Every year Ligonier Ministries and Lifeway Research partner together to compare the theological beliefs of average Americans with those who claim to be evangelical Christians. This year’s survey report has some encouraging news, but also some red flag warning signs. The most disturbing news is that an alarming 1/3 of evangelical Christians, believe that Jesus was merely a great teacher, and not divine. That is no better than what the average American, including non-church going ones, believe about Jesus. If you think that American evangelicals are being adequately taught the basics in Christian doctrine, you might want to think again (Read my case for why churches need to do a better job at Christian instruction, otherwise known as “catechesis”, at all ages).
Follow the link here for the State of Theology 2020 report’s key findings, or read the full report.
Veracity 
September 8th, 2020 at 8:09 pm
Brother Clarke, I am more than a little confused here. It is not possible that “1/3 of evangelical Christians” do not believe in the deity of Jesus. It is not possible because if you do not believe in the deity of Jesus, you are not an “evangelical Christian” period. Dave ________________________________
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September 8th, 2020 at 8:42 pm
That’s what would I say! Thanks, Dave.
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September 15th, 2020 at 10:21 am
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September 9th, 2020 at 5:04 pm
The phrase “evangelical Christian” has been hijacked. We’re not arguing the finer points of Bebbington’s Quadrilateral anymore. Conversionism, activism, biblicism, and crucicentrism? Nope. Now it somehow means an angry white Republican.
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September 9th, 2020 at 5:09 pm
Here is how the survey defined “evangelical”. It makes me wonder how folks interviewed define some of terminology myself….. “angry white Republican” may not be that far off:
“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.”
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