{"id":32778,"date":"2022-09-10T16:22:51","date_gmt":"2022-09-10T21:22:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/research-finds-churchgoers-demonstrate-deep-faith-but-have-room-to-grow\/"},"modified":"2022-09-10T16:22:51","modified_gmt":"2022-09-10T21:22:51","slug":"research-finds-churchgoers-demonstrate-deep-faith-but-have-room-to-grow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/research-finds-churchgoers-demonstrate-deep-faith-but-have-room-to-grow\/","title":{"rendered":"Research Finds Churchgoers Demonstrate Deep Faith but Have Room to Grow"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Carol Pipes<\/em><\/p>\n

NASHVILLE, Tenn. \u2013 When it comes to trusting God, Protestant churchgoers exercise a great deal of faith in their daily lives\u2014whether in difficult circumstances or when the unexplainable happens.<\/p>\n

The 2019 Discipleship Pathway Assessment study from Nashville-based Lifeway Research found 7 in 10 (72%) Protestant churchgoers disagree with the statement: \u201cDuring difficult circumstances, I sometimes doubt that God loves me and will provide for my life,\u201d with 50% strongly disagreeing.<\/p>\n

Only 5% of Protestant churchgoers strongly agree they doubt God\u2019s faithfulness in difficult circumstances, while 13% somewhat agree and 10% neither agree nor disagree.<\/p>\n

The study identifies exercising faith as one of eight signposts that consistently show up in the lives of growing Christians.<\/p>\n

Hispanics and African Americans are the two ethnic groups most likely to exercise faith in times of difficulty, with 55% of both groups strongly disagreeing with the statement: \u201cDuring difficult circumstances, I sometimes doubt that God loves me and will provide for my life.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Black Protestants (56%) and evangelical Protestants (51%) are more likely to strongly disagree than mainline Protestants (42%).<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Bible says believers should expect various trials,\u201d said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. \u201cThe question is how does a Christian actually respond. Half of churchgoers indicate that doubts about God sometimes arise for them during tough times.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to trusting God in difficult times, giving freely of one\u2019s money and possessions is an indication of exercising faith in God.<\/p>\n

Slightly more than a third of Protestant churchgoers strongly agree (36%) they make everything they own available to God, while a third somewhat agrees.<\/p>\n

Around 1 in 5 neither agrees nor disagrees, while 10% disagree they make their possessions available to God.<\/p>\n

Researchers found significant statistical differences when it comes to gender, ethnicity, religious tradition and education. Females (39%) are more likely than males (32%) to strongly agree.<\/p>\n

Hispanic (50%) and African American (46%) Protestant churchgoers are more likely to say they make everything they own available to God compared to 31% of both whites and other ethnicities.<\/p>\n

Black Protestants (47%) and evangelical Protestants (38%) are more likely to strongly agree than mainline Protestants (22%). And those with a high school diploma or less (45%) are more likely to strongly agree their possessions are available for God to use than those with more education.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere one finds their financial security is an important part of faith in God,\u201d McConnell said. \u201cOverall, most churchgoers give God control of their finances, but two-thirds indicate it is not complete control.\u201d<\/p>\n

The study also found Protestant churchgoers are fairly certain God can work in and change people\u2019s lives. Around 7 in 10 (73%) disagree with the statement, \u201cI sometimes doubt<\/em> that God can change the lives of non-Christians I know,\u201d while 50% strongly disagree.<\/p>\n

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See also  Most Open to Spiritual Conversations, Few Christians Speaking<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Eleven percent neither agree nor disagree, while 17% doubt God\u2019s ability to change the lives of the non-Christians they know.<\/p>\n

Women are more confident God can change the lives of others. Slightly more than half (53%) strongly indicate God can change the lives of non-Christians they know compared to 46% of males.<\/p>\n

African Americans (60%) are the ethnicity most likely to strongly assert God can change the lives of non-Christians. Black Protestants (58%) and evangelical Protestants (52%) are more likely to strongly indicate they trust in God to change lives than mainline Protestants (35%).<\/p>\n

Those aged 50-64 (55%) and 35-49 (52%) are more likely to express strong confidence that God can change the lives of non-Christians they know compared to Protestant churchgoers aged 18-34 (42%).<\/p>\n

\u201cIn a post-Christian American culture, churchgoers should have contact with an increasing number of non-Christians,\u201d McConnell said. \u201cBut if churchgoers don\u2019t trust that God can help others experience the same transformation they\u2019ve experienced, then there is room for increasing faith.\u201d<\/p>\n

Few Protestant churchgoers doubt God\u2019s involvement in their lives when the unexplainable happens, according to the study. Fourteen percent say they \u201ctypically doubt God is involved when things happen in their lives they can\u2019t explain.\u201d Some 7 in 10 disagree (71%), with 44% strongly disagreeing.<\/p>\n

Females are more likely to strongly disagree they doubt God\u2019s involvement when the unexplainable happens than males (47% vs. 40%).<\/p>\n

Protestant churchgoers in the South (47%) are more likely to strongly disagree than those living in the Northeast (38%) and Midwest (40%).<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of Jesus\u2019 most frequent rebukes of his followers was how small their faith was,\u201d McConnell said. \u201cIt\u2019s not that churchgoers have no faith, but many have room for growth.\u201d<\/p>\n

Exercising Faith is one of eight signposts measured in the Discipleship Pathway Assessment and addressed in Lifeway\u2019s Bible Studies for Life<\/em> curriculum. For more information, visit DiscipleshipPathwayAssessment.com.<\/p>\n

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Carol Pipes<\/h2>\n

@CarolPipes<\/p>\n

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Carol is director of corporate communications for Lifeway Christian Resources.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n