christian worldview radio program where the mission is to sharpen the biblical worldview of Christian and to share the good news that all people can be reconciled to God by faith in Jesus Christ, I'm David.

We hope the program and our website is the Christian worldview.org will thank you for joining us this week and on the Christian Realty as we talk about what is the worldview of Americans and of evangelicals. Lincoln here the preaching and teaching ministry founded by Dr. RC Sproul, who went to be home with the Lord last year conducts the state of theology survey every two years to gauge the religious beliefs of a cross-section of our society. The 2018 survey was recently released where people were asked to respond to 34. Statements such as, quote everyone sins a little, but most people are good by nature or quote the Bible.

Like all sacred writings contains helpful accounts of ancient myths, but is not literally true. Unquote just to give you a little preview 52% over half of evangelicals are agreed that people are good by nature and 53% of millennial's agreed. The Bible is not literally true responses to these statements, and others in the survey are tragic but not surprising. So how is that the case with Dr. Steven Nichols, the chief academic officer for Lincoln your ministries joins us today in the Christian worldview to dive into the findings of the survey how the general society and even evangelicals have formed such a nonbiblical worldview and how the church and individual Christians should respond. Let's get to the first segment of the interview with Dr. Steven Nichols were going to get into today. The league in your state of theology survey link in your ministries founded by Dr. scroll has done this survey several times over the years to get an idea of what people believe what Christians believe about theology. I just want to start out by playing a sound bite.

Just to give listeners the taste of the types of questions that are asked in this one has to do with do you believe in God. This was done in Seattle. These are just man on the street interviews that they did here is that question you believe there is a creator cites God is my name. They don't necessarily believe in God and believe in a higher being, I guess.

I believe they are take care of as often as you like to go very far.

Whatever it is a lot of control over us in our lives. I don't really know too much. Seven is on the God is supreme one that looked to for advice and guidance, mostly, and not surprisingly, Steve. People are all over the place on their their answers to such a kind of a fundamental question do you believe there is a God just give us some context on this link in your state of theology survey as to what it is and why Lincoln your does it back in 2014. Third time we've administered it to return to do every two years generally get a snapshot of results now, but also over time ~a longitudinal study and longitudinal data. We did it in 2014, 2016 2018 and the idea here is, and we talk about religion.

We talk about Americans and their belief in God or whatever cultural Christianity means this is a 34 question theological survey that has really deep dives into matters of theology, so we were getting past the surface here of some sort of surface he Christianity surface.

The belief of God in getting into deep theological beliefs. This is that preschool speech. Know your audience and so the idea here is what are we dealing with what the general American population believe on key theological and even ethical issues and also through some of the demographic data being able to look at evangelicals were asking the question, what is believed within the church. So were looking at both that theological beliefs of Americans.

Whether were in the church are outside the church. So for the purposes of the survey. What is the definition of evangelical will great to first of all just over 20% of them in the survey week we did the survey conjunction with likely resources, which is a trusted research arm. We surveyed 3002 people and just put that into perspective. Many of these Gallup national polls are a thousand people. So this is a great very sizable sample going to yield significant results of that 680 so just over that 20% mark are self identified as evangelicals.

Now we also have the final four questions of the 34 questions are supplied by the national Association of Evangelicals and they been this sort of historic what's called the quadrilateral fourfold understanding of what it means to be evangelical in those final four statement at that. So it's not just a self identifying label. It's also a litmus test of beliefs for that label. Evangelical will probably get into them as I go through some of the survey questions but in a bullet point fashion what were those four basic points of evangelical sure. So the first one is a belief in the authority of Scripture. The second one is the necessity of conversion to to be converted, and the necessity of the new birth, you must be born again right up so evangelical the gospel.

Thirdly, the substitutionary atonement of Christ on the cross. So now we have a theological substance to the gospel and then forcefully the idea that the gospel must be shared that it is incumbent upon us to actually evangelize and witness so that's a way of getting at what it means to be an evangelical.

