I have so many questions about these studies. Does it measure divorces among active Christians, or does it survey Christians and ask them if they have ever been divorced? When I think about my congregation, there are a number of people who have been divorced, but many before they came to the Lord. Many people with divorces in their backgrounds are just the sort of people who start looking to Christ to find a better way.
Then, when I look at couples who have divorced within the church over two decades of ministry, the abandoning partner is often someone who is quite clearly not born again… even though they may have attended for awhile and made some sort of profession.
This is not to say we don’t have a divorce problem. I just doubt that the rate for two born-again Christians is the same as the world…or even close.
Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.
I’m weary of this one. It’s always being touted — even last Sunday night by one of my board members. I just don’t buy it.
If you read the Barna studies on what self-defined “Born-Again” folk or self-defined “Evangelicals” believe or practice, there’s a high percentage of those folks who are possibly lost. Many would not be able to sign your church’s doctrinal statement. Most would not be candidates for membership at your church (unless you’re one of those “dunk’em and they’re in, regardless of what they believe churches). I know of no way to cross-correlate these studies, but I suspect the same person who claims to be born again, but is hopeful of Heaven, isn’t sure he’s going there, but doesn’t believe in Hell, and isn’t sure that Jesus rose again bodily is equally confused on what the Bible says about divorce.
Discussion
NewQuestions
Then, when I look at couples who have divorced within the church over two decades of ministry, the abandoning partner is often someone who is quite clearly not born again… even though they may have attended for awhile and made some sort of profession.
This is not to say we don’t have a divorce problem. I just doubt that the rate for two born-again Christians is the same as the world…or even close.
NewMyth
I’m not sure this is the best example, but here’s a quick one:
http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/firstthoughts/2011/02/22/the-christian…
There’s another link in that post:
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34656
Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.
NewAgreed
If you read the Barna studies on what self-defined “Born-Again” folk or self-defined “Evangelicals” believe or practice, there’s a high percentage of those folks who are possibly lost. Many would not be able to sign your church’s doctrinal statement. Most would not be candidates for membership at your church (unless you’re one of those “dunk’em and they’re in, regardless of what they believe churches). I know of no way to cross-correlate these studies, but I suspect the same person who claims to be born again, but is hopeful of Heaven, isn’t sure he’s going there, but doesn’t believe in Hell, and isn’t sure that Jesus rose again bodily is equally confused on what the Bible says about divorce.