The document discusses the failure of American Christianity to embody a biblical worldview, primarily because only a small percentage of born-again Christians align their moral decisions with biblical teachings. Research by George Barna highlights that most Christians today do not think or act according to Jesus' teachings, leading to a disconnect between faith and worldview. The author urges Christians to study scripture more deeply to develop a comprehensive understanding that applies to all areas of life, not just limited 'religious' issues.

1. Has American Christianity Failed?
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“American Christianity has largely failed since the middle of the 20 century because Jesus’ modern-day
disciples do not act like Jesus.”
Who would dare say such a thing?
Someone who knows what he’s talking about: George Barna.
If you’re not familiar with the name, George Barna is founder of Barna Research Group, a firm that
specializes in studying Christianity in America. In his 2003 book, Think Like Jesus (Ventura, CA: Issachar
Resources, 2003), Barna reminds us that our worldview – the way we think – determines how we act. Our
actions flow out of our worldview. Unfortunately, most born-again Christians don’t have a Biblical worldview,
and so don’t act like Jesus.
Just who are born-again Christians? And what’s a Biblical worldview? Let’s define our terms. Barna defines
born-again Christians as individuals with “a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is still important in
(their) life today.” In addition, they believe they “will go to Heaven because (they) have confessed (their) sins
and accepted Jesus Christ as (their) savior” (p. 35).
Defining a Biblical worldview is a bit more complicated. We all have a worldview. It shapes our decisions and
choices, usually without our ever knowing it. In a nutshell, a worldview is like a pair of eyeglasses we see the
world through. The question is, who wrote the prescription? If God wrote it, then we see things the way He
wants us to see them. In fact, we see the world from God’s point of view. That’s a Biblical worldview.
According to Barna, a person with a Biblical worldview believes in:
 certain doctrines that have historically been considered “orthodox Christianity”
 absolute truth. You can’t have your truth and I’ll have mine.
 The Bible as the source of absolute moral truth
So far, so good. But details from Think Like Jesus give the bad news:
 Only one out of four born-again adults (25%) “make their moral and ethical decisions on the basis of
the Bible” (p. 36).
 Only one out of seven born-again adults (14%) “rely on the Bible as their moral compass and believe
that moral truth is absolute” (p. 37).
 Most disturbing of all: 91% of all born-again adults and 98% of all born-again teenagers do not
have a Biblical worldview (p. 39).
To put it another way - only 9% of born-again adults have a Biblical worldview! Most of these people who
claim to have a relationship with Jesus don’t think like Jesus. And if we don’t think like Jesus, you can be
sure that we won’t act like Him!
Looking at these numbers, it’s clear that being a Christian doesn't guarantee a Biblical worldview. No matter
how much we read the Bible or attend church and Sunday School, these don’t automatically make us think
like Christ.
We may live our lives for years as Christians without ever thinking "Christianly" about a certain topic. In fact,
all of us have “blind spots” – topics that we’ve never thought of connecting to the Bible. Or worse, maybe we
think the Bible doesn’t have anything to say about a certain topic.
My pastor, for example, once told me, “I’ve never really thought about what the Bible has to say about art.”
It’s not that he’s ignorant about Scripture. He simply had never thought much about God’s views on art. In
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2. fact, most of us have never considered what the Bible has to say about art, beauty, and aesthetics. (And in
case you were wondering, yes, the Bible has quite a bit to say about the arts.)
Besides art and aesthetics, other areas that are common blind spots for American Christians include
economics and labor, politics and public policy, and personal finance. In these and other areas, many of us
have been so influenced by our culture that we believe whatever we’ve heard in the news or read on the
Internet. The result is that we don’t know the difference between the truth and a lie. Unfortunately we’ve
bought the lies society has offered us. We have “allowed the world to press us into its mold” (Romans 12:2,
paraphrased. The New Testament in Modern English. J.B. Phillips) and end up thinking just like the rest of
society – just like the rest of the non-Christian world. Instead, we should be studying Scripture to know God’s
views on a given topic.
The problem is that many of us think the Bible only speaks to certain limited areas. We know it tells us how
to live when it comes to parenting, morals, and certain "religious" issues. The common belief is that it doesn't
have anything to say about art or architecture, economics or foreign policy, or the latest electronic gadgets.
But in fact, Scripture DOES speak to every square inch of life – even if we haven't ever thought about it. If
God is indeed sovereign, then He's sovereign over everything: art and architecture, economics and foreign
policy, and every other area of culture.
Why do so many Christians think that the Bible has nothing to say about these areas? Too often we read the
Bible for the details and not for the big picture. It's the details that make a story interesting, and the same is
true for Scripture. Because the details are so interesting, it's easy to get caught up in the details and never
think about what those details really mean. All too often, we read the Bible at the level of the specifics – the
details – rather than at the level of the broad overarching principles.
Can’t See the Forest for the Trees
Think back to your high school English classes. Chances are you preferred either grammar or literature.
Most of us had a preference.
 When studying grammar, we discussed the details – the rules – of spelling, punctuation, and
sentence structure. Everything was black and white; there was no gray area.
 When studying literature, we discussed the theme – the broad principles. Nearly everything was in a
gray area.
It’s the same when we’re reading the Bible. Many of us (those who prefer the rules and the details) read
Scripture at the “ground level.” We read for the details, and we stop there. We don’t ever take the time to
think, to meditate, on what all these details mean. We enjoy the details of the Biblical story without ever
considering how God’s Word applies in today’s world. Too often, we never ask, “What’s the big picture?”
Another example from your high school days: What if your American History teacher asked you to memorize
the names of every Civil War general, the dates of all the key battles, and everything there was to know
about the weaponry used by each side, but you never learned WHY the Civil War was fought in the first
place?
You’d be swallowed up in minutia and never learn what was really important about the war.
In reading God’s Word, we need to see the big picture of Biblical principles, not just the details and the fine
print. As we do that, we will begin to think God’s thoughts after him and develop a well-rounded Biblical
worldview.
If you’re like most of us, your perspective – your worldview – has been tarnished by the world. If you’d rather
see things from God’ perspective, try this exercise: Next time you pick up your Bible, take a few extra
minutes before you begin reading to ask God to help you see things from His point of view. Pray that you’ll
see connections between what you read in the Bible and the current news. Then take the next step. Pick
some area of culture that you care about – art, education, technology, whatever is important to you. Have
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3. you ever considered what the Bible has to say about it? Study that topic, read about it, consider the pros and
cons and the long-term effects of change in that area. With time you’ll have developed a more Biblical
worldview in that area. Your worldview will have changed, and you will act more like Jesus.
Isn’t that what He really wants for each of us?
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Keith Shull is the founder and Executive Director of the Arizona Christian Worldview
Institute, a discipleship and training ministry whose primary means of ministry is through
the media: video & publishing. We also serve the body of Christ through workshops,
conferences, and special events.
He received his M.Div. degree in 1987, and is a ruling elder in his local church. He has
served in a number of Christian schools, both as an instructor and administrator. He has
been a curriculum designer for both public and Christian school publishers. Learn more
about ACWI at www.acwi-online.org
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