Few Christians Have Biblical Worldview-Barna

The Barna Group just released results of a survey examining changes in worldview among Christians over the last 13 years. For students who have taken the Rockbridge Seminary course, “The Theology and Practice of Discipleship,” the survey results point to the need for effective discipleship programs in the local church, especially for children (and to help parents become disciple-makers). Barna wrote:

Overall, the current research revealed that only 9% of all American adults have a biblical worldview. Among the sixty subgroups of respondents that the survey explored was one defined by those who said they have made a personal to commitment to Jesus Christ that is important in their life today and that they are certain that they will go to Heaven after they die only because they confessed their sins and accepted Christ as their savior. Labeled “born again Christians,” the study discovered that they were twice as likely as the average adult to possess a biblical worldview. However, that meant that even among born again Christians, less than one out of every five (19%) had such an outlook on life.

The firm’s studies have also pointed out that a person’s worldview is primarily shaped and is firmly in place by the time someone reaches the age of 13; it is refined through experience during the teen and early adult years; and then it is passed on to others during their adult life. Such studies underscore the necessity of parents and other influencers being intentional in how they help develop the worldview of children.

Read the full Barna Group study. You can subscribe to a free e-newsletter from The Barna Group.

Technology & the Generation Gap in Your Church

A research study was just released by The Barna Group titled “New Research Explores How Technology Drives the Generation Gap.” For Rockbridge Seminary students who have taken the course “The Theology and Practice of Fellowship,” you will recognize the challenges of building community in a way that is intra-generational. Barna’s report shows how the technological divide makes this even more of a challenge.

Here is one church’s attempt to bridge the generational divide in this video showing members how to use the church’s website. Success or bust?