Evangelicals deeply confused about core Christian beliefs

A major new survey released today reveals that evangelicals are confused about some core doctrines of the Christian faith.

Ligonier Ministries’ 2018 State of Theology survey was conducted by LifeWay Research, which interviewed a representative sample of 3,000 Americans. The full survey results are available online at TheStateOfTheology.com.

Evangelicals

A majority of evangelicals said (1) that most people are basically good, (2) that God accepts the worship of all religions, and (3) that Jesus was the first and greatest being created by God the Father. However, all these beliefs are contrary to the historic Christian faith.

• Some 52 percent of evangelicals agreed that everyone sins a little, but most people are good by nature. This contrasts with the Bible’s teaching that human nature is fundamentally sinful (Rom. 3:10).
• A majority of evangelicals (51 percent) agreed that God accepts the worship of all religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. However, Jesus insisted that access to God is only possible through faith in Him (John 14:6). (The proportion of those who agree is an increase from the 2016 survey, when 48 percent of evangelicals agreed.)
• Almost all evangelicals (97 percent) agreed that there is one true God in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. But more than three-fourths (78 percent) also said that Jesus is the first and greatest being created by God. The idea that Jesus was the first and greatest being created by the Father is contradicted by the Bible (John 1:1) and has been rejected by the church down through the centuries.

More positively, 91 percent of evangelicals affirmed that people are justified by faith alone in Jesus Christ alone.

U.S. adults

Overall, U.S. adults appear to have a superficial attachment to well-known Christian beliefs. For example, a majority agreed that Jesus died on the cross for sin and that He rose from the dead. However, they rejected the Bible’s teaching on (1) the gravity of man’s sin, (2) the importance of the church’s gathering together for worship, and (3) the Holy Spirit.

• More than two-thirds (69 percent) of Americans disagreed that the smallest sin deserves eternal damnation.
• A majority of U.S. adults (58 percent) said that worshiping alone or with one’s family is a valid replacement for regularly attending church.
• A majority of U.S. adults (59 percent) say that the Holy Spirit is a force, not a personal being.

Other revealing results from the survey, covering ethical issues and age variations, will be released separately at later dates.

Chris Larson, president and CEO of Ligonier Ministries, said:

“The State of Theology survey highlights the urgent need for courageous ministry that faithfully teaches the historic Christian faith. It’s never been popular to talk about mankind’s sinfulness or the exclusive claims of Jesus Christ, but at a time when a darkened world needs the light of the gospel, it’s disheartening to see many within the evangelical church confused about what the Bible teaches. We hope this survey provides local churches with a little more insight into what people in our neighborhoods and in our pews actually believe.”

Dr. Stephen Nichols, chief academic officer of Ligonier and president of Reformation Bible College, said:

“These results are a serious cause for concern. It is the depth of man’s sin that led Jesus to die on the cross. How, then, can a majority of evangelicals say most people are good by nature? Down through history, Christians have proclaimed that Jesus is truly God, not some sort of created being. The evangelical world is in great danger of slipping into irrelevance when it casually forgets the Bible’s doctrine.”

LifeWay Research interviewed a demographically balanced online panel of American adults and received 3,002 completed responses. The survey was carried out from April 24 to May 4, 2018.

Ligonier’s previous State of Theology surveys took place in 2014 and 2016. More information can be found at TheStateOfTheology.com.

Evangelicals were defined by LifeWay Research as people who strongly agreed with the following four statements:

• 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.

About Ligonier Ministries

Ligonier Ministries exists to proclaim, teach, and defend the holiness of God in all its fullness to as many people as possible. To that end, Ligonier’s outreach today is manifold and worldwide. Founded by Dr. R.C. Sproul in 1971, teaching fellows now continue and help lead Ligonier’s work of discipleship that Dr. Sproul began more than forty years ago. These teaching fellows are Drs. Sinclair B. Ferguson, W. Robert Godfrey, Steven J. Lawson, R. Albert Mohler Jr., Stephen J. Nichols, Burk Parsons, and Derek W.H. Thomas. Ligonier publishes Renewing Your Mind broadcasts, the Reformation Study Bible, Tabletalk magazine, books through the Reformation Trust Publishing division, and hundreds of teaching series. 

The ministry also offers an undergraduate degree program through Reformation Bible College. In addition, Ligonier hosts national and regional conferences, provides an online learning community through Ligonier Connect, answers biblical and theological questions through Ask Ligonier, streams twenty-four-hour Christian Internet radio through RefNet, pursues numerous translation efforts in other countries, and makes available thousands of unique educational resources online at Ligonier.org.

