American Religion by the Issues

Faith, Marriage, Abortion, Homosexuality, Gender Ideology, and Hell

According to the recent Pew Research survey cited in last week’s article, about 62 percent of Americans self-identify as Christians. This is down from 78 percent in 2007. A recent Barna Research poll, however, gave a 66 percent figure, up 12 percent from 2021, that seemed to be the bottom. The strongest uptrend seems to be in young men 18 to 30 years of age.

A just-released Lifeway Research survey of 3,001 participants done in connection with Ligonier Ministries made a more detailed analysis of the issues possible.

There were 35 questions or statements in the Lifeway Research paper, “The State of Theology,” It will be useful  to address the present state of American Christianity to start with three of them. Two are from the four statements, which were used to identify “Evangelical Christians,” but are fundamental to the Christian faith. A third, however, is also essential in addressing the nature of Faith.

Statement Q14 reads: “God counts a person as righteous not because of one’s works but only because of one’s faith in Jesus Christ.”

 “Know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.”

—Galatians 2:16.

On this statement, 34% of Americans strongly agreed; 22% somewhat agreed, 12 percent were not sure, 13% somewhat disagreed, and 14% strongly disagreed.

This statement was most widely supported in the South, with strong agreement plus somewhat agreement totaling 66%. The Midwest was second with 55%, the Northeast 49%, and the West 44%. This ran 79% among Protestants and 56% among Catholics, the Catholics being historically more nuanced than Faith Alone.

Statement Q34, used last week reads: “Jesus Christ’s death on the cross is the only sacrifice that could remove the penalty of my sin.”

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

—1 Timothy 2:5.

Forty-one percent of Americans strongly agreed and another 22% somewhat agreed, totaling 63%. Again, this was far and away most common in the South with 77% either strongly are somewhat agreeing. Catholic agreement was 69%, Protestant agreement was 87%.

Statement Q35, also used last week, reads: “ “Only those who trust in Jesus Christ alone as their Savior receive God’s free gift of eternal salvation.”

“For it is by grace you have been saved by faith—and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”—Ephesians 2:8-9.

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name in heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”—Acts 4:12.

Sixty-seven percent of American adults either strongly or somewhat agreed with this. This ran to 71% in the South, 55% in the Midwest, 48% in the Northeast, and 45% in the West. This ran to 58% for Catholics and 84% of Protestants, and slightly higher at 87% in Hispanic Protestants, who are a small but increasing percentage of the total Hispanic population, which was about 14% of the total survey.

The results from these three research firms are roughly in agreement of what we might consider Christian identity and influence in America. However, the difference between strongly agreeing to a Christian statement and somewhat agreeing can be huge in its theological and social influence.

Statement Q8 is highly relevant to America’s state of theology and social stability. It reads: “God created marriage to be between one man and one woman.”

“He answered, Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife and the two shall become one flesh.”—Matthew 19:4-5.

Fifty-one percent of American adults strongly agree with this statement. Another 14% somewhat agree, totaling 65%. Six percent are unsure; 7% somewhat disagree, and 22% strongly disagree. In most of the 35 survey questions, approximate 25 percent tend to strongly disagree with any Christian statement. This is a rather alarming transition from the past. Some of this can be attributed to massive increases in immigration from largely non-Christian or nominally Christian but “unchurched” nations. The American media and educational systems, however, doubtless have had considerable impact that has not be countered by families and churches. This statement is strongly supported by 65% in the South, with total support including somewhat agree running to 78%. This support runs strong among Catholics at 71% and 86% among Protestants.  However, 34% in the West strongly disagree with it.

Statement Q28 is false according to Scripture and the survey authors: The Bible’s condemnation of homosexual behavior doesn’t apply today.

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous¹ will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,  nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.  And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”—1 Corinthians 6:9-11.

Nevertheless, 26% of Americans strongly agreed, and another 15% somewhat agreed for a total of 41% support. However 33% of Americans strongly disagreed, and 13% somewhat disagreed, summing to 46% disagreement. This has only 33% support of any kind in the South with 48% indicating strong disagreement. This has the most support in the West with 36% strongly agreeing and another 14% somewhat agreeing. The majority of Protestants strongly disagree—53%, with total opposition accumulating to 68%. Both Black and White church members oppose it with very close to the same percentages.  In fact, both White and Black churches in the South are usually in close agreement on most Christian issues.

Statement Q27 deals with the relatively new phenomenon of gender ideology. The statement, which is false according to Scripture and the survey authors is: “People should be able to choose their gender regardless of their biological sex.”

“He [Jesus] answered, ‘Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female.”---Matthew 9:4.

Gender is a reality of God’s created order. Trying to change our gender is self-destructive and socially destructive delusion.

