The (Sad) State of Theology Today 

When I was in my 20s, a Christian woman I admired said that if I wanted to be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit, I should make it a practice to read my Bible every day. I took that advice to heart. For a time, I struggled a to get consistency, but I kept going and kept trying different things. When I had young children, an older woman told me to not worry so much if I read the Bible the first thing in the morning. Instead, she counseled, when you first have a time in your day when you are making a choice about what you will do, choose to read the Bible and spend time with God. Now I have been reading the Bible consistently every day no matter what that day looks like--for decades. Nothing else has had more influence in shaping who I am.

When I first became a Christian, at my church, our senior pastor would always emphasize in his messages for us to go and verify the verses that he shared that day. To go and study them for ourselves. I would go home and do just that, he challenged me and I answer that challenge. I think that that is important, being told to read your Bible, and from point of view of verifying information

Sean McDowell, so often so on his money. What a heart what a guy. Love this guy, I learn so much from this guy and his terrific guests. Sean McDowell is a long form interview artist. But if you get a chance to hear this guy preach, do yourself a favor and don't miss it! Rarely have I seen such a gift for preaching the word of God. What a heart for Christians, unbelievers, and people in general. If I only had a fraction of his patience, compassion, and knowledge. "Blessed are the peacemakers.." God bless Dr McDowell, his family, and friends this holiday season and always. Much love from California.

As someone who attended Biola in the 70s but not able to finish my education....I am always so pleased with the continued integrity of Biola's teaching with Holy Scripture

I've almost finished reading the bible for the first time. I finished James today. Next, I'm going to either go deeper or read through it systematically.

I've had five or six different Pastors tell me that Sunday isn't the time for discipleship. I think that might have something to do with the problem. If Pastors, in the main, aren't teaching and discipling on Sunday mornings, they're not engaging most of their congregation as disciples.

I left the evangelical church many years ago, so I have a pretty good view about how this is changing. I discovered a grander understanding of what following Jesus's teachings really means, and became much more compassionate and forgiving, much more accepting. When I read the Bible by myself I could see how Jesus's teachings were BARELY talked about in churches as the central message. And this is coming from someone that was raised in a family filled with pastors. I attended many different churches, led by my own family or outside my family. I was even part of different worship music groups, I played Saturdays and Sundays. I read many books on eschatology and apologetics. While going really deep I discovered that Jesus is what was missing in my life, the core of his heart. Some of the nastiest experiences I had with people in general have come from evangelical leadership, especially when many of them became involved in politics. So, it's a very complex issue, but I can say I am much more fulfilled by just focusing exclusively on Jesus and his teachings, I kept those and left everything else behind.

I would like to thank you for sharing this information, to God be all the glory! Having been delivered from the prosperity, hyper charismatic and legalistic movements I have found myself in a place of searching for a church home. It is very difficult in my small community to find one that truly is Biblical teaching and I see it being walked out in the lives of those who attend. I know that I need to be in fellowship yet I am concerned of being pulled in to another movement such as the NAR. The numbers certainly sadden me, yet it is no surprise. I love the Lord and His word. I do believe there needs to be better teaching of the word, I come to the internet and listen to certain teachers because they teaching is expository in nature. Although I have been a believer for over 30 years it feels like I am starting all over. God bless you all!

Excellent discussion. I'll be sharing this video with a FB group I started for people who want to read through the Bible together in 2023 while sharing encouragement, questions, answers, and insights.

I have watched these trends as well, and these concern me as a pastor. In my church, I have started a year-long Bible study that teaches my congregants a laity version of Hermeneutics. I have also begun a Systematic Theology Bible study to better equip them to engage with the culture. I think this is where many churches have suffered. In our culture today we have this "easy belivism" that has invited our churches today and a pour view of hamartiology. Romans chapter 1 rings true as well as 2 Timothy 4:3. What can a Pastor do? In my opinion, we need to counter these "false teachers" head-on with sound biblical teaching. Show them for what they are with sound doctrine and theology and most of all the Word of God. I also feel that many evangelicals have been sitting under churches that are wishy-washy in their proclamation of the truth of God's Word. This makes the State of Theology and the Bible in this survey ring true.

Thank you I learn so much from sean May he blessed exceedingly Am. Praying for him and his family

Sean brought up the issue of time management, which is important. The Department of Labor does annual research on how Americans spend their time and publishes their findings on the web every June. Search for their "American Time Use Survey". I've been following their research for years, and they've consistently found that, on average, Americans spend more than five hours a day on what's called leisure and sports while spending less than ten minutes a day on religious and spiritual activities.

Sean I love what you said about the need to connect good theology with godly practices. I train pastors across the world on Zoom in my spare time, but my day job is as a storeman in a tire distribution warehouse. I cannot afford to have a cloistered theology - it has to walk around in steel-toed boots.

Thank you for this. What I’m hearing about that 26 million people that disengaged is that they are starving. They aren’t being properly fed.