It's the website where you can find all these statements and questions and answers in statistics is the state of theology.com are talking today with Dr. Steven Nichols on the Christian worldview. He's the president of Reformation Bible college in our topic is what is the worldview of Americans and of evangelicals. As we look at Lincoln years most recent survey. Now let's talk about evangelicals, some of their beliefs from this survey.

But before we do. I would like to play a soundbite of a question about sin to a general audience and then we'll get into how evangelicals respond to a similar question. How would you define what you believe there is anything you know things that people around you are wrong. It's all the same as I don't think my nature man is sinful and this is just me. I'm not too familiar with exactly what is about to send you but I don't think my nature, man is a no.

If you have the answer. Interestingly, he ended that particular answer.

If you have the answer like to know will get into the house. Evangelical audience answered that question about sin and some other issues that I think are somewhat surprising listeners to be surprisingly give three different statements with the evangelical response statement number 11, they were asked everyone's sins a little, but most people are good by nature, 52% of evangelicals agree with that statement that everyone sins let a little but most people are good by nature's gift to more before I follow up with a question statement number 30 religious belief is a matter of personal opinion, it is not about objective truth evangelicals, 32, nearly 1/3 of evangelicals agree with that statement one more statement number three in the survey God accepts the worship of all religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. The finding from the survey was 51% of evangelicals agree with that. While 42% disagree. Now these statements are clearly in contradiction of Scripture. You could just go up chapter and verse that contradicts what that's what these three statements are in yet a high percentage of evangelicals are very confused or get the wrong answer here what what explains this kind of response from professing evangelicals showed. We really do not suffer from an abundance of theological awareness in the church we lack theological awareness of the church think this through forcing were good by nature, when the need for the gospel and what are we saying Christ died to accomplish were good by nature in order to truly understand this gospel. This evangel that we proclaim we need to see ourselves as sinners and me. I think that a difficult thing for the general population of America to see and that's why we see so many of the general population.

Think sure were good by nature, but to see evangelicals say that means were just totally impacted by the culture we live them, not by the word of God. When you get to that third statement you mentioned, which is basically a question about pluralism. This is killing the general population over two thirds of Americans are pluralists that probably shouldn't surprise us.

We just live in this age of tolerance and who wants to say when religions rock for there to be a simple majority of evangelicals who affirm pluralism is chilling and what this should signal to is the need to be more careful, more thorough, more explicit about teaching theology within the church and shift the basics of the gospel, even within the church. Dr. Steven Nichols with us today in the Christian worldview talking about what is the worldview of Americans and of evangelicals based on the most recent state of theology survey done by Ligonier ministries, of which he is the chief academic officer is also the president of Reformation Bible college. Their website is Reformation Bible college.org just a couple more pull a few things out from the survey. Let's get move from evangelicals into the broader population of just US adults.

It says in the survey an alarming 69% of people disagree that even the smallest sin deserves eternal damnation with 58% strongly disagree. The statement was number 12 on the survey was even the smallest sin deserves eternal damnation.

The finding is that only 23% of people agree with that versus 69% disagree. I think this is an interesting question because when you explain the gospel to someone when you get to who God is and he is holy and he's the creator. Then you move into who man is a man is sinful and separated from God.

I think the worldview today says oh yeah I've sinned that a few sins of done this or that wrong but it seems like disproportionate punishment for God to punish me in the eternity in hell for eternity because I send a couple times so my question for you. Steve is how to explain this truth about God's just judgment and what we deserve. Even if we had just send one time in life which no one of course does.

