Drain the swamp? Some churches need to drain the pulpit!
Though we may not realize it, our worldview shapes every decision we make.
A worldview is the intellectual, emotional, and spiritual filter every individual uses to experience, interpret, and respond to reality. Possessing a biblical worldview (sometimes called biblical theism, or a Christian worldview) implies that people’s ideas about all aspects of life and eternity derive from scriptural principles and commands.
Spiritual leadership eventually influences and affects the next generation, either for God and biblical values or against them. Because so much is at stake, Christians must take care to not sit under woke, or spiritually wishy-washy clergy and teaching. Parents must not trust their families to those who do not hold a biblical worldview.
Arizona Christian University conducts an annual worldview survey among incoming freshmen and other respondents. The 2023 study documents significant declines among born-again Christians, indicating that a biblical worldview does not inform their actions or decisions.
A few of the survey results were alarming:
- Of American adult “born-again Christians,” only 13% hold a consistently biblical worldview.
- While 22% of preteens’ parents are born-again Christians, only 8% of the teens themselves hold a biblical worldview.
- About 1% of preteens have a biblical worldview.
- Of young teens, only 36% believe God exists and is the all-knowing, all-powerful Creator of the universe.
- 61% either accept Jesus Christ sinned while He was on Earth or believe it’s possible.
- The majority think there are no absolute, objective truths or can’t apply a biblical worldview to their decisions or actions.
- 21% percent of born-again teens believe they will live with God in eternity because of a personal decision to trust Christ, but nearly double that believe in reincarnation.
- Roughly 25% of parents of preteens relegate to their churches the responsibility of instilling a Christian worldview in their children.
Can the church, its pastors, or Christian leaders instill a biblical worldview in the youth entrusted to them?
So, can parents be confident about the churches to which they have delegated the spiritual mentoring of their kids? You tell me; In America today in 2024:
- Only 51% of senior pastors have a consistently biblical worldview.
- Less than 30% of associate pastors hold a consistently biblical viewpoint.
- Only 13% of teaching pastors hold a biblical worldview.
- Of youth pastors, only 12% have a consistently biblical viewpoint.
The research shows churches, pastors, and youth leaders are increasingly unreliable for truly Biblical discipleship. The survey offers several insights parents can use to instill a biblical Christian worldview in the next generation.
One: Begin early. “Train up a child in the way they should go…” (Prov. 22:6) A person's worldview starts developing in the second year of life and is largely in place by age 13, giving parents a small window of opportunity for discipleship.
Two: Instill and continuously reinforce your children’s spiritual foundation. Scripture holds parents responsible for developing a child’s biblical worldview (Deut. 6:1-9; Prov. 2:1-13; 22:6; 23:13; 2 Cor. 12:14; and Eph. 6:4).
Three: “Outsourcing" is a troubling trend, as parents increasingly delegate spiritual child-rearing to others. I’ve said this before to hundreds of audiences, and I’ll say it here: Lose at anything else but win with your children!
Four: Given the statistics, it’s a gross understatement to say that current approaches to biblical worldview development are not working!
George Barna, a trusted survey developer commented, “The impact of arts and entertainment, government, and public schools is clearly apparent in the shift from biblical perspectives to a more experiential and emotional form of decision-making.”
If you are in a church that teaches a biblical worldview, praise God!
If not, leave. Do not be misled by clergy who are either unable or unwilling to courageously proclaim God’s truth and call Christians to bold obedience. Take your family and your money and leave. Your children’s spiritual future is at stake.
Our nation’s worldview — and our very survival — hinges on a return to truth in this generation.
Dr. Alex McFarland is a youth, religion and culture expert, author of more than 20 books and is heard live daily on the 200+ stations of the American Family Radio Network. He is Director of worldview for Charis Bible College, Woodland Park, CO, and co-hosts the “Truth and Liberty” TV broadcast. His website is, alexmcfarland.com.
