Does A Survey Point to Truth?

Earlier in October Parade Magazine published findings of their recent religious summarized in an article by Christine Wicker. (Ms Wicker is also the author of “The Fall of the Evangelical Nation”). This article covered some of the usual areas like religion’s purpose, prayer, and beliefs. 

We as “people of the Book” are never quite sure how much to take from secular religious data like this but some trends keep showing up time and again in these type surveys. The one that stands out most often to me is the seemingly increasing numbers of Americans who easily separate ”religion from spirituality”. We are still a nation of faith, but faith in what or whom seems to be the issue. Almost 70% say they believe in God and over 75% pray outside of religious services. Yet, as expected half claimed they never attend worship services.

More data and then I’ll take a non-optional direction. On PURPOSE, only 40%  say religion holds truth, 19% say it helps teach morals to children, and 22% say that religion has no place in their lives. On PRAYER, almost 3/4ths pray and 6 0f 10 say they pray for forgiveness.

Two scriptures come to mind as I try to get a picture or where some people are.  One is Proverbs 29:18a; “Where there is no revelation, people cast of restraint;”.  Another being II Timothy 3 and 4 where we find many warnings concerning people not wanting God’s truth with Paul inspired by God to tell pastors in 3:8 that there will be those very near us ”having a form of godliness but denying its power.”

Think of it. People cast off restraint (which needs no elaboration here) because they have not heard the revelation of Christ and His word and then form their own religion not knowing the power of Christ and His word.

This screams to me for the need of doctrinal preaching.  More specifically doctrine that comes from the text of scripture as God has laid it out for us. Not the artificial way we are often tempted to arrange God’s word.  Many of us would be amazed and refreshed by the power of God as we proclaim His word when He is not misquoted, paraphrased, or taken out of context, or conveniently arranged!

Today we have so many methods proven to gather a crowd, even an unchurched crowd. When the crowd gathers, who likely would be the very people the survey represents (or strongly influenced by) then give them God’s word, clearly, strongly, doctrinally.  Give the greatestest crowd the greatest truth. Don’t save it for a “deeper group” give it also to the ones on deaths door! “I believe we will experience the Power of God in greater measure and see that people are starving for truth. We know they need it.

Give them Jesus the way God has given him to us, through the word of God.