When it comes to social and political issues, it seems many congregants want their faith leaders to dive right in and help them understand cultural phenomena.
According to Lifeway Research, “Four in [five] U.S. Protestant churchgoers (80%) believe a pastor must address current issues to be doing their job.”
Just 16% disagree this is the case, with an additional 4% expressing uncertainty.
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Plus, the vast majority of these parishioners—91%—have total trust in the pastor of their church, which likely speaks to the reason they want to hear a preacher discuss current issues.
This isn’t about politics, though, as past polls show low percentages (35%) of Christians attending church at least monthly believing it’s appropriate to endorse political candidates during church services.
According to Lifeway Research Executive Director Scott McConnell, the thirst to hear pastors address cultural issues likely has to do with comprehending and understanding what’s unfolding in the world around us and how it comports with biblical truth.
“As American culture increasingly includes fewer overtly Christian elements and more non-Christian ideas, churchgoers are hungry to know what the Bible says about life’s issues,” McConnell said.
So, how frequently does this actually unfold? As it turns out, the majority of churchgoers (62%) said their pastor addresses cultural issues in sermons almost weekly, with an additional 23% noting it’s at least one time a month. Just 6% said it “rarely happens.”
To read the full story, visit our content partners at Faithwire.
Reprinted with permission from faithwire.com. Copyright © 2024 The Christian Broadcasting Network Inc. All rights reserved.
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