30 % of Evangelicals deny Jesus is God !

[Jesus is YHWH]

That's putting it mildly. These polls come out every year. They're very consistent, just about every heresy determined 1800 years ago is believed by a substantial portion of evangelicals. Most of them I suspect have never thought about these issues and answer the way that seems right. That goes to show you how little they know theology and how little they know scripture.

None of this should come as a surprise though. Go look at evangelical sermons. They're rarely focused on actual theology. Their sermons are a collection of self help, politics and fanciful end times dramas.

yes the focus seems to be on man and not on Christ

 

[Biltong65]

More than half of American adults, including 30% of evangelicals, say Jesus isn’t God but most agree He was a great teacher, according to results from the 2020 State of Theology survey.

Even though the Bible and traditional teachings of the Christian Church hold that Jesus truly existed as both man and God, among the key findings of the biennial State of Theology survey from Ligonier Ministries conducted with LifeWay Research, is that 52% of American adults believe that Jesus was a great teacher and nothing more.More than half of US adults, 30% of evangelicals believe Jesus isn’t God: study

That would be 1/3 of professing christians on this forum.

ASTOUNDING !

2 Thessalonians 2:1-7:

1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

 

[usexpat97]

I think the group usually meant by the label 'evangelicals' is only a small portion of those here on CF, as this isn't a forum for only one grouping nor just for one country.

The poll is useful information though.

What is an evangelical? Someone who believes in the Great Commission? Those were Jesus' words.

 

[Jipsah]

More than half of American adults, including 30% of evangelicals, say Jesus isn’t God but most agree He was a great teacher, according to results from the 2020 State of Theology survey.!

That's what comes of "pragmatic Christianity", in which Christianity is a means of bettering one's life, and becoming happier, healthier, thinner, more popular, richer, better looking, more satisfied, more confident, ad nauseum. No annoying, hard-to-understand dogmas to cause confusion, just "Be excellent to each other" and "Party on, dudes". Sing some worship choruses, hear some uplifting stories, and as the church around the corner from me advertises "Learn To Love The World".

 

[Jipsah]

Many evangelical denominations must be doing a poor job of catechizing their members.

Doing what? Most have forgotten what it means. The Big Evangelical Church I last attended was concerned when they found I was teaching the Heidelberg Catechism to some of my Sunday Schoolers whose parents had expressed an interest. To them it was "some Catholic thing", and they were instinctively opposed to it. I got a few to actually read it, and they found nothing objectionable in however muchthey read, so they grudgingly allowed me continue for as long as we stayed there, which wasn't long. (Thus ended our experiments in attending "American Church".)

 

[Jipsah]

Hello brother,@Jesus is YHWH To you, why does that matter?

The difference between our Lord having created the universe, or have simply been 'some really smart guy'? Quite a bit, IMO.

Would you say if someone just believes that Jesus Christ is not God, that they are lesser than someone who says Jesus Christ is God?

They're certainly woefully ignorant. Reckon that's a good thing?

 

[Jipsah]

People can believe that Jesus Christ came, died and was risen again.In my opinion if you don't have a sola scriptura interpretation, you can believe that Jesus Christ rose again in a spiritual sense, or physical depending on how they desire to believe

So you can believe anything you like, and if you say you "believe in Jesus" then you're home and dry. Truth and fasehood are irrelevant.

• what do you do if they disagree?

  Teach them the truth.

• Just throw them to the side, because they do not believe how you believe?

  Teach them the truth.

• Does the spirit that resides in you allow you love that person regardless?

  If so, you'll teach them the truth.

• Do you mandate that they must believe or other wise they will burn in hell?

  God decides that. Our job is to teach the truth.

These questions shouldn't be answered by anything other than what does your heart say to you.

My heart tells me that truth matters, and that we should insist on the truth.

Your mileage obviously varies.

 

[Jesus is YHWH]

So you can believe anything you like, and if you say you "believe in Jesus" then you're home and dry. Truth and fasehood are irrelevant.

