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CV NEWS FEED // While most Evangelicals see society and politics through the lens of faith, many decline to share their faith in public when it comes to things such as voting for candidates with a Christian stance on social or ethical issues, according to a new survey from the Institute for Faith and Culture (IFC) and Lifeway Research.
The survey was based on responses that 1,000 US Evangelical Christians made from July 18 to August 2, according to a press release that Christian Newswire shared.
Dr. Rob Pacienza, President and Founder of IFC and CEO and President of Coral Ridge Ministries, said the survey “showed it’s pretty easy to say you want a culture that has the Bible as its foundation. However, a truly thriving culture is one where its citizens actually take action to ensure it.”
According to the survey, 93 percent of respondents said it was important for them to interpret current events through what Scripture says and 87 percent believe the Bible speaks to modern issues, with 76 percent saying they thought that God is concerned if and how they vote. On the other hand, the IFC noted that it has been reported that more than 40 million Christians have not registered to vote while being eligible.
“The battles being fought today are predominantly spiritual,” IFC Executive Director Lauren Cooley stated. “The leaders of today’s churches have a responsibility to provide a deeper understanding of scripture. Our society fails when all we do is expect fair-weather Christianity. The Bible has served as a how-to guide for millions of citizens over the centuries. We can’t stop relying on it now.”
The Lifeway Research survey also shared respondents’ perspectives on how much the Bible influences viewpoints and decisions. According to the IFC, the survey showed that:
- 50% of respondents said the Bible helped them form opinions on solutions to society’s problems while 17% favored their personalities and influencers.
- 52% said the Bible was the primary influence for personal decisions, followed by 19% who listed personalities and influencers.
- 92% said Christians have the responsibility to share truths from God’s Word with people who hold different views, and 75% want to speak up when talking with someone who says something that doesn’t align with Scripture.
- 53% say they rarely have opportunities to engage in conversations with people who disagree with the Bible, and just 35% say they are ready for most opportunities to share what the Bible says about cultural and hot button issues, and only 38% say they sometimes seek opportunities to promote the Bible’s perspective on topics knowing they are not popular.
