⚠️ A Wake-Up Call to the Church: The Alarming State of Theology — A Ken Ham Original Post

A Wake-Up Call to the Church: The Alarming State of Theology

The latest State of Theology survey from Ligonier Ministries and Lifeway Research has arrived—and the results are as troubling as ever. Just like in 2022, the answers reveal a shocking level of confusion and inconsistency among U.S. Evangelicals regarding the most basic truths of Scripture.

Let’s not sugarcoat it—biblical illiteracy has become an epidemic within the modern Church.

Who Are Evangelicals?

For this survey, Lifeway Research defined Evangelicals as those who strongly agreed with these four foundational statements:

1. The Bible is the highest authority for what I believe.

2. It is very important for me personally to encourage non-Christians to trust Jesus Christ as their Savior.

3. Jesus Christ’s death on the cross is the only sacrifice that could remove the penalty of my sin.

4. Only those who trust in Jesus Christ alone as their Savior receive God’s free gift of eternal salvation.

Solid affirmations, right? But here’s where things take a tragic turn.

What Do These Evangelicals Actually Believe?

Despite those strong statements, the rest of the survey paints a devastating picture:

• 64% believe that “Everyone is born innocent in the eyes of God.”

• 53% agree that “Everyone sins a little, but most people are good by nature.”

• 53% think “The Holy Spirit is a force but not a personal being.”
  (Yet 98% also claim to believe in one God in three persons. Talk about inconsistency!)

• 47% agree that “God accepts the worship of all religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.”

• 28% say that “Jesus was a great teacher, but He was not God.”

• 17% believe “The Bible, like all sacred writings, contains helpful myths but isn’t literally true.”

• 19% think “Modern science disproves the Bible.”

• 16% say “The Bible’s condemnation of homosexual behavior doesn’t apply today.”

• 28% think “Religious belief is not about objective truth,” and another 19% aren’t sure at all.

A Crisis of Contradictions

It’s staggering. Every “Evangelical” surveyed claimed that “The Bible is the highest authority for what I believe,” yet:

• Nearly one in five think science disproves Scripture,

• Many dismiss biblical teachings on morality,

• And almost half are confused about truth itself.

Worse yet, 98% affirm the Trinity—but over half describe the Holy Spirit as an impersonal force.
Nearly a third think Jesus wasn’t God.
Nearly half believe God accepts all worship.

This isn’t just confusion—it’s contradiction. It’s evidence that the Church has drifted far from sound doctrine.

Where Did We Go Wrong?

We’ve raised generations on simplified “Bible stories” instead of the meat of God’s Word.
We’ve entertained, inspired, and comforted—but too often, we’ve failed to equip.

We haven’t trained our people to think biblically, to defend truth, or to develop a biblical worldview.
Instead, Christians have become shaped by a confusing blend of Scripture and culture.

The state of theology among those calling themselves Evangelicals is sobering—and it should shake every pastor, parent, and believer awake.

It’s Time for a Course Correction

This is exactly why we created the Answers Bible Curriculum—a chronological, apologetics-based journey through the Word of God designed to teach theology, doctrine, worldview, and application. It’s available for both Sunday school and homeschool, equipping churches and families to raise generations who know what they believe and why.

But curriculum alone isn’t enough. Change begins in the home and the pulpit.

Parents: You are your children’s first and most influential teachers. Don’t assume they’re learning what they need at church. Teach them yourself. Learn together. Make God’s Word the centerpiece of your home.

Pastors and leaders: Stop assuming your congregations already know the basics. Teach doctrine. Preach theology. Feed the flock not just with milk, but with meat.

The Church Must Wake Up

If these results don’t alarm us, nothing will.
The Church must return to the Great Commission—not just to make converts, but to make disciples.

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
— Matthew 28:18–20 (NIV)

This is our calling.
This is our responsibility.
And this is our moment to respond.

May this serve as a wake-up call to the Church—to return to the authority of Scripture, the centrality of Christ, and the truth of the Gospel.

Thanks for reading, and thank you for praying.

— Ken (with the AiG Research Team)