Contact: Deborah Finnamore | Publicity Manager | 407-333-4244 x1158 | definnamore@ligonier.org

 

Actor, model, and most recently author John T. Prather recently won the Gold Medal in the Christian Thriller category from the Readers’ Favorite “International Book Award Contest” for his book “The Nephilim Virus,” which released last November via Deep River Books.

In endorsing “The Nephilim Virus,” fellow actor Megan Fox has pitched the book as a potential movie story saying it is “a cohesive, fun ride through some of my most beloved topics: science, the supernatural, and the apocalypse.” Prather, however, says whatever becomes of the novel in the future, he wants the central message to remain constant.

“All the great themes, like redemption and sacrifice and love, of all the great stories, are just tiny versions of the greatest story, God’s story,” Prather says. “That is the reason a reader can feel them in his or her soul-regardless if the work is Christian or non-Christian.”

“I want readers to connect to the greatest story by reading a book that has little glimpses of that story woven into it,” he explains. “The overall theme of ‘The Nephilim Virus’ is the idea that every human has been infected with a blood disease, but there is a cure. I want readers to be entertained while subconsciously connecting to the truth – sometimes in ways they might not even realize.”

Since the book’s release, Prather says both believers and non-believers have offered positive reviews of “The Nephilim Virus,” which he hopes fulfills the directive of one of his favorite authors.

“C.S. Lewis said something that has always stuck with me. He said, ‘What we want is not more little books about Christianity, but more little books by Christians on other subjects–with their Christianity latent,'” Prather reflects. “I hope my book will appeal to believers who like stories that can be taken seriously by the world while still holding deeper truths.”

The Readers’ Favorite contest honors books in over 140 genres, with genres judged separately. Past winners include New York Times bestsellers J.A. Jance, James Rollins, and No. 1 best-selling author Daniel Silva, as well as celebrity authors such as movie star Jim Carrey, and actor Henry Winkler.

 

(Arroyo Grande, CA) — The Society of Voice Arts and Sciences (SOVAS) has named audiobook narrator Jim Seybert a finalist in it’s annual Vocal Arts® Award program. Seybert, a former marketing consultant with many ECPA member publishers, is one of five narrators nominated in the Self-Help/Health & Wellness category for his work on The Soul of Shame by Dr. Curt Thompson.

Seybert was nominated for his narration of The Soul Of Shame, a study of the devastating effects neuropsychological programming can have on one’s self-esteem. Originally published in 2018 by InterVarsityPress and produced in audiobook format by TwoWords Publishing, the book is available on many popular audiobook platforms, including audible.com.

The SOVAS Awards provide “international acknowledgement of the extraordinary skill and artistry that goes into voiceover acting.” The program is similar to the Oscars, Emmys, Tonys, and other award franchises. Nominees and honorees will be feted this year at a ceremony in the Warner Studio in Burbank (CA) on November 18, 2018.

This is Seybert’s first SOVAS nomination. He has recorded 30 audiobooks in a professional narration studio in his home. The former Parable Group executive has written two books on leadership for Tyndale House, and contributed regularly to Christian Retailing and various CBA-distributed publications.

Contact: Jim Seybert, 805-748-1434, Jim@jimseybert.com

Ada, Mich. (October 11, 2018)—Winners of the 2018 Carol Awards were announced at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center during the annual American Christian Fiction Writers conference on September 22, 2018.  Andrea Doering, editorial director of Revell, was awarded Editor of the Year for her contributions to Christian fiction and to ACFW. Jennifer Leep, executive vice president of trade publishing at Baker Publishing Group, stated, “Andrea is a gifted editor who excels at encouraging her authors and inspiring them to do their best work. I’m so glad to see her work honored with this award and know that the many authors who love working with her feel the same way.”

In addition to the recognition of Andrea’s work, two Baker Publishing Group titles were selected as winning titles in their genre. A Matter of Trust by Susan May Warren won in the Romance category, and A Note Yet Unsung by Tamera Alexander won in the Historical Romance category. The Carol Awards were created to honor excellent Christian fiction. For the complete list of winners, please visit https://www.acfw.com/carol/carol_winners_2018.

A Matter of Trust by Susan May Warren
(Revell; ISBN 9780800727451; ebook ISBN 9781493407255; $14.99)
When US Senator Ella Blair’s brother goes missing, Gage Watson is tasked to save him. Gage only has one problem: the bossy and beautiful young senator wants to come with him. Old sparks relight as they search for the missing snowboarder, and suddenly they are faced with emotions neither can deny. But when Ella’s secret is revealed, can they learn to trust each other—even when disaster happens again?

