Despite the onslaught of anti-Christian values pushed by the elite media outlets, radical activists, educators, and politicians, there is a ray of hope. A newly published annual survey found nearly half of all adults engage with the Bible at least three or four times a year on their own.
The “State of the Bible” study, conducted by the Barna Group and commissioned by the American Bible Society, found 48 percent of those in the United States engage — three or four times a year — by using, listening to, watching, praying or using Bible text outside of a church service.
I totally understand that simply reading the Bible won’t get you to Heaven, but it is the Word of God and therefore I’m hopeful that those are reading and “engaging” in the Word, will hear God’s voice and respond to His calling.
Significantly, the study shows that 21 million new people are looking to the Bible for wisdom and guidance this year. Also, 14.9 million people who were disengaged in 2018 have chosen to interact with the Bible in 2019.
Interestingly:
- 16 percent of adults in America report using the Bible every day, while another 14 percent use it several times a week, according to the study.
- 9 percent of the population use the Bible once a week, and 7 percent use it once a month.
- 31 percent say they never use the Bible.
Barna observed that while the percent of adults who use the Bible at least three or four times a year has remained relatively stable since tracking began in 2011, the percent of adults who say they never engage with the Bible, 35 percent, has increased 3 percentage points since 2018 and 10 percentage points since 2011.
Other key findings:
- 81 percent of Americans see the church as a place people can go for help.
- 102.7 million adults interact with the Bible, often seeking practical advice for their modern lives.
- Almost 60 percent of Americans believe that the message of the Bible has transformed their lives.
The survey found African Americans (69 percent) are the ethnic group most likely to use the Bible at least three to four times a year, compared to a smaller number of whites (44 percent) and Hispanics (52 percent).
Bible users are also more likely to reside in the South than they are in other regions of the U.S.
The researchers found little difference in Bible use by generation; however those who were married are more likely to use the Bible than single adults.
Also, 21 percent of Bible users are unchurched. The survey also discovered 11 percent of skeptics are reading the Bible.
The study indicates that Bible engagement results in an increase in financial giving and in volunteerism.
In 2018, Bible-centered respondents recalled contributing $1,000 on average, while the Bible-disengaged gave $20 on average