Christopher Hitchens was once asked a similar thought experiment about whether one who encountered a group of men in a dark alley would be comforted by the knowledge that those men had just left a Bible study/were carrying Bibles. But I think the correct response to this question is: As opposed to what? As opposed to not knowing anything about them? If that's the case then my answer would be yes but then this question loses it's force because there are hundreds of other things I would be equally comforted learning about a person I encountered in a dark alley.

Reading the chronological Bible has really helped me to absorb Scripture. Everything makes more sense. The New Testament breaks down events with Jesus into small sections, with appropriate headings, and reinforces the story by showing it in all four gospels consecutively. I’ve come to enjoy reading Scripture now, because I see new things constantly that I might not have seen if I just read it one book at a time. It has also made me a more consistent Bible reader, learning more about God all the time!

I listen to the Bible on CD as I travel to work each day. I follow up with The Bible Recap. It’s helpful to have someone to talk to. That’s where my husband comes in.

This has encouraged me to take my reading more seriously.

“Teach good theology but connect it to real life…” like what Sean stated will probably help church members to study and appreciate more about Bible doctrines.

I think one big problem I see is that people think they can remove God but everything else stays intact. For instance, how many people think western culture would be the same without Jesus? How many people think objective morality would still be around if God didn’t exist? Part of it is due to secularism in my view, people are brought up with plenty of ideas but they don’t understand the “source” or “foundation.”

About trauma: I agree fully that the Bible is a great instrument from the Lord in healing from abuse. However, it needs to be said that often women (particularly, but men can be included) suffer spiritual abuse at church (often in "counseling") concurrently to the abuse they are suffering in their own homes. There is a GREAT need for the church to learn about NPD abuse, sometimes called "emotional abuse" but really it is very much more psychological and over time actually physically changes the brain with long-lasting effects in the brain and body. It is JUST as serious as physical abuse. Church pastors, counselors, and lay members who may minister to couples where one has come forward about abuse need to be trained and properly equipped for meeting this serious issue head-on, not with cherry-picked verses or giving the "it takes two" speech since the abused are never responsible in ANY way for what is being done to them nor should they be made to feel as though there is ANYTHING they can do/not do that will make it stop. Abuse is about the abuser. It is not a marriage issue. The church has a massive area for improvement in this area and without it, many different outcomes can occur. Here are just 5 examples of potential damaging outcomes of spiritual abuse in church from members of a Christian support group I was formerly a part of (they were a God send during the worst of it in my journey): One member eventually left the church entirely and has since entered into a homosexual lifestyle because men and God (as her church presented Him) no longer feel safe to her. One member chose to stay in her abusive marriage and started a separate support group for women in abusive marriages who believe they should endure it to "earn a crown of glory for their suffering" she was taught at her church. That one is maybe the most heart-breaking. Another member gradually left her Bible-believing church for a progressive church. Another yet, eventually stopped attending her church but continues to hold to the Biblical principles she was raised on and knows honor God but says she still can't open her Bible yet or walk back through church doors. The last example (me) took time off of church and Bible-reading, too, for a season. (My kids and I are now in a new theologically sound church and are feeling both safe and spiritually fed, there.) The reason I think I was able to continue with the Bible post "Bible-based" spiritual abuse, was several factors but certainly largely included the hearing the Word and the tender message of God and who He is (and isn't in regards to abuse) when I couldn't read it and also couldn't make myself attend. (Caveat: If you've never endured abuse yourself and just read this, please pray for those women instead of offering a futile attempt at "telling" what you "know" about them, or what is "on them". Thank you.) About time: When I was a single mom of my kids at a certain age (still am solo-parenting but they are much older, now) with a newborn, a 1 1/2-year-old, and an 11-year-old, with a serious lower-back injury, recovering from my 3rd c-section, newly out of work, separated from my then husband who was an abuser, an addict, and an adulterer, and all staying in one room of a gracious family member, everything I did took ages because of my state of physical condition, state of mind and emotions, spiritual state, and my kids needing me. I was in excruciating physical pain around the clock, and felt exhausted in body and spirit every waking moment. This for months on end. As my children grew, and I got help over the next year for my back, and I started discovering names for the NPD abuse I had been through and was able to make some sense out of what had happened, I was able to eventually get back into my own Bible. I know that's not the norm of most people who say they don't have time, but there's many people out there who have serious, legitimate limitations, are single parents working 2-3 jobs at a time, or people with other real challenges of fitting in the time who need to be seen and encouraged. Moody Radio (Biblical content) and Streetlights (audio Bible read from an easy-to-understand translation with fresh beats in the background) are both wonderful ministries that allow for hearing when reading is not an option, however temporarily. That "why not?" needs to be asked in genuine and people need to be invited to listen as they do other daily things at home or at work (if allowed/if wise). I got into my physical Bible after allowing myself to hear it again (which took work because the spiritual abuse makes the Word hard to "stomach" from the way it gets twisted, weaponized, or used to fault the victim of abuse). This podcast was great. Lots of facts from these surveys that Christians need to be concerned with and that churches need to take seriously and take some in-house evaluations from. Some of "where this is coming from?" IS from in the church. Thank you for this.