Statement Q27 is strongly opposed by 42% of American adults and somewhat opposed by another 12%. Another 8% are unsure. Strong support is found in 22%, while another 16% somewhat agree. Fifty-one percent in the South strongly disagree with another 12% somewhat disagreeing. Only 14% in the South strongly support it with another 15% somewhat supporting. About half in the West support it, while 32% strongly agree. A huge 62% of Protestant church members strongly oppose this statement, while another 11% somewhat oppose it. Thirty-eight percent of Catholic church members also strongly oppose it and total support is only 38%, with only 18% being strong support. Total opposition in Protestant churches is 73%.   

Statement Q26 is worded: “Abortion is a sin.”

Since most Christians on a Biblical basis admit at least one exception to this—saving the life of the mother—some discussion is necessary.

Genesis 1: 27  teaches us: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” This teaches us that we must treat every human being as having a sacred dignity and must not mistreat them. The Sixth of the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:13 is “You shall not murder.” This includes babies in the womb—See Mary’s visit to her pregnant cousin Elizabeth in Luke 1: 39-45. Paul repeats a frequent theme of Jesus on the Law in “Galatians 5:14, For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” One implication of this is that we should careful not to apply God’s word with rigid legalism. One commonly recognized exception for abortion is to save the life of the mother. Abortion should never be for convenience or tainted with selfish motives, but other exceptions may be possible in the spirit of truth under the law of love—love your neighbor as yourself. Again, rigid legalism is not love.

In consideration of some controversy over exceptions, the results of the survey on Q26 may reflect some nuances of understanding by the survey participants.  

Thirty-two percent of American adults strongly agree with the Q26 statement “Abortion is sin,” with another 17% somewhat agreeing. Nine percent say they are not sure, while 29% strongly disagree, and another 13% somewhat disagree. Thus about 49% are supportive of the statement that abortion is a sin, and 42 percent are opposed. The South is again the most conservative with 60% supporting the statement and 30% opposing, and 10% unsure. The Midwest runs about even at 45% to 45%. The Northeast runs 50% opposed to the statement and thus pro-abortion versus 40% supporting the statement and pro-life. The West runs even more pro-abortion at 55% to 37%. Catholics nationwide run 55% pro-life and 36% pro-abortion. The Protestants run 64% to 24% pro-life. Evangelical churches run 74% to 24% pro-life. Mainline Protestant Churches run just 50% to 41% pro-life. It may surprise some political advisers that all Hispanics run 48% to 45% pro-abortion. Many, especially illegals, are largely unchurched. Evangelical church Hispanics, however, are 79% to 16% pro-life. Total Evangelical churches are 73% to 19% pro-life.

Statement Q20 reads: “Hell is a real place where certain people will be punished forever.”

Jesus talked about hell—a place of eternal punishment—more than any other Biblical figure contributing to the or New Testament.

“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”—Matthew 10:28.

In this passage Jesus was telling his disciples not to fear men but God, and He speaks of hell as a real place, as He does in many other passages of Scripture.

Thirty-seven percent of Americans strongly agreed, another 21 percent somewhat agreed, a whopping 13% were unsure,  9% somewhat disagreed, and 20 percent strongly disagreed. In the South, 48% strongly agreed, 22% somewhat agreed, 10 percent were unsure, and 20% either strongly or somewhat disagreed. The total agreed was 70%. In the Midwest, the total agreed was 55%, and the total disagreed was 31%. In the Northeast the total agreed was 48%, and the total disagreed was 36%. In the West, the total agreed was 46%, and the total disagreed was 39%. So we see the same regional pattern as in most other survey statements. Total agreement for Catholics was 63% and total disagreement was 22%. Total agreement for Protestants was 80% with total disagreement only 12%. Eighty-five percent of Black Protestants either strongly or somewhat agreed with only 5% dissenting. Fifty-four percent of Hispanics agreed and 33% disagreed. A good many recent Hispanic immigrants are only nominally Catholic and relatively unchurched. Evangelic Protestant Hispanics represent slightly less than 3% of the survey participants, but they are much more conservative with 84% in agreement and only 9% disagreed. Sixty-five percent of White Evangelical Protestants strongly agreed and total agreement came to 82% with 10% disagreed.

The 2025 Ligonier Ministries and Lifeway Research publication, The State of Theology, makes it clear that many self-identified Christians “lack a firm grasp of the essential Christian Faith revealed in Scripture.” It is woefully evident that many Christian churches, including Evangelical churches, have not prioritized sound Biblical doctrine and teaching. Continuous substitution of popular secular and media trends for foundational Scriptural Truth is creating an American religion that bears only a shallow resemblance to strong Biblical Christianity. Yet there are recent signs of God’s sovereign and gracious work of rescue. To quote C.S. Lewis, “Aslan is on the move.”

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.”

—Isaiah 40:8.