Although most evangelical Christians believe that sharing the gospel is their duty, many don’t feel prepared to share their faith, a new survey from the Institute of Faith and Culture and Lifeway Research found.
When asked if Christians have a responsibility to “share truths from God’s word with people who hold different views,” 92 percent agreed, while only 6 percent disagreed and 2 percent were unsure. However, only 35 percent of evangelicals considered themselves “ready for most opportunities to share what the Bible says about cultural and hot button issues.” Among the other findings:
- An additional 18 percent said they were “ready for any opportunity to share what the Bible says,” while 32 percent maintained that they were “only ready to discuss a few truths” they knew well.
- Nine percent did not think they were ready for “most opportunities to share what the Bible says,” while 5 percent believed they were “not ready to share what the Bible says at all.”
- Even as many evangelicals remain hesitant to share the teachings of the Bible in some cases, 40 percent of respondents “somewhat agreed” that “their church prepares them to have conversations with people whose views differ from the Bible,” and 38 percent “strongly agreed” that their church equips them for such encounters.
- Only 10 percent “somewhat disagreed” that their church adequately prepares them to talk with those who have a different worldview, and 3 percent “strongly disagreed.”
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“There are noticeable differences in the large number of evangelicals who feel responsible to share the Bible’s views than the number who are ready to do so,” said Scott McConnell, CEO of Lifeway Research,” according to “The Christian Post.” “Churches seek to help evangelicals have conversations with people whose views differ from the Bible, but fewer churches discuss the Bible and the culture’s values side-by-side.”
When asked if they thought God was “unconcerned with how they vote,” 12 percent said they “strongly agree” with that analysis, while another 12 percent reported that they “somewhat agree” with it. Forty-four percent “strongly disagreed.”
“While few evangelicals doubt God cares how they engage the world around them, more than one in five don’t think this applies to voting,” McConnell noted. “This discrepancy could lead to different decisions among this minority of evangelicals.”
–Alan Goforth | Metro Voice