Very interesting information. Encouraging and discouraging at the same time. It speaks to me that people are beginning to think for themselves rather than just believing the evangelical party line that has been passed down to them. To me it screams out that evangelical Christianity needs a reformation to get our theology back to closer to original theology and away from the shift away from it in the past several hundred years. A huge one in my opinion is the perception of God (Father, Son and Spirit) that people have and the failure of the Christian community to accurately present who God is. Who in their right mind that thinks about life and its issues, is going to believe that a loving Creator is separate and exclusive from His creation and that if they do not believe and choose Him (according to the evangelical doctrine or procedure), they will be cast out and consciously be tormented continually, for ever and ever, without any chance of even changing their mind? This has become the state of western evangelical Christianity. It is hideous, demonic and nonsensical. So, these studies are an encouragement that shows people may be beginning to think more. Here is a little different perspective. Theologically, yes, Jesus is God incarnate, He is the way, truth and life and the ONLY way to the Father. So, what does that look like in reality? In the old covenant atonement, which pictured the new, the awareness, believing, confessing or even desiring to be forgiven and made right with God, was irrelevant. The ONLY think that made the atonement effective for the entire population, was the Priest and the Sacrifice. The new covenant is similar only better. How can anyone of any religion come into relationship with God? Not by their theology or doctrine or practice, but by Jesus Himself who included every human being in His death AND His resurrection. That is where change is needed. Bringing every human being into awareness that they are the offspring (genos) of God and encourage them to begin living in the inheritance that is theirs. Anything that resulted from Adam's fall, including a fallen nature, was done away with and redeemed, reconciled and restored in Christ in His death and resurrection. The old has passed away and EVERYTHING has become new. There is no bad news in that presentation of the good news. The global Body of Christ is waking up and change is in progress. Thank You Jesus.

Thanks much Sean. This conversation should be the starting point for all catechisms/new professed disciples in the process of their spiritual formation and growth into strong biblically-based followers.

Very informative. My take-away: I need, and desire, to study the scriptures so as to know and love God better and love and serve others - desiring them to come to Christ. I’ve signed up for the Listener’s Commentary podcasts today for better understanding. Very helpful.

Yes, sad State of Biblical understanding and indeed an enormous task for Pastors to connect Theology to Life Application.

You are incredibly wise Sean and I feel correction from the Lord every time I watch one of your videos. Thank you for following Jesus and sharing that journey with us.

Thank you Dr. McDowell, these vids really help me get back on track.

Hi Sean, thank you for your RU-vid talk. Actually it comes at a good time for me because I’m thinking about doing a talk or two on Bible reading/Bible study. If you don’t mind I do have some questions for you. 1) what would you say is the difference between Bible reading and Bible study? 2)How are they similar or different and how much should we do a both? 3) Your point about resources is very important. I’m surprised at how little Christians n know about them. What are some good resources to suggest for people use? Thanks, always happy Christmas to you and your family.

So encouraged by this discussion! Doubly encouraged by the statistic that African Americans and leading in daily Scriptural engagement. 🙌🙌🙌

The problem with the “disengaged-but-curious/open” subgroup is that they are often 1) looking to be entertained and 2) saturated with cultural norms that mediate against the Jesus of the Bible. I listen to my HS students talk and when they ask my opinion and I give it they are quick to 1) point to Bible teachers who endorse their sin and 2) dismiss my appeal to scripture as “that’s your truth, not mine” which is just a variation of the truism “that’s just your interpretation.” I’m reminded of the words from the late Dr. James Boice from 10th Presbyterian in Philadelphia: “What you win them with, you win them to.” Contemporary Christianity has lost itself to the cult of relevancy. You can’t sacrifice Truth just to please people and keep them in your church. (And he steps off his soapbox)

In these turbulent times, I read to be reminded how awesome God is. He is in control!

Thank you, guys. Very encouraging to hear that there are still Americans who are still fighting for the truth in the Bible in spite of what the world will tell us otherwise.

We live in western NY where Biblical reformed churches are non existent. Most Sundays we stream Parkside Church (Allistair Begg). We know it is commanded to be with a group of believers. What do we do when theology is weak? Do we attend any church?

Thanks!

REALLY enjoyed this interview, Sean. One of most motivating videos I’ve watched in ages.

So much in this has me truly stunned. I thought I was “doing well” in my pursuit of God and praying for his relentless pursuit of me. Thank you @seanmcdowell for teaching me a new (to me) way of searching my own heart with the truth of this study to engage deeper in my own Bible reading in order to shine as a brighter light for Jesus as I interact with those around me

Ask people, “Where do you “itch”? Do these people understand the Gospel…i was a Christian for many years before it was clearly explained to me, and i would have said, yes, i knew it. Martyn Lloyd Jones has said, offer the Gospel first and only, and don’t give people more information than they can handle, without His Spirit or accepting the Gospel. I agree with that, unless they ask something else. “Always be ready to give an answer for your hope…”

In regard to the first 8 minutes: Is the causal factor behind "being a kinder, more loving person," engaging the Bible, or the ministry of the Spirit in our hearts, because of Jesus?

