Summary:
A joint study by the Family Research Council (FRC) and Arizona Christian University’s Cultural Research Center reveals declining biblical clarity among churchgoers regarding LGBTQ+ issues. Only 47% believe Scripture speaks decisively on homosexuality’s morality (down from 63% in 2023), while just 40% affirm biblical clarity on transgenderism. These findings highlight a critical theological disconnect as cultural debates intensify. The report urges churches to strengthen doctrinal teaching amidst growing societal confusion about sexuality and gender.
What This Means for You:
- Evaluate church teaching: Assess whether your congregation explicitly addresses biblical sexual ethics through sermons and small groups
- Prioritize discipleship: Implement worldview training programs addressing Genesis 1:27 and New Testament passages on human sexuality
- Engage generational differences: Develop age-specific resources – millennials and Gen Z show the highest theological confusion on these issues
- Future outlook: Expect increased cultural pressure as LGBTQ+ identification remains elevated among youth despite recent demographic shifts
Original Post:
While the number of college-aged Americans identifying as transgender is declining, a new survey found most churchgoers don’t believe the Bible speaks clearly about homosexuality.
The “Social Issues and Worldview” study, released jointly by the Family Research Council and the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University, found only 47% believe Scripture is “clear and decisive” about “whether homosexuality is morally acceptable,” a steep decline from the 63% in 2023.
More than one quarter (26%) of churchgoers said they believe the Bible is “unclear or ambiguous” about homosexuality, with 16% insisting the Bible doesn’t address homosexuality and 11% said they are unsure.
An even smaller percentage of church-attending respondents (40%) said they believe the Bible is “clear and decisive” on “whether transgenderism is morally acceptable,” compared to 52% in 2023. Twenty-three percent said Scripture is “unclear and ambiguous” about transgenderism, with 24% believing the Bible doesn’t address transgenderism and 11% said they’re unsure if the Bible speaks to the issue.
FRC President Tony Perkins said the new data reveals a “great need for biblical teaching” on the “great issues of our day,” urging church congregations to “teach, live, and defend a biblical worldview.”
The authors of the study concluded the findings are “sobering in ways that demand pastoral attention.”
Extra Information:
- Arizona Christian University’s Cultural Research Center – Provides ongoing surveys tracking religious belief trends
- FRC’s Biblical Worldview Resource Hub – Offers theological frameworks for cultural engagement
- Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood Studies – Academic exegesis of gender-related Scripture passages
People Also Ask About:
- Q: What does the Bible say about transgenderism?
A: Scripture consistently affirms biological sex (Genesis 1:27) while condemning gender confusion (Deuteronomy 22:5). - Q: Why are LGBTQ identification rates changing?
A> Experts cite reduced social contagion effects and increased detransition awareness among youth. - Q: How many churches affirm LGBTQ relationships?
A: Approximately 16% of US congregations now permit same-sex unions according to 2023 Pew data. - Q: What’s the difference between gender identity and biological sex?
A: Biological sex refers to chromosomal/anatomical reality, while gender identity is subjective psychological experience.
Expert Opinion:
Dr. George Barna, director of research at Arizona Christian University, warns: “This theological ambiguity creates vacuum where cultural narratives replace biblical authority. Churches must systematically teach Genesis to Revelation’s continuity on human sexuality, particularly addressing Romans 1:24-27 and 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 with historical-grammatical exegesis before post-modern interpretations become irreversibly entrenched.”
Key Terms:
- Biblical clarity on transgenderism in modern culture
- Church worldview training for sexual ethics
- Declining biblical literacy among millennials
- Exegetical approach to homosexuality in Scripture
- FRC Cultural Research Center LGBTQ survey data 2024
- Theological anthropology and gender identity crisis
- Pastoral response to gender dysphoria in congregations
ORIGINAL SOURCE:
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