A Note Yet Unsung by Tamera Alexander
(Bethany House; ISBN 9780764206245; ebook 9781441230942; $15.99)
Despite her training as a master violinist, Rebekah Carrington was denied entry into the Nashville Philharmonic by young conductor Nathaniel Whitcomb, who bowed to public opinion. Now, with a reluctant muse and a recurring pain in his head, he needs her help to finish his symphony. But how can he win back her trust when he’s robbed her of her dream?

Baker Publishing Group publishes high-quality writings that represent historic Christianity and serve the diverse interests and concerns of evangelical readers.

Contact: Ruth Anderson, (616)676-9185 x8131, randerson@bakerpublishinggroup.com

Ada, Mich. (October 15, 2018)—The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance recently announced its Fall 2018 Okra Picks, which are a selection of fresh Southern titles handpicked by SIBA Indie Bookstores for the Fall season, October to December. In Too Deep (Revell; ISBN9780800729295; Ebook ISBN 9781493415038; $15.99) by Lynn H. Blackburn was one of the 18 southern titles chosen as a title not to be missed for the holiday season.

Lynn H. Blackburn is the author of Beneath the Surface, Hidden Legacy, and Covert Justice, winner of the 2016 Selah Award for Mystery and Suspense and the 2016 Carol Award for Short Novel. Blackburn believes in the power of stories, especially those that remind us that true love exists, a gift from the Truest Love. She’s passionate about CrossFit, coffee, and chocolate (don’t make her choose) and experimenting with recipes that feed both body and soul. She lives in Simpsonville, South Carolina, with her true love, Brian, and their three children.

Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, publishes books that help bring the Christian faith to everyday life. Whether through fiction, Christian living, self-help, marriage, family, or youth books, each Revell publication reflects relevance, integrity, and excellence.

Contact: Karen Steele, (616) 676-9185 x100, ksteele@bakerpublishinggroup.com

CAROL STREAM, ILL. (October 11, 2018) – Tyndale House Publishers (@tyndalehouse) has announced that Jeremy Taylor (standing right of Mark Taylor in photo) has been installed as President and CEO of Tyndale House Foundation, effective October 1, 2018. Taylor, who has served on the board of directors of the Foundation since 2005, replaces his father, Mark Taylor, as President and CEO. Mark served as President of the Foundation from 1973 to 2018 and continues as Chairman and CEO of Tyndale House Publishers. Jeremy Taylor is the third president in the Foundation’s history, succeeding Mark Taylor and Dr. Kenneth Taylor.

At an installation service held at Tyndale House Publishers on October 1, Mark Taylor handed Jeremy a baton, symbolizing the transfer of leadership. He said, “In a relay race, each runner carries the baton, and they pass it from hand to hand. My father handed me the leadership of the Foundation in 1973. Today I pass this baton to you as a visual image that I am passing the responsibility of leadership of the Foundation to you. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I hereby install you as President and Chief Executive Officer of Tyndale House Foundation. It’s a big responsibility, but it is a joyful task. May God bless you in all that you do.”

Jeremy responded, “Being asked to carry on the legacy of generosity begun by my grandparents fifty-five years ago is a great honor. The legacy of Dr. and Mrs. Taylor is immense, and the legacy my dad is forging for me is huge as well.” Speaking of the historic relationship between Tyndale House Foundation and Tyndale House Publishers, Jeremy continued, “Dr. Taylor always said that Tyndale is God’s company. We’ve always operated that way. Today, all of us share Ken Taylor’s legacy. Our role is to embrace the legacy, working together and striving to honor God in all we do. Therefore, by God’s grace, in prayerful dependence on him, let us now set ourselves to that task.”

As a fiction editor at Tyndale House Publishers for twenty years, Jeremy Taylor has worked with some of the industry’s top authors. He earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Wheaton College and is currently pursuing an MA in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary. Jeremy and his wife, Nancy, live with their five children in Wheaton, Illinois.

History of Tyndale House Foundation
Tyndale House Foundation was established by Kenneth and Margaret Taylor in 1963—a year after the initial publication of Living Letters, the New Testament Epistles paraphrased by Dr. Taylor. Though the Taylors had a large family (ten children) and lived on a modest income, Dr. Taylor had a strong conviction that the royalties from Living Letters should be given to God because it was His Word. He established Tyndale House Foundation to distribute these royalties. It was the fulfillment of a goal Dr. Taylor had first expressed a decade earlier – to establish a charitable fund that could make grants to support Christian work around the world.