If people lack, saying, "You should be better, if it was important to you, you would find time." If you make weights for people to carry they are not going to pick them up because you made them feel bad. I say, inspire people to the beauty of God and the joy your get from the word. Tell them the incredible things you have found. Show them how reading it has saved you in times of trouble. Because if you love the word you are loving God. Second. This "I" centered way of looking at and approching the bible has been a drilled into christian for decades. Look at the lyrics to the songs from the 80s and 90s. They were all, I'm going I'm doing, I,I I. We were taught we are not good enough so we approch the word with God at a distance, Looking down on our inadequacies, we always self reflect and we only feel ok if we feel we lived up or repented for not living up. This is not selfishly approaching the word, this was how the western churches did church for decades. I bet no one reads this but as a pastor this is very relevant to me, I hope you approach, reproach differently in the future.

I wish I could attend Talbot Seminary for my Masters but Californian schools so expensive. I attend MBTS instead for MDiv. Maybe doctorate in future I can attend should I become more financially sound in future. :)

Where the pastor is a man of God who becomes all to all, is where the Church returns, miraculously full. Ordinary men and women, the youth of today, have not lost the feeling of divine love.

Great discussion!

I like how Scott (at 29:30) talked about the connection between understanding the Bible “literally” and understanding the vast majority of the text as narrative history (excluding parables and such) as opposed to religious fiction or myth. I have begun replacing “literal” with “historical narrative” or “historical events,” because I think that is what we really mean most of the time by “literal,” do people think this move helpful?

An interesting question and answer session. There is no doubt about it the culture is having more influence on the minds of the many than the church teachers. It is imperative that the teaching of scripture is undiluted. But how many recognized bible teachers are doing that? Whoever knows the truth about Jesus needs to communicate it in a authoratative but also graceful manner. The church has a responsibility to teach those within it's numbers the uncompromising truth. Failure to do this means that their hearers will gather around them teachers, to teach them what their itching ears want to hear and so dilute the power of the gospel. That is why James said that those who teach will be judged more strictly. God's church must rise to the challenge to encourage it's listeners to be Bereans. You cannot simply depend on your leaders, have the integrity to come to your own convictions based on your own verification. In my view the church is failing on discipleship. Instead of empowering others it wants to have personal fan clubs and then you wonder why the greater church has a mixed up view of Jesus.

Best advice I can give , is type in One Hour one Book and then leviticus, or mark, or isaiah, or just type in Numbers - Commentary backround , go and listen to a short one hour commentary and get the general Idea , backround , context of a book of the bible, then start at the beginning and read through the whole thing, stop where you need to and research things you don't understand. Do not just pick up the bible and flip through and pick a verse or chapter. Also for new believers, you can pick one of the Gospels , pick Matthew for instance and also pick genesis, read through matthew with backround context, then go to genesis with backround context. Then go to acts and then pick exodus. I know people get overwhelmed and don't understand and start thinking we are still under old testament law as soon as they reach the latter parts of exodus and especially leviticus. Again, if you just type in One Hour One Book there is a guy who gives really good commentary, or you can go to the Bible Project for really short commentary. Learn to Enjoy what your reading , slow down , don't just make it a task.

It’s difficult to “flourish” as a group of Christians, when the Word of God has been ignored for so long, as the present is showing us. But to “flourish” individually is very obvious for those who “believe”.

I'm very encouraged by the survey results that indicate an increase in those who don't believe that Jesus is God. Even here, the question is not direct enough to conclude a positive trend, certainly Jesus is more than "a great teacher". I'm not at all "confused about the identity of Jesus", but I admit that it would be difficult for me to attend a church where confusion is actually taught, and to keep silent about it. When you state that "The church from the beginning has always focused on good ... theology" and don't recognize that the church has failed, I think it is time for you to study early church history with an "open" mind. There was nothing but confusion "about the identity of Jesus" that can only be overcome today by sola scriptura. The point above and other positive trends in the survey such as "abortion is a sin" I hope are indications that Christians are able to believe such fundamental truth, but the real "red flags" such as belief that "God accepts the worship of all religions" seems to be a reflection of the "inclusion" wokeness of society in which we live. I pray that you and those who listen to you can find discernment and truth in such an environment.

Just editing this, as I clearly wasn't very clear! I'm questioning whether the people surveyed may be using the word "Evangelical" to mean something different to what you mean. E.g. Could they be understanding it not as being about Biblical belief, but more about cultural affiliation: meaning "traditionally-American" or "Republican", or something like that? ( This is a question. I'm not saying this is the case.) I had a colleague, here in the UK, who said she was a Christian, but also that she didn't believe in God, and saw no contradiction in that. She didn't connect "Christian" with belief in God. For her, it meant to be culturally-British, with all the associations she would have had of middle-class, polite, and respectable. I wonder if people in the US are using "Evangelical" in a similar sense. That would explain some of what the survey is showing. This bit is a side-comment: In the UK, "Evangelical " is a meaningless or purely negative word for most people, - roughly translated as somebody harsh and unloving, unlistening and legalistic, proud and seeing everybody but themselves as being wrong; someone grace-less and unmerciful, with a long list of don'ts and no sense of humour. Here, "Evangelical" is, therefore, a word to use with caution, among those who would understand it to mean what you mean it to mean! Because of that, it's not a word that anyone would be likely to use to show a cultural allegiance, here, so a similar survey in the UK would yield very different results. I am not saying that that is what an evangelical is, on either side of the Atlantic. I hope that makes it more clear!