• Teach them the truth.
• Teach them the truth.
• If so, you'll teach them the truth.
• God decides that. Our job is to teach the truth.

My heart tells me that truth matters, and that we should insist on the truth.

Your mileage obviously varies.

Amen!

Teach the Truth and if it falls upon deaf ears so be it but if they are a genuine seeker of the truth then we can have a fruitful discussion. All we can do is plant those seeds of truth.

I'm reminded of the parable of the 4 soils.

Matthew 13:18-23
“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

 

[mlepfitjw]

So you can believe anything you like, and if you say you "believe in Jesus" then you're home and dry. Truth and fasehood are irrelevant.

• Teach them the truth.
• Teach them the truth.
• If so, you'll teach them the truth.
• God decides that. Our job is to teach the truth.

My heart tells me that truth matters, and that we should insist on the truth.

Your mileage obviously varies.

Okay. This much has been made know to me is that nothing done in my life, has fully been wasted completely.

Either someone has looked upon me and said I dont wanna be like that guy (from my drug usage days and using people/ hating days), or there is something about this guy, (every time that the Lord has spoken through me. Loving days.)

Cheers. Everyone here that is alive and breathing.

Reading this right now.

Know that God loves you very much, and so does the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thank you so much, Jipsah

 

[hedrick]

That's putting it mildly. These polls come out every year. They're very consistent, just about every heresy determined 1800 years ago is believed by a substantial portion of evangelicals. Most of them I suspect have never thought about these issues and answer the way that seems right. That goes to show you how little they know theology and how little they know scripture.

None of this should come as a surprise though. Go look at evangelical sermons. They're rarely focused on actual theology. Their sermons are a collection of self help, politics and fanciful end times dramas.

Folks, this is not an evangelical problem, if it's a problem. It's true of all of the Christian traditions. The main point of the original article was to warn evangelicals that it's not just a problem for the other guys; it's a problem for them.

 

[Tigger45]

Folks, this is not an evangelical problem, if it's a problem. It's true of all of the Christian traditions. The main point of the original article was to warn evangelicals that it's not just a problem for the other guys; it's a problem for them.

My first thought after reading this is, I’d think Catholics, Orthodox & confessional Lutherans, off the top of my head, would at least achieve better stats than the article depicts of the group of Evangelicals they studied, considering the catechism classes I’m aware of in the churches I listed.

 

[Jesus is YHWH]

My first thought after reading this is, I’d think Catholics, Orthodox & confessional Lutherans, off the top of my head, would at least achieve better stats than the article depicts of the group of Evangelicals they studied, considering the catechism classes I’m aware of in the churches I listed.

You are correct that catholics, orthodox, lutherans would have significantly higher stats. At least the practicing ones who know the doctrines of their church.

 

[Tigger45]

You are correct that catholics, orthodox, lutherans would have significantly higher stats. At least the practicing ones who know the doctrines of their church.

Right. With confirmation classes for kids and new members being required to take their catechism classes I think the overall ‘average’ would be ‘a bit’ higher. I’m not talking lay apologists or anything. Just better scores overall.

 

[Jamdoc]

More than half of American adults, including 30% of evangelicals, say Jesus isn’t God but most agree He was a great teacher, according to results from the 2020 State of Theology survey.

Even though the Bible and traditional teachings of the Christian Church hold that Jesus truly existed as both man and God, among the key findings of the biennial State of Theology survey from Ligonier Ministries conducted with LifeWay Research, is that 52% of American adults believe that Jesus was a great teacher and nothing more.More than half of US adults, 30% of evangelicals believe Jesus isn’t God: study

That would be 1/3 of professing christians on this forum.

ASTOUNDING !

Biblical illiteracy is the problem, many professing Christians never read the bible so they believe it when someone says "Jesus never claimed to be God" when it's all throughout the 4 gospels. From the sermon on the mount the way Jesus was issuing new commandments and extensions to existing commandments, there was astonishment at the doctrine because He didn't speak as one of the scribes or priests, but as someone with authority. Also forgiving sins, that was one that struck the pharisees dumb. Because only God can forgive sins.