But even over one send. How was that just to explain that to someone today. Okay, that's an interesting question. I think it's a very important one for the for the the mind of our day to be able to answer that question about God judging people to help Dr. Steven Nichols as our guest today on the Christian worldview from licking your ministries or talk with the state of theology survey from Ligon year that they recently did when we return from this break will get into the second segment with Dr. Nichols. Stay tuned. Much more coming up today on the Christian worldview. I'm David Wheaton, social justice is the gospel to become the mantra of many evangelicals rectifying perceived inequities of race, gender and sexuality, poverty, immigration, amongst others, is considered a top priority. But what exactly is social justice is working for social justice. The biblical mandate and application of the gospel Kalb Eisner has written an insightful booklet entitled social justice. How good intentions undermine justice in gospel. Also included in this revised 44 page booklet is a copy of the just-released statement on social justice in the gospel. You can order the social justice booklet or donation of any amount to the Christian will go to the Christian worldview.org or call one AAA 46 2233 right to Box 401 Excelsior, MN 55331. The mission of the Christian worldview is to sharpen the biblical worldview of Christians and to share the good news that all people can be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ for when Christians have a stronger faith. And when unbelievers come to saving faith lives and families and churches and communities are change for the glory of God. The Christian worldview is a listener supported ministry. You can help us in our mission to impact hearts and minds by making a donation of any amount or becoming a monthly partner. All donations are tax-deductible. You can give online@thechristianworldview.org or calling us toll-free 1888 646-2233. When you give like to thank you by sending you a current resource. Monthly partners can choose to receive resources throughout the year, one AAA eight 646-2233 or go to the Christian worldview.org. Thank you for your support.

Thank you for joining us today on the Christian world radio program get back to the interview with Dr. Steven Nichols of licking your ministries about their status theology survey just one remind you that you should have received your receiving the Christian review annual print letter and resource guide that should be a male. This is where she received ours though I know it's on the way. So take a look at that.

Hope you enjoy that letter and be sure to take advantage of some of the resources from our store that we offer for Christmas gifts this year and that we have set some of them on the and in the letter and the resource form of the letter but we have all of them on our website the Christian review.org so you can take advantage of that and you can also take advantage for you podcast is out there who download the program of our new element called short takes and I you can just get that for subscribing to our free podcast within the program, Dr. Steven Nichols is joining us from licking your ministry to talk about their status theology survey and I let's get back to the second segment of the interview with Dr. Nichols.

So my question for you. Steve is how to explain this truth about God's just judgment and what we deserve. Even if we had just send one time in life which no one of course does.

But even over one send. How was that just to explain that to someone today. One thing it just shows how far we are removed from a true view of God is if we have this view of God that somehow comes from our own making.

Or is sort of a bottom up. You can understand the response to this question it.

It's almost like this is just the absolute injustice that there could be some standard that would be so high that would would have such a punishment for the smallest but that only works if we come at who God is based on who we think God should be or how we think God should act if we come at this from what God says about himself and who God says he is.

If you just read through the Psalms you come to grips with who God is and you get a sense that the psalmist is fully aware that God is both ready to crush us. He has that strong omnipotent right arm. He he is able to crush us but to God must crush off because he is pure and just and holy and you come out from the Psalms recognizing that but for Christ. My my sacrifice my perfect sinless sacrifice. I would be justly and rightly crushed by the power of God's justice. You mentioned RC at the at the beginning and it's interesting. RC was converted as a college student talks about reading the Old Testament for the first time as a as a Christian and he says my and he never lost this impression from that first reading. This is a God who plays for keeps.

And so we set aside what we think about God and let God declare for us. You don't get this great scene from other so there's this Old Testament story. The Arkin marching in attendance toppling. What does the do we reaches out to steady the ark because he doesn't wanted to touch the ground and in the process he is violating God's commandment. And he struck dead for touching the ark, and the idea is that the is rather presumptuous to think that he is more clean than the dirt. There is there is something we, God is who he says he is the me understand this question and what's interesting to me about this question is you have these sort of surveys work you do the strongly disagree to strongly agree the sort of five paths. Erin did pretty much even out on the scale, you come to this one and if you go to the website visually stunning how uneven it is and is not just that vast population disagrees exactly as you pointed out strongly disagree like there is something about this question that really triggers a vehement response and it basically comes down to my God would never do that and I think therein lies the problem. It's it's not our conception of God is who God is and now we have this understanding of justice and now we also recognize how abundant and good kind. God is love and mercy and making the layout of this damnation for us through offering his perfect son, his beloved son after sacrifice status, crushing us what we deserve. He crushed his own son for our sin. I appreciate your answer there Steve because I did.