I don't get it. Why do you care what the latest poll says other than to know what to say to your intended hearers? Maybe we should study what the Bible says and means to grow spiritually!

Good point about causation. Could be that those who are more grounded in scripture and Christian faith are not as likely to value/pursue material success and/or more content with what they possess. It would be helpful to note that scripture/Biblical reasoning is the primary and decisive framework for Christians. Social science may/not confirm good doctrine or consistent practice. Good job of applying this with Bible engagement, trauma processing etc.

When people say secondary issues? What is that referencing?

I’m still waiting to hear why a lack of biblical understanding, reading, theology, etc. is negative. If these things are true outside of the Christian community then so what, they are outside of our community. And if they are, however, inside our Christian community, why is it so important to you to force a unified codification of beliefs and/or principles? I seem to remember the early RCC pursuing this same brand of unity at great cost; why are you wary of counter-fundamental beliefs and practices inside the greater Christian community?

I'm with ya Sean.

Martin Luther lamented these things after the Protestant Reformation. His Catechism...or almost any catechism...would be a good place for people to start. Our congregation reads and sings s lot of Scripture each service and catechises. Although I lean charismatic I appreciate a church that provides a consistent diet of Scripture. Churches that teach in expository manner would be next on my list.

Dr. Rea, Is the morning after pill acceptable, in your opinion? Why or why not? If it IS acceptable, are you then implying that the human soul does not come into existence at the moment of conception? Why would you hold that there is not a simultaneous coming into being of a human body and a human soul at the moment of conception? When, then, do you believe that spiritual creation takes place? Thank you!

Many people lie about how much they read the Bible!😮

I'd also be comforted if they were holding a Calculus book under their arm, or even a book by Christopher Hitchens. It just shows an interest in something other than mugging people.

FYI: The SOTB link isn't working.

I think apostle Paul covered it well, in regards to theology today. Ephesians 4:14 KJVS That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; This is also in play. Hebrews 6:1-3 KJVS Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, [2] Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. [3] And this will we do, if God permit. If you have the Holy Spirit, let it teach you and quit reading the doctrines of man. And if you don’t have the Holy Spirit ask the Father for it. Luke 11:9-13 KJVS And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. [10] For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. [11] If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? [12] Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? [13] If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

The information you provided from the Harvard study was very concerning. I too agree that Christians need to invest daily time in reading their Bibles. What I do disagree with is your guest stating that people can listen to the Bible while they exercise or multitask. Can they use this time to listen to Christian podcast, yes. But, no they should not use this time to read their Bible! People need to learn to set sole time aside to spend with the Lord. This is time away from distractions and interruptions. Part of building our relationship with God is giving our first fruits. We need to give our best to the Lord which includes our undivided attention. I always recommend to new Bible students to start with a study Bible, then to set apart 15-30 minutes of quite time. Start with prayer, giving praise and acknowledging who God is, giving thanks for blessings, and last praying for needs. Then start with the gospels. Instead of reading a whole chapter, just read the broken down passages. In a journey write a small summary of what you read. And 2) write how it applies to you personally. Have a blessed day.

The problem is that the Bible appears to have been compiled by a body of church officials who never expected the laity to all have their own copies - all trying to understand it for themselves - without the guidance of a priest. Many Christians struggle with the volume of knowledge necessary to correctly interpret many passages of Scripture as much of it is hard to really get right without enough contextual knowledge. Add to that the number of Scriptures that theologians (though often not pastors - many of whom claim that their doctrinal position is clearly correct) admit are troublesome. The development of this problem should come as no surprise - some pastors are just frustrated that people are growing weary of the endless debates between many of these positions, and few feel qualified to weigh in. This dependency truly appears to have been self-inflicted. What has changed is people's willingness to submit to pastors in our day in age. Many people have experienced pastors brow beating them over doctrines like income tithing for decades, only to realize that these teachings were abusive - especially those that focused heavily on Malachi. Now that those days are mostly gone, pastors have shifted their approach and where we once heard we were cursed, now it is that we will not be blessed (or will be less blessed) if we don't give the first-fruits (which we know isn't the same as the tithe). I thiink this dynamic is what is troubling Christianity - people are struggle to take ownership of it because it (the entirety of the Bible) is too much for most people to wrap their head around. Maybe we are also tired of the constant guilt mongering we are given because we struggle to do what we are simply I'll equipped to do. Problems exist in this world exist for a reason. Attributing major problems that persist to evil intent or defect of character achieves nothing and doesn't lead to a problem-solving mindset. A very thorough creed that is more manageable for the Christian layperson to feel able to truly own (and have a sense of unity with other Christians) is one potential solution. God moved me to write one for this exact reason, I believe... Other solutions? Thoughts? A last thought - God's law is written on the hearts of those who truly love Him - maybe that also leads to some people not feeling the constant necessity to study. :)

Very interesting findings and conclusions for sure. Thanks for sharing.