 

[Kenny'sID]

Christ himself taught us to pray the lords prayer to the father, and not to Jesus, just one of many things in the bible that make this whole issue not so clear cut.

IMO, Christ is the son of God, and how that cannot be undeniable to anyone is beyond me. However, I feel Christ has been given all authority that God the father has, meaning for all intents and purposes, he might as well be God, but there is still a difference, one is the father, and one is the son.

They are one in their thought process, yet two individual beings.

 

[Rescued One]

More than half of American adults, including 30% of evangelicals, say Jesus isn’t God but most agree He was a great teacher, according to results from the 2020 State of Theology survey.

Even though the Bible and traditional teachings of the Christian Church hold that Jesus truly existed as both man and God, among the key findings of the biennial State of Theology survey from Ligonier Ministries conducted with LifeWay Research, is that 52% of American adults believe that Jesus was a great teacher and nothing more.More than half of US adults, 30% of evangelicals believe Jesus isn’t God: study

That would be 1/3 of professing christians on this forum.

ASTOUNDING !

Going to church doesn't make people Christians. Churches allow non-believers to attend.

“Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to a garage makes you an automobile.”
- Billy Sunday

 

[mindlight]

More than half of American adults, including 30% of evangelicals, say Jesus isn’t God but most agree He was a great teacher, according to results from the 2020 State of Theology survey.

Even though the Bible and traditional teachings of the Christian Church hold that Jesus truly existed as both man and God, among the key findings of the biennial State of Theology survey from Ligonier Ministries conducted with LifeWay Research, is that 52% of American adults believe that Jesus was a great teacher and nothing more.More than half of US adults, 30% of evangelicals believe Jesus isn’t God: study

That would be 1/3 of professing christians on this forum.

ASTOUNDING !

There was a time in history when true believer and Evangelical were synonymous. But in US culture it seems it is now an empty brandname. People wear the label cause it still confers some measure of credibility to their Chŕistian identification but too often it is denuded of real meaning by ignorance and lack of true faith.

 

[hedrick]

My first thought after reading this is, I’d think Catholics, Orthodox & confessional Lutherans, off the top of my head, would at least achieve better stats than the article depicts of the group of Evangelicals they studied, considering the catechism classes I’m aware of in the churches I listed.

They have a web site that lets you check. I don’t think Catholics are more orthodox. They only have a few groups. Confessional Protestant would either be considered evangelical or mainline. Probably evangelical.

It’s true that Catholics and confessional churches have catechism class or equivalent, but I doubt the issue here is education. Surely all evangelicals know that their church considers Jesus to be God. I think a lot of people are skeptical about official teaching and probably even the Bible.

Simply teaching the official position may not help, and may even make things worse. Telling someone something doesn’t make them believe it is true. If they think some of what you’re saying is wrong, more teaching may make things worse, as it will create doubt about other things you are teaching.

 

[Redwingfan9]

Folks, this is not an evangelical problem, if it's a problem. It's true of all of the Christian traditions. The main point of the original article was to warn evangelicals that it's not just a problem for the other guys; it's a problem for them.

I don't disagree that it's a problem across the board. When I attended a conservative Dutch Reformed church I was shocked by the lack of theological understanding, including from the elders. It's certainly not limited to evangelicals, although because that term is so broad I consider myself both reformed and evangelical. I'm sure Papists and Orthodox have similar problems.

The broader point though is that within American evangelicalism there has been a steady decline in theological understanding. If we go back 50 years, people had basic Biblical literacy such that any number of theological topics could be brought up and most people would have an idea as to what was being discussed. That is no longer the case today. Kids aren't being taught theology at home, family worship and catechism is almost non-existent. Preachers might speak for 30 minutes but their sermons often bare no resemblance to scriptural sermons. It's a broad based problem that must be addressed. The sheep in the pew must demand better from their pastors and pray that God would provide better leadership.

 

[Jesus is YHWH]

What is an evangelical? Someone who believes in the Great Commission? Those were Jesus' words.

Except many do not believe in or know what the Gospel is today in " evangelicalism".