Only 1 in 11 Christians Has a Biblical Worldview

Radio evangelist Chuck Baldwin, WorldNetDaily, and Whistleblower magazine have recently revisited findings by Christian opinion researcher George Barna that only 9% of born-again Christians have a Biblical perspective on life. “The problem with America’s Christianity today is that, for the most part, it doesn’t exist!” Baldwin said, in a June 1 broadcast.

We should revisit these figures too. They first appeared in a Barna Update December 1, 2003: “A Biblical Worldview Has a Radical Effect on a Person’s Life.”[1] Barna defined a Biblical worldview as belief in eight propositions:

Absolute moral truths exist. The Bible defines moral truth. Jesus Christ lived a sinless life. God is the all-powerful and all-knowing Creator of the universe, and He rules it today. Salvation is a gift from God and cannot be earned. Satan is real. Christians have a responsibility to share their faith in Christ with others. The Bible is accurate in all its teachings. What Does It Mean? “People’s views on morally acceptable behavior are deeply impacted by their worldview,” Barna wrote.

In general, he found, people who do not have a Biblical worldview are much more likely than those who do have a Biblical worldview to condone or engage in immoral behavior: cohabitation, drunkenness, homosexual activity, adultery, profanity, voluntary exposure to pornography, abortion, and gambling. For example, those who held a non-Biblical worldview were 31 times more likely to accept cohabitation than the Biblically faithful.

Nondenominational Protestant churches yielded the highest percentage of persons with a Biblical worldview (13%), with Pentecostal churches next (10%), and Baptists third (8%). Mainline Protestant churches (2%) and Catholics (1%) brought up the rear.

Given the prevalence of the non-Biblical worldview — in a country in which 80% of the people call themselves Christians — is it surprising that our entertainment industry cranks out smut? That our public schools teach moral relativism and hold “workshops” to teach children how to perform aberrant sex acts? That our politicians, judges, and business leaders aren’t much better?

Shocking, maybe. Distressing, to be sure. Thou Shalt Not Panic Let’s not panic. As bad as these statistics are, we who do have a Biblical worldview know that Christ sits enthroned at the right hand of the Father. All power in heaven and earth is given to Him (Matt. 28:18). His enemies shall be made His footstool (Ps. 110:1; Acts 2:34–35). Every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess Him Lord (Phil. 2:10–11). That is the end to which God has directed all of history. That is the message of the whole Bible, from Genesis to Revelation.

God’s Word is about truth, not self-esteem. Rather than be demoralized by findings like Barna’s, we should take them as indicators of where we are as a nation and where we need to go.

Acquiring a Biblical Worldview If America wanted to be a Godless nation, there would not have been such a decisive “values vote” in the 2004 election. Support for abortion would not be slipping in poll after poll. Eleven out of 11 states would not have amended their constitutions to block “gay marriage.” Mainline denominations would not be losing droves of members to Biblically faithful churches.

These are indications that more Americans would like to adopt a Biblical worldview. Speaking as someone who for much of his adult life did not have a Biblical outlook, my biggest problem was that I didn’t know I had a problem.

Read the Bible every day, making it an indispensable part of your daily routine — like getting dressed. It’s good to read about the Bible, to take a Bible study course, and to listen to Bible teachers, but there’s no substitute for the Bible itself. God will speak to you through His Scriptures — if you listen. Get into the habit of measuring all things by how they stack up against the Scriptures. To be able to do that, you have to acquire the familiarity with the Bible that comes with daily reading. Don’t ask, “What would Jesus do?” You don’t know because you’re not Jesus. Ask instead, “What does the Bible say?” This is the standard used by Jesus Himself and by His apostles (Rom. 4:3; Gal. 4:30). Strengthen your prayer life. Prayer is how you connect with God, person to Person. “There is none righteous, no, not one” (Rom. 3:10; Ps. 53:3); this means you, and everyone. We need God’s grace in our lives. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). No one else can pick us up when we stumble. No one else can help us to do better. There’s Hope Barna has reported one sign that more Americans are already trying to acquire a Biblical worldview. In an April 11, 2005 Barna Update, he found that 45% of adults in America read the Bible during a typical week — “a significant rise from the 31% measured in 1995,” he reported.[2]

A level of 45% still means there’s 55% left to go, and “during a typical week” can be improved to “every day.” Nevertheless, it’s progress — the kind of progress that, in time, ought to mean changes in the more distressing figures.

