From my X / Twitter “For you” feed today.
Let me say at the outset that my intention with this thread is to discuss education. This thread was not created to discuss or debate the Trinity.
I’ve been complaining for decades that the subject isn’t being taught in churches; not from the pulpit, not in Sunday School classrooms, and not in Bible studies. It should be.
From the article:
”Protestant, Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox churches are trinitarian, teaching that the God of the Bible is one inseparable and unified deity comprised of three persons. Two out of three Americans claim to be Christian, leading to the expectation that they embrace the core teachings of their chosen faith.
Yet, a new research report from the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University shows that only 11% of American adults, and only 16% of self-proclaimed Christians, believe in the trinity.
Weak Foundations
The trinity is one of the central theological foundations of Christian churches. However, that teach is widely misunderstood, often rejected, and rarely acted upon by Americans. The unfamiliarity or negligible acceptance of the trinity among self-described Christian adults raises serious ministry challenges for churches and families, in addition to creating practical dilemmas for the nation. …
’It could be argued that the primary theologians influencing the spiritual views of America these days are figures such as Tucker Carlson, Joe Rogan, Russell Brand, Jordan Peterson, Megyn Kelly, and Bill Maher,‘ Barna noted. ‘They mix practical and sometimes unbiblical theology and philosophical points of view into their commentary on life and world events. Meanwhile, many Christian churches are focused on delivering multi-part series that are not effectively developing or bolstering an integrated, biblical worldview that congregants can rely upon to counteract popular, secular takes on reality.’
‘We know from our national worldview tracking studies that most Americans are uninformed about the many essential biblical teachings, ranging from the Ten Commandments and the trinity, to matters related to repentance, salvation, the chief purpose of life, and divine measure of success,’ Barna noted.
’These findings about America‘s ignorance or rejection of the trinity are simply another in a long list of examples of people living without the truths and life principles of God shaping their life,’ he continued.
’These results are further evidence of the limited or lack of trust Americans have in the Bible, the limitations we place on the authority and influence on God, and our refusal to cooperate with God by living in harmony with His ways and purposes,’ Barna explained. ‘Even the statistics for the groups that are most in-tune with biblical teachings, such as belief in the nature and impact of the trinity, are shockingly low for a nation in which most people claim to be Christian.’ …”
I didn’t need the poll to tell me this. I learned it when I was a Bible college student. I observed it in the classroom as an adjunct college professor teaching in the field of Christian education, through visiting services at various churches, on the street and in discussion with people on internet discussion forums who self-identify as Christian.
I lay this appalling situation squarely at the feet of the clergy, but that doesn’t excuse those who aren’t in the clergy from the obligation of obtaining proper instruction for themselves.
I‘m renewing my call here, in this thread, for education to be provided in churches and in homes on historical orthodox trinitarianism. My hope is that others - trinitarian and non-trinitarian alike - will support this effort.
Let me say at the outset that my intention with this thread is to discuss education. This thread was not created to discuss or debate the Trinity.
I’ve been complaining for decades that the subject isn’t being taught in churches; not from the pulpit, not in Sunday School classrooms, and not in Bible studies. It should be.
From the article:
”Protestant, Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox churches are trinitarian, teaching that the God of the Bible is one inseparable and unified deity comprised of three persons. Two out of three Americans claim to be Christian, leading to the expectation that they embrace the core teachings of their chosen faith.
Yet, a new research report from the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University shows that only 11% of American adults, and only 16% of self-proclaimed Christians, believe in the trinity.
Weak Foundations
The trinity is one of the central theological foundations of Christian churches. However, that teach is widely misunderstood, often rejected, and rarely acted upon by Americans. The unfamiliarity or negligible acceptance of the trinity among self-described Christian adults raises serious ministry challenges for churches and families, in addition to creating practical dilemmas for the nation. …
’It could be argued that the primary theologians influencing the spiritual views of America these days are figures such as Tucker Carlson, Joe Rogan, Russell Brand, Jordan Peterson, Megyn Kelly, and Bill Maher,‘ Barna noted. ‘They mix practical and sometimes unbiblical theology and philosophical points of view into their commentary on life and world events. Meanwhile, many Christian churches are focused on delivering multi-part series that are not effectively developing or bolstering an integrated, biblical worldview that congregants can rely upon to counteract popular, secular takes on reality.’
‘We know from our national worldview tracking studies that most Americans are uninformed about the many essential biblical teachings, ranging from the Ten Commandments and the trinity, to matters related to repentance, salvation, the chief purpose of life, and divine measure of success,’ Barna noted.
’These findings about America‘s ignorance or rejection of the trinity are simply another in a long list of examples of people living without the truths and life principles of God shaping their life,’ he continued.
’These results are further evidence of the limited or lack of trust Americans have in the Bible, the limitations we place on the authority and influence on God, and our refusal to cooperate with God by living in harmony with His ways and purposes,’ Barna explained. ‘Even the statistics for the groups that are most in-tune with biblical teachings, such as belief in the nature and impact of the trinity, are shockingly low for a nation in which most people claim to be Christian.’ …”
I didn’t need the poll to tell me this. I learned it when I was a Bible college student. I observed it in the classroom as an adjunct college professor teaching in the field of Christian education, through visiting services at various churches, on the street and in discussion with people on internet discussion forums who self-identify as Christian.
I lay this appalling situation squarely at the feet of the clergy, but that doesn’t excuse those who aren’t in the clergy from the obligation of obtaining proper instruction for themselves.
I‘m renewing my call here, in this thread, for education to be provided in churches and in homes on historical orthodox trinitarianism. My hope is that others - trinitarian and non-trinitarian alike - will support this effort.
