A new study commissioned by Ligonier Ministries in conjunction with Lifeway Research suggests troubling inconsistencies in the beliefs of many self-described evangelicals regarding the Bible, other religions, God’s nature, and human nature.
Ligonier, founded by the late Presbyterian pastor and theologian R.C. Sproul, reported in its 2025 State of Theology survey that significant portions of evangelicals are not being taught foundational Bible doctrines or are failing to understand them.
The study last January queried 3,001 American evangelicals in a ”demographically balanced” group. Evangelical was defined as those who profess:
- The Bible is the highest authority for what I believe.
- It is very important for me personally to encourage non-Christians to trust Jesus Christ as their Savior.
- Jesus Christ’s death on the cross is the only sacrifice that could remove the penalty of my sin.
- Only those who trust in Jesus Christ alone as their Savior receive God’s free gift of eternal salvation.
Despite those criteria, a majority struggled to apply key doctrines about the fall of Adam and its effect on human beings’ moral state to survey questions. The study reports that 64% of evangelical respondents affirmed the statement that “Everyone is born innocent in the eyes of God.” And 53% affirmed that “Everyone sins a little, but most people are good by nature.”
“Such results display a profound misunderstanding among a significant number of evangelicals regarding the foundational Scriptural teaching about original sin and the implications of Adam’s sin for all mankind (Ps. 51:5; Rom. 5:18–19; Eph. 2:1–3),” Ligonier responded.
Perhaps more astounding, 53% agreed with the statement, “The Holy Spirit is a force but not a personal being.”
“This reveals the doctrinal confusion and contradictory beliefs that characterize many evangelicals’ thinking,” Ligonier remarked, “since almost all evangelicals (98%) affirmed that ‘There is one true God in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit’ (John 14:26; 16:13–14; Acts 13:2; Rom. 8:26; 1 Cor. 12:11; Eph. 4:30).”
Regarding what the Bible teaches about worshiping the God of Scripture, 47% agreed that “God accepts the worship of all religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.” Moreover, 35% “strongly agreed” with the statement.
Yet, “The Bible consistently teaches that true worship must be directed to the one true God as He has revealed Himself in Jesus Christ, and that false worship is unacceptable to Him (John 4:24; 1 John 2:23).”
On other such questions, 61% believed that Christians are obligated to join a church community. Perhaps surprising considering other survey questions, 65% of evangelicals agreed—a decade following nationwide legalization of gay marriage—that “God created marriage to be between one man and woman.” The downside is that sizable percentage of professing evangelicals did not affirm the Bible’s exclusive view of marriage.
“The 2025 State of Theology survey makes clear that many evangelical churches and individuals lack a firm grasp of the essential Christian faith revealed in Scripture,” the study concluded.
“The solution to this state of affairs is what it has always been—God’s plan for Christian growth and discipleship within the context of doctrinally sound local churches. As biblically qualified pastors lead God’s people in worship and the accurate exposition of God’s Word on a regular basis, healthy growth among believers will take place as the Holy Spirit causes the Word to bear much fruit.”