Is there a link to the Harvard study they referenced? I thought they said Harvard 🤔

Israel's Polytheistic Background and the Ugaritic Texts Yam or Yamm, from the ancient Semitic word meaning "sea," is the name of the Canaanite god of rivers and the sea. Yam was also the deity of the primordial chaos. He represented the power of the tempestuous sea untamed and raging. Also called Nahar ("river") he additionally ruled floods and related disasters. In West Semitic mythology, Yam was given kingship over the other gods by the chief god El. When Yam's rulership turned tyrannical and he possessed El's wife Asherah, the storm deity Baal (Hadad) challenged and defeated Yam in a titanic battle, ending with Yam cast down from the heavenly mountain Saphon. The mythic sea dragon Lotan, whom Baal also defeated, was closely associated with Yam and possibly an aspect of him. A similar sea-demon appears in the mythology of many cultures. The biblical monster Leviathan is seen as related to Lotan, and his dwelling, the sea, is called yam in the Hebrew Bible. Yam's defeat by Baal (Hadad) parallels the Mesopotamian legend of the storm god Marduk's victory over the primordial sea goddess Tiamat. Numerous other parallel myths have been noted by mythologists and religion scholars, often interpreted as representing the triumph of heavenly order over primeval chaos. A primary source for our knowledge concerning Yam is the Epic of Baal, also known as the Baal Cycle, which describes the storm god Baal coming to ascendancy in the Canaanite pantheon. In the beginning, the kindly but distant El, the father of the gods, bequeaths the divine kingship to Yam. The sea deity, however, soon turns tyrant and oppresses the other gods. Asherah, the mother goddess, attempts to reason with Yam, but he adamantly refuses to relent. In desperation for the welfare of her children, Asherah finally consents to give Yam her own body. Sitting in council with the other gods, Baal is outraged at this idea and determines to rebel against Yam. Hearing of Baal's plan, Yam brazenly demands that Baal be handed over to him for punishment, sending emissaries to the Assembly of the Gods who show no respect even to El. Baal secures weapons from the divine craftsman Kothar-wa-Khasis and proceeds to defeat Yam in a mighty battle, rescuing Asherah from her fate and liberating the other gods from Yam's oppression, thus becoming their lord. However, Baal in turn proceeds to be defeated by Mot, the desert god of death and infertility, who accuses him of having killed the great sea serpent Lotan, closely associated with Yam. Baal himself is rescued by the efforts of his sister Anat, so that he may rise again and reign supreme in an apparent re-enactment of the annual cycles of rain and drought. Little is known about the manner in which Yam may have been worshiped. Biblical echoes: In the Biblical tradition, the polytheistic mythologies of the sky and storm gods conquering the primordial sea demon is replaced by the idea that God reigned supreme from the beginning. Thus, Genesis 1:1 states: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Yet, in the following verse, even before the creation of light, an echo of the older myth of the sky god creating order out of the watery chaos may be seen: "darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." Psalm 89:9 reiterates the theme of God's sovereignty over the chaotic deep: "You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them." However, Psalm 74:14 preserves a tradition which reflects the Hebrew deity Yahweh's acting in Baal's role, by defeating the sea monster Leviathan (Lotan): "It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan and gave him as food to the creatures of the desert." The Book of Job 3:8 seems to refer to a day when the tyrant of the sea will wake from his sleep, speaking of "those who are ready to rouse Leviathan." Isaiah 27:1, meanwhile refers to God's victory over Leviathan in the future: "In that day the Lord with His severe sword, great and strong, will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan that twisted serpent; He will slay the reptile that is in the sea." The bronze "sea" (yam) which stood before the Temple of Jerusalem was about 15 feet in diameter. The Hebrew word for "sea" in these verses is yam. In ancient Israel, God's sovereignty over the waters of chaos was symbolized in the Temple of Jerusalem, as in many other ancient temples of the Middle East, by the presence of a large bronze "sea" which stood placidly near the temple's entrance. The story of the prophet Jonah involves an episode at sea in which Jonah is blamed for a life-threatening storm by his pagan shipmates after they cast lots to discover who is responsible. He is thrown overboard by the sailors in an effort to assuage his angry deity, Yahweh, and is swallowed by a great fish who seems to be a type of Leviathan. The story may hint at a practice followed by Levantine fisherman involving human sacrifice to Yam in times of extreme danger. In some Christian interpretations of (Genesis 3:15), the serpent of Eden is seen as equivalent to Leviathan, whom the Messiah (or the Archangel Michael), like Baal, will one day vanquish: "He will crush your (the serpent's) head, and you will strike his heel." A relevant passage in the Book of Revelation reads: "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world." (Rev. 12:9) Later, Revelation describes the final destruction of Satan, after which the declaration is made: "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea." (Rev. 21:1)

Perhaps, God has His purpose in how we learn and grow in Christ, which may change over time. Also, bringing “relevancy” to people through reading and “considering” what Scripture says, even how the Government of America was formed because of the Word of God, shows the Authority and Wisdom of God, and why it is important for life.

First question should be, which Bible? Do we really need 100 different Bible translations?