Examples of People Who Were Saved Before Being Baptized

Not only does the greatest weight of Scriptural testimony support the doctrine that salvation is by faith alone, but the New Testament actually gives us numerous examples of people who received salvation before they were baptized.

Here's an example:
After a lame man received healing, the apostle Peter began sharing the Gospel message with a crowd that had gathered:

Acts 3:11: "While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon's Colonnade."
Acts 3:12: "When Peter saw this, he said to them: "Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?"
Acts 3:13: "The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go."
Acts 3:14: "You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you."
Acts 3:15: "You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this."
Acts 3:16: "By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see."
Acts 3:17: ""Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders."
Acts 3:18: "But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer."
Acts 3:19: "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,"
Acts 3:20: "and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you--even Jesus."
Acts 3:21: "He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets."
Acts 3:22: "For Moses said, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you."
Acts 3:23: "Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people.'"
Acts 3:24: ""Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have foretold these days."
Acts 3:25: "And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, 'Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.'"
Acts 3:26: "When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.""

In the above passage, Peter spoke to a crowd about Jesus, and then Peter told the people to repent (Acts 3:19, above). Peter did not mention baptism at all here. As Peter and John were speaking to this crowd, they were arrested:

Acts 4:1: "The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people."
Acts 4:2: "They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead."
Acts 4:3: "They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day."
Acts 4:4: "But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand."
Acts 4:5: "The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem."
Acts 4:6: "Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest's family."
Acts 4:7: "They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?""

Many people responded by believing the Gospel message which was preached to them by Peter and John, and these people were considered to be new Christians. But notice that Peter and John were arrested while they were still preaching, and they were locked up until the next day. Peter and John had no opportunity to baptize any of these new believers, and we can't point to any Scriptural evidence that anyone else baptized them at that time, yet these new believers were counted as brothers in the Lord.

Now let's look at another group of people who received salvation before they were baptized. The following passage tells us that a Gentile named Cornelius (and his family) received salvation and then received the exact same baptism of the Holy Spirit that the disciples received on the day of Pentecost:

"[Cornelius the Gentile] told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, 'Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.' As I [Peter] began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?" When they [the Jews in Jerusalem] heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life."" (Acts 11:13-18)

This passage says that the apostle Peter was summoned to the house of a Gentile named Cornelius. An angel had told Cornelius that Peter would bring them a message by which they would all be saved. When Peter began to preach the Gospel message to them and they accepted it, God granted them repentance unto life. As soon as they received salvation, God gave them the gift of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, exactly like on the day of Pentecost. In fact, Cornelius the Gentile and his household spoke in tongues after the Holy Spirit came on them (just like on the day of Pentecost), as the next passage shows:

"While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God." (Acts 10:44-46)

Peter said that Cornelius and his household had received the same gift of the Holy Spirit (the "baptism" of the Holy Spirit) that the disciples had received at Pentecost. When Cornelius and his household received this gift they immediately began speaking in tongues, and notice that this happened before they were baptized in water:

"While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days." (Acts 10:44-48)

If water baptism is a requirement for salvation (as some people believe) then the only way that Cornelius and his household could have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit is if they had first been baptized in water for salvation. However, Cornelius and his household received salvation and the baptism of the Holy Spirit before they were baptized in water!

