In early 2020, just before our country’s “pandemic” experience began, George Barna and the staff of Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University, polled Americans via the American Worldview Inventory. Then early this year, 2023, the poll was conducted again. They were eager to see the impact that the pandemic had on Americans, especially Americans who were identified as “born again”. The 2 largest changes in “born again” Christians were stunning.
To the statement: “You have a unique, God-given calling or purpose for your life”, in 2020, pre-pandemic, 88% of born-again Christians said YES; in 2023 only 46% said YES. 42% of born-again Christians, almost half, no longer believed that they had a “unique, God-given calling or purpose for your life.” The hounds in the halls of hell surely partied down at this news.
To the statement: “You are deeply committed to practicing your religious faith”, in 2020, pre-pandemic, 85% of born-again Christians strongly agreed with these words; in 2023 only 50% agreed. That’s a 35% drop, over one-third of all born-again Christians no longer held their faith as a “deeply committed” part of their life. Those hounds surely posted VICTORY signs all over hell, believing that the battle was over, that they had crushed the Kingdom of Christ beyond recovery.
Barna’s words to church pastors now are: “This is a time when pastors would be wise to return to many basic Christian principles to rebuild the spiritual foundation of congregants and to celebrate the blessings of God, reminding people how great their God really is.”
That is why, upon reading these words the first time, I chose to have a sermon series this summer entitled: Do you have a biblical worldview? It is also why our Wednesday night class is: The Essentials of the Christian Faith.
You may be thinking, “But we all know those things, going over them again would just be boring; give us something new.” To those thoughts I would direct you to George Barna’s above conclusion. But first and foremost I would “remind” you of these “remind” scriptures in the NT. You see, it’s not about always hearing something “new”, often it should be about being “reminded” of what we already know to be true. Why? To firm up the foundation of our faith.
Rom 15:15 But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God
1 Cor 4:17 That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.
1 Cor 15:1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand,
2 Cor 10:7 Look at what is before your eyes. If anyone is confident that he is Christ’s, let him remind himself that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we.
2 Tim 1:5-6 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,
2 Tim 2:14 Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers.
Titus 3:1 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,
2 Pet 1:12-13 Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder,
2 Pet 3:1 This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder,
Jude 5 Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.
