The Institute for Faith and Culture (IFC) announced today the results of a new study it commissioned with Lifeway Research. According to the survey–which was based on the response of 1,000 U.S Evangelical Christians from July 18-August 2, 2024–the majority of respondents agreed on seeing the world through the lens of scripture. But when it came to putting their beliefs into action, such as voting for candidates with a Biblical worldview, a majority chose to stay on the sidelines.
“The study showed it’s pretty easy to say you want a culture that has the Bible as its foundation,” said Dr. Rob Pacienza, President and Founder of IFC and CEO and President of Coral Ridge Ministries. “However, a truly thriving culture is one where its citizens actually take action to ensure it.”
An overwhelming majority (93%) of respondents say it is important to interpret things seen and heard in the world through what scripture says, and 87 percent believe the Bible speaks to modern issues. If 76 percent in the survey say that God is concerned if and how they vote, then why has it been reported that more than 40 million Christians, who are eligible to vote, have not registered?
“The battles being fought today are predominantly spiritual,” said Lauren Cooley, Executive Director of the Institute for Faith and Culture. “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 (https://institutefc.org/research/) provided a variety of other enlightening insights:
- 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% say 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.
The Institute for Faith and Culture is also proud to work in strategic partnership with Vote Your Faith, a non-partisan, 501(c)3 organization that helps Christians connect their biblical values to their civic duty by mobilizing and registering Christians to vote in accordance with their faith. (votefaith.org).
About the Institute for Faith and Culture
The Institute for Faith and Culture exists to equip Christians for this cultural moment to be salt and light in their sphere of influence, through curation of Biblical worldview resources, practical training, and by connecting the body of Christ for the advancement of the Kingdom.
SOURCE Institute for Faith and Culture