(ZENIT News / Washington, 10.22.2025).- A growing uncertainty is emerging within American pews. While national debates over gender and sexuality have intensified, a new survey suggests that many churchgoers no believe the Bible offers clear moral guidance on these issues. The findings point to a deeper theological confusion—and perhaps, a moment of reckoning for religious leaders.
According to the “Social Issues and Worldview” study, jointly released by the Family Research Council (FRC) and the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University, fewer than half of U.S. churchgoers—just 47 percent—say the Bible is “clear and decisive” on whether homosexuality is morally acceptable. Only a year ago, that figure stood at 63 percent.
Even fewer respondents—40 percent—believe Scripture speaks clearly about transgender identity, a notable drop from 52 percent in 2023. The rest are divided: many view the Bible’s teachings as ambiguous, while others believe the subject is not mentioned at all.
For Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, these numbers represent more than statistical drift; they mark a crisis of discipleship. “This shows a great need for biblical teaching,” he said, urging churches to “teach, live, and defend a biblical worldview.”
Researchers from the Arizona-based cultural institute echoed that concern, describing the findings as “pastorally alarming.” They warn that the decline in biblical confidence coincides with a generation shaped by digital media, political polarization, and a waning trust in religious authority.
Their report, however, strikes a note of urgency rather than despair. “This is, at its core, an evangelical moment,” the authors wrote, arguing that the confusion among believers could become an opportunity for renewed engagement with Scripture. “In a culture shaken by tragedy and uncertainty, young people are coming to church searching for truth, stability, and hope.”
The reference to the “murder of Charlie Kirk”—a recent event that shocked many conservative Christian communities—served as a call to action. For the report’s authors, it underscored the moral disorientation of contemporary America and the responsibility of pastors to offer something more than cultural commentary.
“What will they find when they come?” the study asked rhetorically. “May it be, by God’s grace, sermons steeped in Scripture, communities shaped by holiness and love, and discipleship that connects biblical doctrine with daily decisions.”
In the background, the broader religious landscape of the United States continues to shift. Recent data suggest a slight decline in the number of college-age Americans identifying as transgender, but also a steady erosion of traditional Christian moral certainty. Many pastors now find themselves navigating the gap between inherited doctrines and a generation skeptical of moral absolutes.
If the numbers from this latest survey are any indication, America’s churches may be entering a period where the question is not only what the Bible says—but whether its voice is still being heard at all.
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