Truth is Important to God.
(The poison of post-modernism, syncretism and relativism) adapted from
Stray Pastors by Gene Edward Veith in World (February 7, 2004) p. 25

1.            The Christian pollster George Barna put together a list of biblical teachings that presumably Christians of every denomination or theological tradition could affirm:

a.       There is absolute moral truth based on the Bible;

b.      biblical teaching is accurate;

c.       Jesus was without sin;

d.      Satan literally exists;

e.       God is omnipotent and omniscient;

f.         salvation is by grace alone;

g.        Christians have a personal responsibility to evangelize.

2. This is a bare-bones list. It says nothing about the Trinity or the Deity of Christ or other important teachings that are essential for salvation. The list has to do not so much with theology as with the assumptions that are behind one's theology, that is, with worldview. Any minister of whatever denomination, especially a Protestant one, should be able to agree on these basics. But only 51 percent do. Southern Baptists had the most pastors, percentage-wise, who hold to this biblical worldview (71 percent),  while Methodists had the fewest (27 percent).

3. The statistics of pastors holding a biblical worldview for other denominations studied were 57 percent of (non-­Southern) Baptists; 51 percent of nondenominational Protestants; and 44 percent of charismatic or Pentecostal churches. In the so-called mainline Protestant churches (essentially those belonging to the National Council of Churches), those pastors who could be described as having a biblical worldview numbered only 28 percent.

4. Only 35 percent of pastors of black churches hold to a biblical worldview, as he defines it. In denominations that ordain women, only 15 percent of female pastors hold to a biblical worldview.

5. Mr. Barna also found that pastors who attended a seminary are less likely to have a biblical worldview (45 percent) than those who did not (59 percent).
 

6. Younger pastors (those under 4o) are more likely to have a biblical worldview (56 percent) than older pastors (5o percent).

7. Just 7 percent of American Protestants overall agree with the biblical tenets on that list. And among those who consider themselves "born again," only 9 percent do.

8. "The research also points out that even in churches where the pastor has a biblical worldview," said Mr. Barna, "most of the congregants do not. More than six out of every seven congregants in the typical church do not share the biblical worldview of their pastor even when he or she has one." This suggests, he says, that "merely preaching good ser­mons and offering helpful programs does not enable most believers to develop a practical and scriptural theological base to shape their life." Based on his research of those who have a biblical worldview, he says that acquiring one "is a long-term process that requires a lot of purposeful activity: teaching, prayer, conversation, accountability, and so forth.”

doc·trine (dòk¹trîn) noun

1.  A principle or body of principles presented for acceptance or belief, as by a religious, political, scientific, or philosophic group; dogma.

2.  A rule or principle of law, especially when established by precedent.

3.  A statement of official government policy, especially in foreign affairs and military strategy.

4.   Archaic. Something taught; a teaching.[1]

8. God has communicated who He is and what He wants from us through the Bible has He not? This is doctrine. If this is true then we should care about doctrine.

9. Religiosity will not do. Psalm 15; 51:1-13; Hosea 4:1-9