This is the one question I think that Reid really did stand out in the survey because this the one that the modern mind wrestles with. They just think that God should be able to the God of their making should he should just be able to do so will forget about him.

God of love I don't have to worry about that.

It is set aside and this is not the God of the Bible's Dr. Steven Nichols with us today on the Christian world you the president of Reformation Bible college in Florida.

Also the chief academic officer for Lincoln air ministries were talking about the state of theology survey by licking your ministries for 2018. Steve, let's get into an age demographic within the survey of millennial's, those aged 18 to 34 were to get into what their views are in one of the questions. One of the statements in the server has to do with Scripture. The Bible is the inspired word of God is that is it true, let me play a sound bite. First of how the general audience, not millennial's, but just a general audience has a view of Scripture or reading Scripture ever read the Bible the Bible as literature class in college.

That's about as far as I got in the ring. I am skeptical of organized religions run by men marrying very long time and learning me contact the context is different now is that I still think it's the overarching message is that it sends her good things that can be taken away from one lady got the answer right as an Orthodox view as an observer, Scripture claims to be inerrant and infallible, but millennial's in particular, here, those aged 18 to 34. The statement in the survey.

Number 14 was the Bible like all sacred writings contains helpful accounts of ancient myths, but is not literally true. So the finding was not. This is of millennial's 18 to 34. The finding was this the general audience that we've not just evangelical millennial's, but in general, millennial's, so 53% of participants aged 18 to 34 agree with that, that the Bible contains some helpful accounts of ancient myths, but is not literally true. So how is this particular survey question on one's view of Scripture maybe can be boiled down as the cornerstone to all the other questions in other words, if you don't get this one right you can be all over the place. On the other ones. Becky read where the dominoes are going to fall to push in the direction of biblical authority.

Hopefully you will have Orthodox doctrines because you got that right source of authority to answer a question, but if we if we do not go in that direction.

We reject biblical authority.

We look elsewhere for answers to these questions and what we think about God what we think about ourselves we think about what we think about ethical issues fall in the wrong direction. And trust me you bring this one up. There's this question later in the survey it's dealing with Scripture, but addresses an ethical issue and it is really interesting look at millennial's on this point, the statement is number 29 and it is the Bible's condemnation of homosexual behavior doesn't apply today and we specifically worded the question that way because we wanted to say here. View the Bible said one thing but we we know differently now and in the 2000 and we have the advantage of social sciences, etc. so we can think differently now the general population. 44% agree with that statement was kind of interesting because that means the majority of Americans think the Bible does apply to you, homosexuality, evangelical general population. 44%. You go to millennial's and their eight point out ahead, which is significant given the sample so we go to millennial's in their 52% saying the Bible's condemnation of homosexual behavior doesn't apply in what you're seeing is millennial's are growing up in a different moment than others, and you got them pegged this between 18 and 34 they've lived in a different world.