During the second year of its publication, 600,000 copies of Living Letters were distributed by the Billy Graham Association. The royalties on those copies were the first funds paid into the Foundation.

For over 50 years the Foundation has received all royalties from the sales of Living Letters (1962), The Living Bible (1971) and the New Living Translation (1996). In 2001 Ken and Margaret Taylor transferred ownership of Tyndale House Publishers to the Foundation. As a result, dividends from the profitable operations of the publishing company also now flow to the Foundation.

The Foundation uses all these funds to make grants for Christian ministry around the world.

Tyndale House Publishers, founded in 1962, is the world’s largest privately held Christian publisher of books, Bibles, and digital media. Tyndale has published many New York Times bestsellers. The largest portion of its profit goes to the nonprofit Tyndale House Foundation, which makes grants to help meet the physical and spiritual needs of people around the world. Tyndale was founded to publish Living Letters, which later comprised part of The Living Bible, a contemporary paraphrase of the Bible that became a global publishing phenomenon. Tyndale now publishes the Holy Bible, New Living Translation (NLT), the translation of choice for millions of people.

Entertaining stories and takeaways provide positive insight during uncertain times

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Oct. 11, 2018) – Charlie Daniels, Grammy®, Dove, and CMA Award-winning musician, beloved American icon, author, and patriot, has penned a new book that shares his signature wit and powerful lessons that he’s learned from traveling and playing all around the world. Let’s All Make the Day Count: The Everyday Wisdom of Charlie Daniels (Thomas Nelson, November 6, 2018) is an entertaining and impactful book for those who have enjoyed his daily “let’s all make the day count” tweets and want to hear more personal stories from his life.

“I have leaned heavily on my personal journey and the times I’ve knocked my head against various walls through the years while learning life’s lessons,” Daniels said. “I’ve excerpted segments of my highest and lowest times, my most devastating defeats and most rewarding victories, and how I’ve come to truly value making the day count, every single day.”

Let’s All Make the Day Count includes 100 readings that cover such topics as starting again after loss; standing your ground; how to be successful; how to show people you care; choosing your words carefully; and many more. Daniels accompanies every story with a Bible verse and a short takeaway.

Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) and World Outreach Church will host book signings for Let’s All Make the Day Count on Nov. 14 and 25, respectively. Details are as follows:

November 14, 2018
12-1:30 PM, book signing at Phillips Bookstore on MTSU Campus
Phillips Bookstore, 1768 MTSU Blvd., Murfreesboro, TN 37130

November 25, 2018
10:30 AM, Daniels to perform at World Outreach Church service
11:45 AM, book signing to follow
World Outreach Church, 1921 New Salem Rd., Murfreesboro, TN 37128

Daniels also will release a companion CD of the same name on Nov. 2, available exclusively at Walmart stores, released by Blue Hat Records, distributed by BFD.

The Let’s All Make the Day Count CD will include the following tracks:

1. Southern Boy
2. In America
3. The Legend of Wooley Swamp
4. God Save Us All from Religion
5. My Beautiful America
6. Let’s All Make the Day Count
7. The Devil Went Down to Georgia
8. Nighthawk
9. How Great Thou Art
10. Heaven Can Be Anywhere

Charlie Daniels is available for interviews, and review copies of Let’s All Make the Day Count are available. Please email Stefanie.schroeder@harpercollins.com with requests.

Contacts:

• Stefanie Schroeder, Thomas Nelson, 615.902.1722, Stefanie.schroeder@harpercollins.com
• Don Murry Grubbs, Absolute Publicity, 615.275.8380, don@absolutepublicity.com               
• Paula Szeigis, The Charlie Daniels Band, 615.443.2112 x 123, paulacdb@aol.com

About Charlie Daniels:

From his Dove Award-winning gospel albums to his genre-defining Southern rock anthems and CMA Award-winning country hits, few artists have left a more indelible mark on America’s musical landscape than Charlie Daniels. An outspoken patriot, beloved mentor to young artists, and still a road warrior at age 81, Charlie has parlayed his passion for music into a multiplatinum career and a platform to support the military, underprivileged children, and others in need.