Maybe is me here but the idea of listening to the bible in the background whilst I am at the gym or I don't know baking just feels off. Yes, we can do 2 things at the same time but I feel this is the word of God and it should have my full attention not kind of fitting in or around my activities. I see reading my bible as also communing with God in the same way prayer is and I found that God actually talks to me through his word by reading.

16:10 - "We've never had more tools available to study the Bible." (And yet, engagement is going way down.) Translation: More man-made tools does not equal more ministry of the Spirit. In fact, the more man gets involved as causal, the less ministry of the Spirit there is. "We have this treasure in earthen vessels so the excellence of the power may BE OF GOD, NOT OF US."

25:38 - Acts 10 does NOT tell Cornelius that he must believe in Jesus. It specifically says the Spirit came on Cornelius while Peter was preaching the word. God gave faith to Cornelius, which is consistent with the NT repeatedly telling us Jesus/God authors faith. (Hebrews 12:2, Romans 10:17, John 6:28-29) Now, if Jesus authors faith, then it's not a choice people are responsible to make. Jesus does not author faith then say, "you must choose to believe in Me to be saved." That's non-sensical. (Teaching that man is responsible to have faith is bad theology.)

As an outspoken atheist; it only comes down to one single issue with any and all religion's. "A complete lack of verifiable data or empirical, science based evidence of any supernatural event or magical sky daddies." That's it!

Reading the Bible is one thing. Understanding what you read is another. Because Sacred Scripture is inspired, it must be read and interpreted in the light of the same Spirit by whom it was written, otherwise Scripture will always remain a "dead letter".

I get overwhelmed when watching or listening to bible stuff. I would like a very basic path as to where you start. I often get confused about what apps are good and who to listen to.

Sounds like one of the greatest mission fields is the evangelical church. Pastors should be preaching the gospel clearly and often Sunday mornings. I’m saddened by those in the church whose faith is limited to a shallow prayer they repeated years ago yet never repented for their sins or had no idea what the substance of the Gospel of Christ from Genesis 3:15 through the book of Romans to Revelation 22. I fear moralistic deity has proliferated greatly. I simply love the Bible and theology and the person and work of Jesus Christ.

The biggest thing is that the culture has influenced the church more than the church has influenced the culture. Even professing Christians, behave like the culture. Amen, studying the bible and good theology tend to correlate.

We must admit it’s very difficult to talk about things that have no real consequence on the world whatsoever…

Those who study the Bible have better theology?? Not in the 21st century. Hosea 4:6 might should read....My people are destroyed for too much college.....

Culpability is a better question than "innocence," by a significant margin Kids sin All. The. Time. Always disobeying, always selfish, we are a fallen people But until they reach the age and maturity where the Lord determines they recognize the need for Him, it's as we consider the insanity plea For many, that's 10 or 12, but only God knows that child well enough, his or her situation well enough Looking back, I think we're all expected to pass what we've learned by the time we're 30, it was chosen as the Rabbinical age marker for a reason I realize that went a bit of a trail from culpability to levels of responsibility, but we'll call it related enough

8:35 - African Americans are the most engaged, and yet 85% or more vote for the party that demands abortion be legal until birth, and steadfastly hold to an abundance of other overtly, ungodly positions. My point: Engaging with the Bible does not equal engaging with truth, because, sadly, most Christian/Catholic theology espoused as Biblical, is anything but.

I have a question about sinning. If I stop doing the Lusting sin while I am still alive, and I find true love and become a really good Christian and stop sinning and get baptized, when I get to heaven, will I be able to see those Woman of my dreams that didn't exist in the on Earth? It may be the Lusting sin in heaven, but is it okay to do that sin in Heaven because it's fun?

Even if we just read and study the new testament with the understanding that it was in effect written to all Christians, and we do so with The Holy Spirit, who as according to Jesus is our teacher, is enough for us to understand and walk in the Spirit. Jesus said: But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you. John 14:26 BSB

So... Doom and gloom. You got the viewed, maybe the like, perhpaps the subscription... Then.... What is the solution?

The American “Christian” has abdicated their learning responsibilities to their pastors. Pastors are paid to know and teach so why would the lay person do either of those? The church goer has been trained to NOT think for themselves.

you have a number of trends in christendom today 1. weak theology: arminianism and apologetics (for most apologists, is now the belief that reason and science give birth to faith, instead of the Holy Spirit through preaching of the Gospel) and all the rest of free will theology. this has always been here 2. bad theology: prosperity gospel stuff, progressive christianity on one side but also open theism, conditionalism, universalism on the other. the charismatics and progressives are basically always there but open theism and the other are witnessing a resurgence 3. solid theology: reformed theology, calvinism, christian nationalism are also resurging which has for the past hundred or so years since wesley/finney, played a back seat to the arminian free willian stuff but in the pagan world there is satanism resurging even more than atheism especially in good old USA

Just wanted to point out at 19:16 ish Americans are now more engaged with Jen's Ears lol (closed cap)

A sign of the end to the time of the Gentiles.

