“Barna reports that only half of the country’s Protestant pastors – 51% – have a biblical worldview.” (Barna.org)
Most people expect to go to church to learn about God and the truth of the Bible. No one fears that the pastor does not believe the Bible. Perhaps they should.
The modern picture of a false teacher is the cult leader passing out the Kool-Aid. However, there should be a real concern that today’s false teacher looks much more like the average pastor. Research provides the evidence.
While the Bible speaks about false teachers we can not think this is just an ancient problem. Half of the pastors surveyed denied one or more of the following tenets of a Biblical worldview:
- The Bible is accurate in its teaching.
- Jesus was sinless.
- Satan exists as a real being.
- God is omnipotent and omniscient.
- Salvation is by grace alone.
- We are given the responsibility to evangelize.
Remember this is not the general public but those who stand behind pulpits and preach to you every Sunday. This group is leading, or maybe misleading, the doctrinal instruction of millions.
Paul teaches us that the front line of the spiritual battle is within the religious community.
The Galatians were being deceived by those teaching ‘another gospel'(Gal 1:6).
Paul was afraid that the Corinthians would fall captive to false teachers preaching ‘another Jesus’, ‘another spirit’, and ‘another gospel’ (2 Cor 11:4).
Later he shows that false teachers look like the ‘apostles of Christ’ and ‘ministers of righteousness’ (2 Cor 11:13-15).
If it is true that appearances can be deceiving then who do we trust? Even more important, what do we believe?
We must go back to studying the source. Learn what the Bible really says.
You will find that the answer is the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery (Rom 16:25).
We cannot teach the Bible any old way, we must rightly divide. A failure to rightly divide effects the spiritual growth and eternal destiny of deceived millions (Rom 16:17-18).
If you are behind one of these pulpits then learn mid-Acts Pauline dispensational right division.
If you are in a church with one of these pastors then get out as fast as you can and then learn mid-Acts Pauline dispensational right division.
– This poll was done nearly two decades ago. Modern surveys show this statistic to be far worse. Today, less than 5% of Americans hold a Biblical worldview according to a new study from ACU-CRC. Less than half of pastors hold a Biblical worldview now in a study from the same institution.
Article Index Published: August 19, 2008
Last Modified: June 16, 2023