It had exposure to all sorts of things different religions, etc. different approaches, gender, choice in terms of sexual choice and so what you're seeing is the impact again of culture on their thinking and they're looking past the Scriptures and they're trying to look to their own horizon and the sort of authoritative voices of today to be there authority and that's where they're taking their lead so you're exactly right. This could be the root of the problem because the question is, what is your authority for what you believe is either the word or cannot benefit God's word. Well that's gonna push you in the right direction. And if it's not God's word and push you in the wrong direction. Okay, listening to an interview with Steven Nichols today, the chief academic officer for your ministries and what you just said about the word of God is this your bottom line authority for what you know and believe about all matters of life and faith is to take you in one direction and if it's not orifice mixed with something else. This meant taking a very different direction. That is why we do the Christian really radio program so that we can think biblically and then live accordingly back after this DVD, the death of discernment. Mike Gendron uses the analogy from AW tells red cells are like faith that carry life-giving oxygen to every part of the body white cells. On the other hand, are discernment they pounce upon dead and toxic matter and carry it out of the body. Each member in the body of Christ is white blood cell, we need to identify doctrinal error and make sure it gets out of the body. That's the only way the body of Christ can remain strong. The death of discernment DVD contains two messages by Mike Gendron. You can order it for donation of any amount to the Christian worldview. Normal retail is $15 plus shipping. Go to the Christian world.more more, one AAA 646-2233 or right Box 401, Excelsior, MN 55331. Be sure to take advantage of two free resources that will keep you informed and sharpen your world. The first is the Christian world weekly email which comes your inbox each Friday contains the upcoming radio along with need to read articles, teacher resources, special events and audio the previous program.

The second is the Christian world annual letter, which is delivered to your mailbox. In November it contains a UN letter from host, David. We had a listing of our storylines including DVDs, books, children's materials and you can sign up for the weekly email and annual by visiting the Christian world.calling one AAA 646-2230 through your email and mailing address will never be shipped and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Call one AAA 646-2233 or visit the Christian world.thanks for joining us today in the Christian worldview radio program on David we hosted our topic today is what is the worldview of Americans and of evangelical based on the findings and the recent leg and year data theology survey for 2018 or guest is Dr. Steven Nichols who is the chief academic officer for Lincoln and also the present rep Reformation Bible college with a full segment ahead. Hope you're enjoying this interview. I certainly am was go straight back to the third segment with Dr. Steven Nichols now your last answer led into my next question about some of the questions on morality statement number 26 sex outside of traditional marriage is a sin.

Evangelicals answered that that they agree 54% actually agree with that.

That's up from last time to the survey in 2016 were only 47% agree that that sex outside of marriage is Samba now is 54%, so maybe that's moving in the right direction for that one. You mentioned the next one. Steve statement number 29 the Bible's condemnation of homosexual behavior doesn't apply today, millennial's 18 to 34, 51% agree with that, that the Bible doesn't apply today with regards to homosexuality.

I'll give you one more the issue of gender transgender is him statement 28 in the survey is gender identity is a matter of choice, millennial's answer that by saying 46% of them agree without so nearly half so you can just choose your gender. I think there is a read the question the follow-up question to these three responses from the survey as is there something the church has failed to do that was the general audience of event of millennial's, but is a something that the church has failed to do or teach, or should the church be doing something to counteract this aura really can't be counteracted. Is this just a way fallen on nonbelieving societies go to great?

I think we we don't want to just give up on culture nor do we want to have overly optimistic. You gotta recognize we do live in a fallen world and it is our task.

However, to proclaim the truth and it's especially our task within the church to make sure that those who are growing up in the church not only know the truth but they can contend for the truth and were just living in a different moment, and when I went to elementary school. It was never a discussion of what pronoun I would choose for myself and were living in an age where there's the presentation of from kids to college kids given the options to choose their pronoun. We need to speak push back against that. It seemed that gender identity is not a social construct it's written into the created order. We see that in the opening chapters of Genesis male and female created he them so we can push back on culture, but we should certainly be helping our folks within the church walls to understand these aren't up for grabs, and this is how God made us he made us as gendered individuals and he made us ultimately to be in heterosexual relationships and you get this right in the first chapters of Genesis male and female he created them and it was that God created the woman for the man and so these are created creation order issues that we should be talking but I think what we need to recognize again is that different world in which our kids are growing up and we should not be na�ve that and not underestimate how susceptible they are to influences so that we are speaking truth into their lives. And it's not just the truth of the gospel is also mild, so we are speaking truth in love into their lives but but I think what were seen culturally should not cause us to give up. It should cause us to sort of double down and re-commit to that task of helping our young people know the truth and contend for the need to be very clear and very biblical, full truth and full of grace because a lack of clarity on what the Bible says seems to be really really lacking in the broader culture and even within the church. Now Steve younger evangelicals seem to focus less on orthodoxy doctrines and so forth. Then ortho prexy living your faith out to so younger evangelicals are focused on more social issues, helping the poor, the oppressed minorities racial reconciliation immigration. These kinds of things did the older generation of believers lacks something in that regard like it was not enough attention or focus on those kinds of things, or is this the younger generation going down a road that's gonna take them away from a sound faith away from the proclamation of the gospel into more of a social theology wanted to go back to surgery and back into the 1920s and got Jake Reformation book Christianity and liberalism any start that book off with his Christianity. A doctrine or lifestyle, and he ends up saying both the liberals want to say Christianity is a lifestyle only does matter what you believe it matters how you live not know the doctrines of Christ. It's the Beatitudes are you living out the Beatitudes.