Here’s an idea. Ask yourself these questions. Since the Bible tells us Jesus established His Church. Singular, not tens of thousands. What Church did He found? Does that Church still exist after 20 centuries? Does my church go all the way back in unbroken historical lineage to Jesus? Or was it a man made “new improved” church? Do we know what the Apostles’ first converts believed? Did the Church give us the Bible or did the Bible give us the Church? History tells us the answers to these questions. Jesus sent the Apostles out as the leaders of His Church. The Apostles’ very first converts left many writings explaining the faith they received from the Apostles. Those teachings are the same as a Church that goes back to Jesus and the Apostles. This Church told the world which of the hundreds of writings claiming to be Scripture actually were Scriptures and which ones weren’t. These historical verifiable facts point to one Church. In fact the Church that discerned the Canon of Scripture didn’t even get around to setting that question for 350 YEARS after the Ascension of Jesus. So how was the faith spread to the entire known world without a Bible? And since it was done without a Bible how could the Bible be the only rule of faith for a believer? How could a Church who supposedly doesn’t have authority discern infallibly the Books of an infallible Bible? History answers ALL these questions. I could answer these for you but where’s the fun in that? I used to be a Sola Scriptura kinda guy myself until I started asking myself these questions and just followed the Truth wherever it led. Regardless of my preconceived notions.

I think you meant the Holy Spirit must do better. It's the Holy Spirit that leads to all truth.

You can't earn grace, God loves people who can't read!

It seems the 1/3 of Unbuilding Christians are online.

26:40 - I would think a person like you (someone who loves to engage in critical thinking) would be able to figure out why so many don't believe in original sin. The reason they don't is because you ("orthodox" Christian/Catholic teaching) teach that sinning is a choice people make of their free will.

I am all for studying through Bible, but Sean as usual has a wrong approach. As in most of his on line videos, which wish I did not have to observe, Sean for all his intellectual ability always puts a humanistic spin and perspective on what he says to try to convince his viewers of what he thinks is Bible Truth. A good example, as here, is his appeal to surveys as to what % believes or does this or that. SO WHAT? If 999,999 people out of one million believe a variety of The Lie, that has nothing to do with how important it is for me to know Bible Truth. This is exactly why we need what is not existent because there is no market demand, which is highly trained orthodox Truth pastor teachers who teach from the original languages and original historical situations so their learner hearers clearly understand in the though forms and terminology they think in. I highly recommend R. B. Thieme Jr. Bible ministries in Houston, where you can get hour long lessons taught from Greek and Hebrew for FREE on MP3 CDs, DVDs, USB drives at around 30 lessons per month. All those people cited who are curious, and almost NO teachers? It seems this is a hand wringing exercise in fatalistic doom and gloom Murphy's Law for religion. And just where are the detailed mechanics of practical solutions they are going to implement? Like how about active recruiting of interested potential pastors to be trained at BIOLA or Dallas Theological Seminary, etc. and sending them out to those who need and want to learn Bible Truth?

56%. Wow.

SO the way of knowing the BIBLE and GOD, through the OLD TESTAMENT is an awful negative journey for the mind, body and soul. Let us take that Biblical journey through New TESTAMENT, At Once you begin to feel the positive connection between GOD and man by experiencing a Love for my neighbors. YOU are more than correct in your reply. Some people just don't want to grow up. YOU, know like PAUL WAS explaining, about when he was a child; and then he grew up; and became a man, able to understand the truth of JESUS'S, TEACHING.

This discussion avoids the elephant in the room. Adopting a first-century worldview in the twenty-first century is doomed.

I can help you understand why people are leaving the church. Here goes: the bible isn’t inerrant. The sooner you all admit this, the sooner you’ll gain some respect from the rest of us. This isn’t how pre-enlightenment, pre-reformation Christians thought, but for some reason, this is the hill modern Christians will die on. Claiming the bible is inerrant, is not only dishonest, it diminishes the bible’s value. It’s far more complicated than that. Stating the bible is inerrant, has also given Christians the permission to not think rationally, and frankly, it’s embarrassing watching apologists play mental gymnastics to justify what’s clearly written. Admit some of the bible stinks and move on. If you want to do better apologetics, change. It’s been done in the past, do it again. Don’t stay the same and expect better results. That’s the insanity of the last 30-40 years.

I could see Sean playing Professor X in an X-Men movie.

Being a Berean is what led me out of Christianity.

I don’t think psalms 119:11 is talking about our Bible. That’s does not even make sense.

As important as scripture definitely is. What possess you to call it "the Word"? Scripture never refers to scripture as the "Word of God" Jesus is the WORD OF GOD. definitely not scripture. Yes it is Holy God breathed words. But it AINT THE WORD.

It's lack of knowledge that results in people thinking that the bible is a book that contains fundamentally good advice and tenents, which it, in fact, doesn't. It contains some true things by coincidence, but none of the supernatural claims have ever been shown to be true. It's moral proclamations are largely just wrong and in many cases highly IMMORAL. The bible is, undeniably, an interesting book because it has had a large influence on the culture of millions of people, but anyone who is honest has to admit it is a very flawed book that should be treated as such, and it hasn't got much to do with truth or reality. It's really sad that people still refer to this book as if it has any inherent worth when it comes to truth claims or moral claims.