State of Theology Is...

Jesus taught us about the responsibility we have to hear the Word of God and to obey it, being faithful to process what we hear. In Mark 4, we find these words:
23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."
24 Then He said to them, "Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.
25 For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him."

The question comes to mind: what are we listening to?  We can choose to read, study, and meditate on Scripture, so that we might be obedient to do what we have learned. Or, we can allow the world's voices to supersede what God wants us to hear. So, each day, we choose impulses and influences: the Word or the world?  The Word brings life - this world brings death. We have to make the decision to make God's Word a priority and to follow what it says, not picking and choosing, but being devoted to, what Scriptures says is, "the whole counsel of God."

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In Matthew 13, we find Jesus teaching about understanding the Scriptures and making sure our eyes, ears, and hearts are open to His Word - He says:
13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: 'Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive;
15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.'
16 "But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear...

Every two years, Ligonier Ministries, which was founded by the late R.C. Sproul, releases a study called the State of Theology Survey. A press release from the ministry stated:

Ligonier's biennial State of Theology survey provides insights into the views of Americans on a wide range of Christian beliefs. This comprehensive report provides key findings on beliefs about God, truth, the Bible, ethical issues, and worship. Conducted with LifeWay Research, the survey polled a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults.

When a President gives the State of the Union address each year, perhaps you have heard him say, "The State of the Union is strong."  With regard to the State of Theology in the United States, what did this survey discover?

71 percent of adults agreed with this statement, "Everyone is born innocent in the eyes of God." 65% of evangelicals agreed.  This raises concerns, because the Bible teaches there is none who is good.  The survey summary notes:

The fact that nearly two-thirds of U.S. evangelicals believe that humans are born in a state of innocence reveals that the biblical teaching of original sin is not embraced by most evangelicals. The Bible, however, makes clear that all humans are "by nature children of wrath" (Eph. 2:3). In other words, we are not sinners because we sin; rather, we sin because we are sinners. This truth is foundational for an accurate understanding of the gospel and of our absolute need for the grace of God in salvation.

In a Breakpoint commentary, published at ChristianHeadlines.com, John Stonestreet and Kasey Leander write...

...nearly half of evangelicals agreed that God “learns and adapts” to different circumstances, in stark contrast to the biblical doctrine of unchanging nature, or immutability; 65 percent of evangelicals agreed that everyone is “born innocent in the eyes of God,” denying the doctrine of original sin, and with it, the very reason that people need salvation in the first place.

Some 56 percent of evangelicals agreed with the idea that “God accepts the worship of all religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam,” in contrast to Jesus’ words in Matthew that without Him, “no one knows the Father.”

The most stunning result had to do with the topic of Jesus Christ’s divinity. When asked whether they agreed that “Jesus was a great teacher …but not God,” 43 percent of American evangelicals answered yes. That number is up 13 percent from just two years ago.

The writers say that the survey "paints a bleak picture."  You could say that The State of Theology is not strong, even though there are bright spots in the area of views on the so-called social issues.  As Stonestreet and Leander state: "It’s worth noting that these failures are not because evangelicals have a low view of Scripture. Some 95 percent, after all, still agree with the statement that 'the Bible is 100 percent accurate in all that it teaches.' The implication, then, is that they simply don’t know what it teaches, either because they haven’t been taught or they haven’t cared enough to learn."

Richard Land, Executive Editor of The Christian Post, provided some analysis regarding what just over a quarter of self-identified evangelicals say they believe; he wrote at the website:

The late R.C. Sproul, founder of one of the survey’s sponsors, Ligonier Ministries, often observed that “everyone’s a theologian.” He was right in that “theologian” means literally logos (words) about theos (God). Dr. Sproul would quickly add that “not everyone is a good theologian.”

This current survey certainly underscores the veracity of that statement. The survey discovered that one-fourth (26%) of Evangelicals disavowed a belief in the literal truth of the Bible.

This is the survey language that 26% of evangelicals agreed with: "The Bible, like all sacred writings, contains helpful accounts of ancient myths but is not literally true."  Land went on to say:

Unfortunately, that theological error is just the beginning.

Once you come to the conclusion that the Bible is only truly the authoritative Word of God in parts, you start falling into the temptation of “Dalmatian theology” (“the Bible is inspired in spots and I’m inspired to determine which spots”). Of course, what happens is the parts that are “inspired” are the parts you agree with and the parts that are not inspired are the parts with which you disagree.

Certainly, there are Bible-believing Christians who attend churches across America and around the world.  And, the survey indicates that in a number of the critical areas I highlighted, at least a majority believe in traditional, Biblical, orthodox Christian doctrine.  But not enough.

The Breakpoint piece concluded by saying:

The results of this study show it’s time for many so-called Christians to repent, for many churches to renew their commitments to catechism, and for all of us who claim Christ to commit our hearts and minds to know who He is, who He has revealed Himself to be.

Jesus spoke about those with ears to hear.  James wrote about being more than hearers, but also doers. But, if we are not hearing, as it seems to be the case with many evangelicals, we won't be obedient to the Lord; thus, the need for repentance.  But, as Romans 10 asks the question, how will they hear?  Each of us has the responsibility to be faithful to the Word of God, reading the Bible, listening to Biblical teaching, and then thinking about how we can apply it to our lives.  And, we actually have to "do" it - faith without works is dead!