What me to death and it's brilliant. He says it's both. It's a doctrine of the lifestyle, but then he says that it's a doctrine first. The lifestyle is always the fruit of the gospel and never confuse the fruit of the gospel for the substance of the gospel. Now we can't just have the doctrine and not care about how we live. We are commanded to love our neighbor. That is the fruit of the gospel is very easy to distinguish the fruit of the gospel with the gospel itself was very easy to sever the fruit of the gospel from the gospel itself. And so, whether the older generation was better at it or not good at it that that may be debatable, but what we are seeing in this current especially the millennial of evangelicals is worth hearing them say the same thing the liberals were saying in the 1920s we can have Christianity without the doctrine. That's just not true.

Now let's applaud the desire to live out the gospel and the desire to see the fruit of the gospel displayed in our churches and in our lives but let's never sever the fruit of the gospel from the truth of the gospel and the doctrines of the gospel so I know it's an old book classic book, but I'd say let's just go back and read matron again. Liberalism in chapter 1. Let's just try to get that right because that's so crucial that relationship doctrine and lifestyle the gospel in the fruit of the gospel's Dr. Steven Nichols with us today in the Christian worldview the author of a book on J.

Gresham Meacham entitle a guided tour of his life and thoughts. Also, he's written on the Reformation how a monk in a mallet. Change the world and that's a good segue into the next question here.

Steve, could you just describe what you mean by what is the gospel and how someone can be made right with God and why there is a necessity for us was a call for us to be right with God, that great? Every clarity here so we begin with who God is. We begin with this idea that there is a creator and this creator has revealed himself in his word. He has made himself known in his word and what we've learned as we look to his word is that we, his creatures were disobedient to the season of Thanksgiving will there's a text in Romans one that says we did not give him thanks. Instead we sort of turned against God and worshiped the creation rather than the creator.

And that's our scent that's our sin before God with the sin of our first parent, Adam in the garden disregarded God's word disobeyed God, he plunged all of us into sin and the reality is, not only are we born a sinner but we sin and we turn our back on God, God in his graciousness, sent his son, his only son is beloved son and Jesus, when he came in the incarnation was born of the Virgin Mary, Jesus did what we cannot do that. He kept the law.

He was perfectly obedient to his father but he also undid what we did do and so while he was perfect and sinless and obedient. He was condemned to the cross and died on the cross and what Scripture says about this event. This historical event was that this was God pouring out his wrath upon sin. And so Jesus as our substitute in our place who died in our place and as this sinless, spotless lamb he took upon him. Our sin is so we can stand forgiven we can have our sins forgiven, we can approach this holy creator God that we are separated from and it's all because of what Christ done for us, to the gospel is very simple. God is holy.

We are sinful we need a substitute and that substitute is Jesus Christ and I were coming soon into the Christmas season here, and this is really the story of Christmas that Jesus came into this world to save us from our scent and he is the spotless lamb who can take away our sin to the gospel just points us to Christ and what he did for us on the cross called to respond to all you just said by repenting of our sin and entrusting by faith in who Christ is and what he did for us on the cross so so thank you very much for explaining the gospel Steve Dr. Steven Nichols that has been with us today on the Christian world view I were so thankful for you Dr. Nichols and thank you for attending the time explaining all a wide range of subjects today. We just wish all of God's best, and grace to you and your family all very kind of you think. Thanks for having me on this.

