People Are Going Back To Church - But What Theology Are They Going Back To?

Ligonier Ministries' 2025 State of Theology study, conducted alongside Lifeway Research, was recently released, exposing some sobering statistics -- particularly as it pertains to the nature of God, sin, the Bible, and more. Its release came around the September 10 assassination of Christian and conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.

Although church attendance and Bible sales were rising already, Kirk's sudden death shocked many -- both domestically and globally. As a result, ministers have noticed a significant uptick in church attendance. This convergence of events has sparked a critical discussion about the state of American churches and the substance of their teachings -- a conversation that took place during Wednesday's "Washington Watch" with Family Research Council President Tony Perkins and Pastor Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills in California.

"It's interesting to see where the general American public is when it comes to their theological beliefs -- or lack thereof," Perkins observed. He posed a pressing question: "What does the study reveal to us about the beliefs of American evangelicals, and what does it tell us about churches and how they may be shaping those beliefs?" While the uptick in church attendance post-Kirk's assassination is encouraging, Perkins asked, "What are they going back to?"

The State of Theology study revealed alarming trends: 47% of evangelicals believe God accepts the worship of all religions, 53% assert that most people are inherently good despite sinning occasionally, and 49% of U.S. adults view Jesus as a great teacher but not God. These findings, as Hibbs and Perkins emphasized, directly contradict biblical teachings, raising concerns about the doctrinal fidelity of many churches.

Hibbs noted that the trend of returning to church predates Kirk's death but has intensified since. "You've asked the great question: What are they going back to?" he said. While only time will reveal the long-term impact, Hibbs expressed concern that many churches prioritize "liturgical practices" over substantive biblical teaching. 

"If people are attending a church that has a lot of liturgical practices, but no meat, meaning no word, then what are we doing?" he asked. Instead of nourishing congregants with the "meat" of Scripture, many churches offer "sugar" -- superficial teachings that fail to anchor believers in truth.

Perkins highlighted the influx of young people, many unfamiliar with the gospel, who are "flocking to the altars." And yet, he added, "they don't even know what an altar is." While some leaders, like Pastor Carter Conlon, guide these seekers toward genuine transformation, Perkins warned that an "awakening" could falter if churches lack "orthodox, biblically anchored teaching." He questioned whether newcomers would encounter the transformative truth of Scripture or merely "cultural relevance" that leaves them spiritually empty.

Hibbs echoed this concern, drawing comfort from John 10:27, where Jesus declares, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." He emphasized that Christ will guide His people to churches that faithfully proclaim His word. "The bottom line is ... Jesus is going to take care of His people. He will lead them to a church," Hibbs said. And after putting faith in this truth, he added, the next step is to pray, "Dear God in heaven, please produce more Bible teaching churches."

The discussion turned to the broader spiritual state of the culture. "We are absolutely lost. We are rebels. We're shaking our fist at God," Hibbs stated. He critiqued churches that prioritize "unity instead of truth," stating that it "leads to nothing but disaster." Perkins pointed to Luke 9:23, where Jesus states, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." Just earlier in the chapter, there's a profound recognition of Jesus's lordship as a foundational component of true faith. Without this, Perkins emphasized, Jesus becomes "just another figure from history."

The study's findings deeply troubled Hibbs, particularly the statistic that nearly half of evangelicals hold beliefs contrary to Scripture. "You're talking about 47 to 50 some odd percent of people that have actually now been inoculated against the truth. They think they have the truth. And to them, emotionally, that feels good." 

Many professing Christians believe that one can "just be sincere about whatever it is that you believe, and you'll be okay." But Hibbs cautioned, "that is probably akin to how Satan whispered to Eve in the garden" -- "that's deception. That's just absolute, straight up deception."

Perkins turned to the solution: "There is a vaccine that can keep you from being deceived" -- the word of God. Hibbs agreed, stating that people need to "pick up the Bible and start reading. ... Jesus said it -- 'the Spirit of God will bear witness of whatsoever I have taught you.' If people would just pick up the Bible ... God will speak to you. He will actually begin to articulate His truth into your life. And He does it by the word of God."

Reflecting on Charlie Kirk's legacy, Hibbs noted that Kirk's growing focus on the gospel over politics stemmed from his deepening engagement with Scripture. "What made Charlie's witness so attractive is that Charlie knew what he believed," Hibbs said. This conviction fueled Kirk's passion for inviting others to church and advancing biblical truth -- a passion that came with him being "more consistently engaged in the truth." And Perkins emphasized that immersion in Scripture cultivates conviction, which in turn fosters courage to stand against cultural deception. He urged Christians to carry these convictions into all spheres, including politics.

Hibbs concluded: "How do we hold back evil? We shine the light. What is the light again? The word of God coming from us. We've got to get involved in the culture, or else the culture is going to be taken by the other team, and they're playing for keeps. We should do the same."

Originally published at The Washington Stand