OPINION:
As spiritual revival breaks out across America, new surveys are exposing a complex and festering reality Christians simply cannot ignore: Despite spikes in biblical interest across the nation, moral confusion abounds.
Perhaps most tragically, apathy and ethical bewilderment are unfolding among regular churchgoers who are somehow unclear about the biblical perspective on key issues such as abortion, marriage and other related matters.
In fact, a new survey from the Family Research Council’s Center for Biblical Worldview found that people who attend church regularly are less certain than they were just two years ago that the Bible is “clear and decisive” on a slew of these essential issues.
For instance, the study found that just 65% of people surveyed think the Bible offers a clear perspective on the “definition of a legitimate marriage.” Despite being a majority view, this is down from 75% in 2023. Perhaps most disturbingly, about 8% said the Bible doesn’t speak at all about the issue.
And it doesn’t end there. Abortion was another of the ethical conundrums dealt with in the survey, with just 51% saying the Bible offers clear guardrails when it comes to the “morality of aborting an unborn child.” That same metric was at 65% in 2023.
Even the transgender conundrum seems to be less understood by routine churchgoers, with just 40% expressing the belief that the Bible offers a decisive and clear framework surrounding “whether transgenderism is morally acceptable,” down 12 points from the 52% observed in 2023.
These statistics should set off alarm bells, considering these dysfunctional decreases are being observed among regular churchgoers, not the general American populace.
Christians should have clarity on what the Bible proclaims, yet many are stricken with confusion, unable to discern what’s truly good, right and moral. For pastors, this is a clarion call, posing some important questions: Are preachers and churches doing enough to address key issues?
And, most importantly: If the ship isn’t righted, how do Christians properly convey truth to a watching world when they seem so radically confused?
As noted, these statistics come at a time of stunning revival, with college students and millions of Americans suddenly having interest in prayer, faith and church. Stories of mass baptisms and historic turns to God have dominated headlines in recent months.
But while these moves have been incredible to watch, one wonders what happens if these individuals on fire for God flock to congregations filled with muddled parishioners — a compass-less people ill-equipped to guide these seekers toward a proper biblical framework.
Make no mistake: The spiritual resurgence unfolding is incredibly exciting, but these statistics show a desperate need for revival within the hearts of congregants, as too many have lost their way in the midst of a wavering culture.
Of course, we shouldn’t be stunned by these developments, as social confusion has increased in recent years. Moral relativism has been propped up as some sort of viable alternative to truth, and the result is ethical chaos.
More broadly, the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University recently released data exposing what it calls a “steady erosion in how Americans understand and define sin.”
When presented with 12 behaviors considered traditionally to be sinful, most Americans see only half of these issues as sinful — and that disparity matters. In fact, a statement from CRC noted that the “redefinition of sin fuels social turbulence.”
“The new data from the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University (CRC) signals a dramatic shift in the nation’s moral compass and builds on earlier reports documenting widespread confusion about the existence and nature of sin,” a press release reads. “The new research found that some behaviors, such as drinking, gambling and working on the Sabbath, are rarely viewed as sinful, while others — like abortion, sexual fantasies and cheating on taxes — split public opinion.”
While most adults believe sin is real, CRC’s American Worldview Inventory 2025 exposes that there is mass confusion and apathy on the matter. Clearly, too many people have allowed culture to define morality rather than taking a stand for biblical truth and allowing it to permeate their hearts and minds.
So, what’s the solution? It must begin with pastors and churches taking a deeper role in defining biblical morality. No longer can Christian leaders assume their flocks are prepared to answer these questions nor can they presume parishioners have been unsullied by a confused culture.
Now is the time for preachers to speak with moral clarity and turn people toward Scripture for key answers. It should come as no surprise that an instilled biblical worldview is the element most able to help people preserve Christian morality.
Pastors and churches must build up congregants’ hearts and minds in this area to be able to discern what’s right and, in turn, be prepared to help new believers coming out of these mass revivals understand core truths.
• Billy Hallowell is a digital TV host and interviewer for Faithwire and CBN News and the co-host of CBN’s “Quick Start Podcast.” Mr. Hallowell is the author of four books.
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