Really enjoyed the time with you. I really enjoyed that interview with Dr. Nichols. If you missed any of it.

You can always go to our website the Christian worldview.org in the final segment of the day coming up. Give some concluding thoughts on this survey in the state of theology that's next. Here's my kindred fee, kneeling his DVD and apostasy will see how apostasy is the result of Satan's relentless attacks on the church will also look at four steps that characterize a churches drift into apostasy, then will look at the history of the church, a chronological development of the Roman Catholic religion and its drift into apostasy and lastly and most importantly, what are you and I to do in the midst of this great apostasy on the growing ecumenical movement DVD is titled Roman Catholicism's drift into apostasy contains two messages, you can order it for a donation of any amount to the Christian world you normal retail is $15 plus that Christian world you.or or call one 846-2233 or right Box 401, Excelsior, MN 55331. Social justice is the gospel issue. This is become the mantra of many evangelicals rectifying perceived inequities of race, gender and sexuality, poverty, immigration, amongst others, is considered a top priority. What exactly is social justice is working for social justice. The biblical mandate and application of the gospel Kalb Eisner has written an insightful booklet entitled social justice. How good intentions undermine justice in gospel. Also included in this revised 44 page booklet is a copy of the just-released statement on social justice in the gospel. You can order the social justice booklet or donation of any amount to the Christian will go to the Christian worldview.org or call one AAA 46 2233 right to Box 401 Excelsior, MN 55331 zero and the person will program for joining us today talk about what is the worldview of Americans and of evangelical at the very beginning of the program. We we talked about the fact that this survey. The results of it are tragic but not surprising. How can something be tragic to have surprising well how is that well. It is tragic because as you hear the. The answers from the general audience to the statements in the survey that people are just there just all over the place. There just believe. Basically, according to just what they think is right there just making it up. They don't know but they think they know they talk pretty constantly with their answers but they're all different answers and of course when answers are mutually exclusive to each other.

They both can't be right, and they both possibly can be wrong.

So is tragic because so many people are so lost, as compared to what the Bible says, but it gets more tragic when you see those who should know the answers to these questions and these are pretty straightforward statements made in the server.

You can read them for yourself that the state of theology.com to read all 34 statements is how evangelicals professing evangelicals, answer questions, a high percentage of them at least answer questions and complete contradiction of Scripture. Everyone sins a little, but most people are good by nature. Religious belief is a matter of personal opinion is not about objective truth. God accepts the worship of all religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. When when you have evangelicals answering in the complete majority of 52% of the first 151 from the third third of the second question about objective truth when you have that higher percentage of evangelicals answering and complete contradiction of Scripture we have a problem in this really explains why we are where we are in our country today and look at the Bible says, Romans 310 man is good is really there is none righteous, no not one. There is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God.

All have turned aside, together they have become useless. There is none who does good. There is not even one so so man is inherently good.

How you answer that.

That way, then or that that there are many ways God accepts the worship of all religions, including Christianity and Judaism and Islam Judaism do not believe that Jesus Christ is the Messiah Islam doesn't believe anything to do with with Christ and that's a false religion. Jesus said in John 14 six I am the way, in the truth in the life. No one comes to the father but through me.

I mean, that's pretty clear it's you read that passage and you you cannot come to a conclusion that God would accept the religion of all religions like Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, and so how is this well is because evangelicals course the broader society's been affected by the educational system and median pop culture. But you know what, so have evangelicals as well.

They been influenced by the politically correct values of modern society that man is good beach can have her own truth.

There are many roads to God and these are all just non-risk viewpoints. No one is to be offended by taking the view that man is inherently good and that you know there's no such thing as objective truth. You could have your truth. I have my truth and that God accepts the worship of all religions and that that those are nonrisk viewpoints. No one is offended.

