Who are the Christian leaders and preachers in America? Not their names, but from God’s perspective, who are they? Are they teaching and preaching what they know is true from the Bible? Are they humble with a heart that reaches out to the least of these? Do they follow the mandate from God to raise up the younger generation by preparing them to live out their faith in Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit so that by their witness and willingness to give the reason for the hope they have to all who ask? Are today’s teachers and pastors preparing those under them to go to the world and preach the Gospel? Are they teaching what it means to love God with all your heart, mind, and soul as they love and serve others?
To better understand the study’s results, defining the term biblical worldview is essential. A worldview is the foundation from which one lives, interacts, loves, learns, and thinks.. A biblical worldview is a comprehensive framework for understanding reality based on the teachings of Scripture. It is the belief that the Bible answers life’s fundamental questions about origin, purpose, morality, and destiny. It presents God as the Creator and Sustainer of all things, humanity as created in God’s image but fallen into sin, and Jesus Christ as the solution to the world’s problems. Scripture calls believers to view everything through the lens of God’s truth, allowing it to shape thoughts, actions, and decisions in every area of life. It is the lens through which we view all of life with the confidence of knowing that when our life ends on this earth, Heaven awaits all who believe!
A new study from Barna, at the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University, has found that just 37% of Christian pastors in the United States have a biblical worldview, demonstrating that spiritual awakening is “needed just as desperately in our pulpits as in the pews,” according to the pollster.
The nationwide study of about 1,000 Christian pastors found that just slightly more than a third (37%) of the U.S. pastors hold a biblical worldview. The majority (62%) possess a hybrid worldview known as Syncretism.
The study, released mid-April 2025, showed that 41% of senior pastors, compared to 28% of associate pastors, have a biblical worldview. Further, only 13% of teaching pastors and 12% of children’s and youth pastors have a biblical worldview. Also:
- A mere 2% of 18 to 29-year-olds possess a biblical worldview.
- Roughly 80% of high school students who enter college as professing Christians will leave with little to no faith. These students usually don’t return to their faith even after graduation, as Barna projects that 80% of those reared in the church will be “disengaged” by the time they are 29.
“From a worldview perspective, a church’s most important ministers are the children’s pastor and the youth pastor. Discovering that seven out of every eight of those pastors lack a biblical worldview helps to explain why so few people in the nation’s youngest generations are developing a heart and mind for biblical principles and ways of life, and why our society seems to have run wild over the last decade.” (Barna)
The result of this pandemic of Christian pastors and teachers being unable to teach worldview to the last generation has resulted in catastrophic numbers of young Christian people who have failed to keep their faith in Jesus active when under attack from a godless culture.
Christ has made it very clear what he thinks of today’s modern-day Pharisees and teachers, who use their religion to promote themselves as they make a living for themselves. They care little for the personal spiritual growth and formation of a biblical worldview in students and more for their own “greatness”. Having a following and applause from others is what matters to them. For these pastors, full pews, generous giving, and a contented congregation are all that matter.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in Heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matthew 7:21-23)
On the judgment day, every secret thing will be brought to light (Luke 8:17–18). The motives of all hearts will be exposed, and there will be no more pretense or spiritual deception. Preachers and teachers who have been faithful to proclaim truth and demonstrate godly living will receive rewards accordingly. They will hear their Master say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Luke 19:17). Those who have not been faithful in their calling and have led others astray will be exposed. Sadly, many of those teachers will be found to be lost themselves. Their judgment will be harsher because of the people they led astray. Many of these false teachers are outside of the churches and schools where they populate the airwaves, spreading lies and flaunting ungodly, selfish lifestyles.
“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:3-5)
“For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).
Today, Jesus continues to weep for those who reject his gift of redemption..