People who believe that water baptism is necessary for salvation sometimes say that God must have allowed Cornelius and his household to receive the Holy Spirit before they were saved. However, the New Testament clearly teaches that the gift of the Holy Spirit is only given to Christians (see for example John 7:37-39, Acts 1:4-8, 2:1-4, 38-39, 8:14-20, 19:1-7), so it violates Scripture to say that God would give this gift to people who are not yet saved. In fact, Scripture specifically says that God accepted Cornelius and his household and purified their hearts by faith before He gave them the Holy Spirit:

"After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles [Cornelius and his household] might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith."" (Acts 15:7-9)

This passage says that when Cornelius and his household believed the message of the Gospel, God saw their hearts and accepted them and purified their hearts by their faith, and He showed that He had accepted them into the Kingdom by giving them the Holy Spirit. All of this happened before they were baptized in water. Neither Peter nor any other Christians ever said that Cornelius and his household were a "special case." In fact, Peter specifically said that God had "made no distinction between us and them" (Acts 15:9, above). In other words, God brought Cornelius and his household into the Kingdom in exactly the same way that He brings everyone else into the Kingdom. Cornelius and his household received salvation before they were baptized in water, and the apostles and other Christians considered this to be the normal way that salvation works.

We have now looked at several examples in which numerous people received salvation before they were baptized in water. Consider that if baptism is a requirement for salvation then no-one can be saved without being baptized (otherwise baptism wouldn't be a requirement after all).

Therefore, either we have to say that the numerous people in the above examples were all "special cases" of some kind, or else we have to say that baptism cannot be a requirement for salvation.

When our doctrines force us to claim that certain Scripture passages are all "special cases," it's quite likely that there is something wrong with our doctrines! In fact, in Acts 15:7-9 (above) the apostle Peter specifically said that God had made no distinction between the Gentile converts and the original disciples, which indicates that the Gentiles received salvation in exactly the same way that the original disciples did. Therefore, the Gentiles in the house of Cornelius (who received salvation before they were baptized) were not a "special case" at all.

Since the "special case" argument is erroneous, the only remaining conclusion that we can make is that baptism is not necessary for salvation.

Cafeteria Catholics are not real Catholics. It is to be pitied that the Catholic segment does not break down between Traditional Catholics and Mainline Catholics. At 60+ million strong in this country alone it seems 1% of that figure is justification for a little separate analysis.

Agreed. The problem surely lies in the definition of Catholic. The "Catholic" poll data certainly includes many millions of nonbelievers who were raised in Catholic homes. A great many kids from Catholic families, especially if they go to Catholic schools, go through the rituals of first communion, first confession, confirmation, serving as altar boys, etc, simply because they are told to do so at a certain age by their parents, school, and community -- regardless of whether or not they have a shred of real faith. (My wife says that she was the only real believer in her confirmation class -- the rest of them were just going through the motions because it was expected of them.) Unfortunately, later in life, when these pedobaptised/catechised/confirmed unbelievers are asked what religion they are, they often answer, "Catholic".

By contrast, in Evangelical churches, there's a strong emphasis on personally deciding, personally committing, to Christ., yet there is no set timetable for doing so -- if you repent and ask to be baptised at 3, or 30, or 103, or never, that's your decision. As a result, kids raised up in that environment, if they have NOT chosen Christ on their own, generally KNOW it, and if asked about their religion they will answer, "No, I'm not a Christian".

When a guy like me goes to college, and the "Catholic" kids are are all sleeping around, partying hard, etc while many of the "Evangelicals" are living rightly, that definitely influences one's perception. My Catholic Mom should have been a counterbalance but for the fact that, as long as Dad (who hated religion) was still alive, she kept her mouth shut about religion. I never knew she was anything more than a nominal believer til Dad died.

In fact I never encountered ANY Catholics who (as far as I could tell), had a real, personal, life-transforming walk with Christ until I'd been immersed in Evangelicalism for a good many years -- and it seems like most of them are converts from Evangelicalism! I don't know what to make of that fact.

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