There, but be clear, this is a God of their own making.

This is not the God of the Bible. This really shows that evangelicals at least a lot of them have a very low view of Scripture. They don't believe Scripture for what it claims to be the inerrant the infallible the immutable word of God. That is our is God's revelation to us for what she wish to thank and how we should live. They really don't believe what God has clearly said in his word and then that leads to the conclusion will if you don't believe what God is said you perhaps you probably not saved because that's how you are Savior your saved by believing the revelation of God member Abraham believed God, and was reckoned to him for righteousness. That is, that is the V. The model verse in the New Testament of how one save mean you Abraham didn't believe in Jesus.

Back then, there was no full revelation of who Christ was there maybe was some that a Redeemer was coming, but Abraham was saved because he believed God, just as today were saved by believing God and oh by the way, we know that God has revealed that he sent his son to pay the penalty for our sin on the cross. That's how were saved by believing by faith will God is revealed. And so when evangelicals don't believe what God has revealed about some of these other statements you just wonder whether there actually truly say because if you don't believe a goddess said clearly about you know what are our nature, how can you be saved if you believe man is good by nature, you have to believe your sinful by nature. Because otherwise, why would you believe in Christ to rescue you to save you from sin and damnation that that that that the tragic but actually not surprising aspect of of the survey.

We talked also with Stephen Nichols about how they view one's view of Scripture is the cornerstone of all these other questions that mean that seems very fundamental that this is God's revelation to us. The Bible and if that's not our basis for our worldview, then just the ideas and words of men are going to drive Arrigo is like being in a like on a raft without a paddle. You just get a be blown all over the lake. Depending on what the winds of the day are and that's exactly how any nonbeliever is ready believer is who doesn't get informed as to what their worldview should be about all issues of life and faith on anything other than Scripture if they mix other things and with scriptures having so many worldviews are syncretistic. We believe a little bit the Bible little bit of this and that if you if you trust in the scientific community who's always changing their cold conclusions in our global warming was is going to do this in the doesn't do that this food is going to kill you and then find a tenant is not to kill you if you put your worldview based on the scientific community you're going to end up again being blown all over the lake. That's why the Bible all Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

The Bible and the Bible alone needs to be the fundamental bedrock for what we think we believe and how we act in life and what should the church be doing to counteract this, I think you can point back to the change in the church in America that the church no longer at least most churches do not preach the full counsel of God anymore.

The full Bible they they they they they preach the nonoffensive parts because they don't want to turn away. The world is a think that they don't have confidence in Scripture in the gospel God to change people so they they just preach the parts that they think people will like to hear and keep the people coming in, but is one pastor so well said, hard preaching. Preaching the hard truths produces soft parts soft preaching just focusing on the soft parts that the good parts of Scripture, so to speak produces hard hearts so we as people need to be praying that we would be bold and have opportunities to proclaim the full counsel of God, not just in church, but our conversations with people need to go back to Scripture in Scripture alone. Thank you for joining us today on the Christian radio program.

If you missed any program. Always go to the website the Christian world you.org take advantage of our store. This Christmas you live in a changing and challenging world, but there is one thing we can trust in encounter on Jesus Christ and his word are the same yesterday today and forever. Have a good weekend everyone.

We hope today's broadcast turned your heart toward God's word and sought to order a CD copy of today's program or sign up for our free weekly email or to find out how you can be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ go to our website the Christian world you.org, call us toll-free at one AAA 646-2233.

Christian worldview is a weekly one-hour radio program that is furnished by the over comer foundation and is supported by listeners and sponsors request one of our current resources with your donation of any amount go to the Christian worldview.org or call us toll-free at one AAA 8646 2233.2 SF Box 401, Excelsior, MN 55331 that's Box 401, Excelsior, MN 55331. Thanks for listening to the Christian world. Until next time think biblically live according