The Opportunity Heresy Provides
According to a survey released by Ligonier Ministries and Lifeway Research, Arianism and Pelagianism are having a moment right now. The survey shows that a majority of American Evangelicals believe:
- Jesus is not the only way to God (56%).
- God created Jesus (73%).
- Jesus is not God (43%).
- The Holy Spirit is not a personal being (60%).
- Humans are not sinful by nature (57%).
While evangelicals are becoming less orthodox on these doctrinal issues, they have grown more assured of cultural and ethical stances. There is also overwhelming agreement “that God is perfect, God exists in three persons, Jesus’ bodily resurrection is real, and people are made righteous not through works but through faith in him.”
Despite the weight these findings carry, we should reject a tendency to give into despair about the plight of evangelicalism. The State of Theology survey can be seen as a gift as it allows the church to understand how to best focus our teaching and resources.
Many of these heresies have existed, in some form, for centuries. Their growth only means that Christians should continue to commit to our call of proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ to all who need it, even those who are already sitting in our churches.
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