A new national survey has found a marked decline in biblical conviction among American Christians who attend church regularly, especially on issues related to family, life, and morality.
The study, titled Social Issues and Worldview: A National Survey of Churchgoing Americans, was conducted by the Family Research Council (FRC) and the Cultural Research Center (CRC) at Arizona Christian University. It surveyed more than 1,000 adults who attend Christian worship services at least once a month.
Researchers found that fewer than half of regular churchgoers now identify as pro-life or uphold a traditional biblical view of family.
According to the study’s lead researcher, Dr George Barna, “Once-firm beliefs about family, life, and morality are giving way to cultural influence and personal opinion. Even among regular churchgoers, moral clarity is fading fast.”
The report showed that only 43 per cent of respondents currently describe themselves as pro-life, a sharp drop from 63 per cent in 2023. Meanwhile, just 46 per cent affirm a biblical view of family, defined as marriage between one man and one woman raising children, falling to only 34 per cent among Generation Z respondents.
Support for the biblical model of family was highest among born-again Christians (59 per cent), Pentecostal believers (56 per cent), and Asian Christians (55 per cent).
Confidence in the Bible’s teaching has also declined. Only around half (51 per cent) said the Bible’s message on abortion is clear, compared with 65 per cent the previous year.
Dr Barna warned that cultural pressures and media influence are reshaping moral convictions. “The media bombardment favouring a new moral standard is clearly having a transformative effect on Americans,” he said. “Bible-believing Christians must be more open and courageous in engaging others about moral issues and in challenging unbiblical views.”
David Closson, director of FRC’s Center for Biblical Worldview and co-author of the report, said the findings highlight a “discipleship problem” rather than a political one. “When the people of God lose moral clarity on something as fundamental as the sanctity of life, it signals a serious discipleship crisis,” he said. “The next generation is being catechised daily by social media, entertainment, and academia, often more effectively than by the local church.”
Despite the concerning trends, Dr Barna said the findings also point to hope. “The vast majority of churchgoers still affirm core biblical truths about God and human value,” he said. “These convictions provide a foundation for rebuilding.”
He urged pastors and parents to respond with “courageous leadership” and renewed teaching. “Without decisive discipleship and intentional instruction, the church will continue to absorb the world’s values rather than transform them through truth,” he said.
FRC president Tony Perkins agreed, saying, “This research shows the great need for biblical teaching on the major moral issues of our time. The good news is that Christians are looking to church leaders for guidance. The church must continue to teach, live, and defend a biblical worldview with conviction and hope.”
Despite the overall decline in moral certainty, the study found that nearly 80 per cent of churchgoers still believe in a binary view of gender. More than 80 per cent agreed that all people are created in God’s image, 83 per cent affirmed the intrinsic value of every human life, and 75 per cent said the God of Scripture is the source of life.
Dr Barna concluded, “Now more than ever, we must return to our foundations — grounding believers in God’s Word, restoring moral clarity, and preparing the next generation to stand firm in truth.
Adapted from Christian Today UK.