Experience the hope, peace, and joy of the Christmas season

BIRMINGHAM: New Hope Publishers announces the repackage and relaunch of the Christmastime classic, Pursuing the Christ, by best-selling author Jennifer Kennedy Dean. (New Hope/October 1, 2018/ ISBN: 978-1-56309-085-1/$12.99). Already a beloved holiday read, Pursuing the Christ, a thirty-one-day devotional and prayer guide, will help you step away from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and experience the hope, peace, and joy Christ intended for this season. Each short daily reading is filled with profound and thought-provoking insights on familiar Christmas verses and some possibly not-so-familiar Messianic passages to help you celebrate the precious gift of Christmas—Jesus Christ—in new and richer ways.

Learn more about Jennifer and Pursuing the Christ. 

Advance Praise

“Jennifer Kennedy Dean has provided an elegant, yet down-to-earth resource to prepare your heart for the coming of the Christ child this Advent season. This thought-provoking invitation to prayer has had a profound and holy effect on my approach to the moment when love came down and the Son of God came to dwell among us.” —Cynthia Ruchti, author of twenty-three books, including An Endless Christmas and Restoring Christmas

“By far my favorite Christmas devotional of all time. Jennifer Kennedy Dean has created an evocative, spiritually rich, intellectually rigorous, emotionally satisfying read. Every entry is unique and engaging, drawing the reader closer to Jesus.” —Tessa Afshar, award-winning author of Land of Silence, Pearl in the Sand, and Harvest of Gold

“Jennifer Kennedy Dean gifts readers with winsome prose and deeply satisfying reminders of the audacious Gift of Jesus Christ. Succinct devotions wrapped in sound teaching underwriting the meaning of Christmas and the hope He brings to a desperate world.” —Julie Barnhill, author, speaker

About the Author

Jennifer Kennedy Dean is executive director of The Praying Life Foundation, a bestselling author, and a respected speaker. She is the author of numerous books, studies, and magazine articles specializing in prayer and spiritual growth.  Her book Heart’s Cry has been named National Day of Prayer’s recommended resource. Her bestselling Bible study, Live a Praying Life^®, has been called a flagship work on prayer. Widely recognized as an unusually gifted communicator of the deep truths of God’s Word, Jennifer speaks all over the world, calling God’s people to discover the difference between “a prayer life” and “a praying life.” Jennifer is the author of such books as Clothed with Power, Set Apart, Power in the Blood of Christ, Power in the Name of Jesus, Altar’d, and Secrets Jesus Shared. She is a board member for Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, a member of America’s National Prayer Committee, a member of National Professional Women Association, and national prayer director and board member for Christian Women in Media.

Learn more about Jennifer Kennedy Dean. 

To request a review copy of Pursuing the Christ, to schedule an interview with Jennifer, or for more information, please contact Meredith Dunn, Meredith@NewHopePublishers.com. 

Grand Rapids, Mich., Oct. 4, 2018 – Veteran TV and film actor, Dondré Whitfield, will release his debut book in the spring of 2020 with Zondervan. Whitfield is represented by Leticia Gomez of Savvy Literary Services in association with Ascendant Group. World rights were acquired by Zondervan acquisitions editor Andy Rogers. 

As a husband, father and relationship coach, Whitfield says manhood is more than a code of behavior and standards. His upcoming release shows how faith serves as the divine model for manhood, as it never acts out of flesh or self-interest. Whitfield will expose the debilitating myths, reverse the negative trends, shatter stereotypes, and spark conversations that will empower males to help the women and children in their lives find their place of peace and purpose.

Passionate about helping address the challenges and pressures of masculine identity in the 21st century, Whitfield is also the co-creator of The Manhood Tour, a global movement committed to awakening the consciousness of men, giving them the keys to effective and impactful leadership, and teaching them how to tap into their talents and live them in the highest degree.

Dondré T. Whitfield is a three-time Emmy nominee best known for his role as Remy Newell on the critically acclaimed series “Queen Sugar,” created and produced by Golden Globe-nominee Ava DuVernay and co-executive produced by Oprah Winfrey on the OWN Network. Whitfield’s career spans over a quarter century and he has appeared with such industry heavyweights as John Travolta, Helen Mirren, David Oyelowo, Michael B. Jordan and Kevin Hart. Whitfield and his wife, actress and director Salli Richardson-Whitfield, live in Los Angeles with their two children.

Zondervan is a world leading Bible publisher and provider of Christian communications.  Zondervan, part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., delivers transformational Christian experiences through its bestselling Bibles, books, curriculum, academic resources and digital products. The Company’s products are sold worldwide and translated into nearly 200 languages. Zondervan offices are located in Grand Rapids, Mich.  For additional information, please visit www.zondervan.com.

Contact: Robin Barnett, 616-698-3251, robin.barnett@harpercollins.com