New Study Highlights Differences in Biblical Interpretation Among US Protestant Churchgoers
Recent research by Lifeway Research sheds light on the varying perspectives of US Protestant churchgoers regarding the Bible’s authority and interpretation. Those with evangelical beliefs exhibit a stronger conviction in the Bible’s enduring relevance compared to their non-evangelical peers.
The study reveals a marked distinction between churchgoers identified as having evangelical beliefs and those without, especially concerning the notion that the Bible’s message can be subject to different interpretations.
Approximately 75% of evangelical churchgoers believe that God’s Word can be understood in multiple ways, a sentiment echoed by 90% of non-evangelicals.
Denominational differences also emerged, with the Restorationist movement’s churchgoers showing the highest agreement at 96%, followed by Methodists at 92%.
Baptists (80%), Presbyterians and Reformed churchgoers (79%), and non-denominational attendees (77%) displayed less agreement.
Those holding evangelical beliefs, along with frequent church attendees, were notably more confident in their ability to guide others in understanding the Bible.
The survey, conducted online from September 2 to 7, 2025, included 1,200 US Protestant and non-denominational churchgoers attending services at least monthly.
Comparisons were drawn with a 2019 Lifeway study involving 1,002 churchgoers, utilizing the same methodology.
Despite widespread confidence in Scripture, Lifeway noted a growing minority of churchgoers question the applicability of certain biblical teachings or find them at odds with personal beliefs.
Around 34% of respondents admitted to accepting some teachings while rejecting others conflicting with their views, up from 30% in 2019. Men were more inclined to this view than women (40% vs 29%).
Additionally, 28% agreed that some biblical truths lose relevance as culture evolves, an increase from 24% seven years ago.
Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research, highlighted the tendency of some churchgoers to selectively interpret Scripture.
“Most churchgoers enjoy trying to understand the Bible, but some are selective in what they believe in the passages they read,” he commented.
He referenced Jesus’ directive to His followers to adhere to His teachings and disciple others by imparting “everything I have commanded you”.
“His invitation was for the whole, not parts,” McConnell emphasized.
He further stated, “The concepts in any other book will show signs of age requiring new editions. But the Source of the Bible is not Someone whose truths change. James refers to Him as ‘the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows,’ (James 1:17, CSB). The thought of unchanging truth is an unprecedented concept even for many churchgoers today.”
While some uncertainty about specific biblical teachings was noted, the data suggests the Bible remains integral to most Protestant churchgoers’ lives.
A significant 95% expressed enjoyment in studying the Bible to decipher its meaning, and 91% reported relating Scripture to their personal situations.
Moreover, 84% felt confident responding to questions about Scripture’s truthfulness, 82% believed they could assist someone grappling with biblical morality, and the same percentage felt capable of aiding someone struggling with a difficult passage.
Yet, McConnell expressed concerns over confidence levels. “While large numbers are confident they can address various difficulties others have with the Bible, less than a third of churchgoers strongly agree,” he noted.
“This is likely tied to their evaluation of their own ability to understand passages and relate them to life. Only 38% strongly agree they can do this, while the majority (53%) only somewhat agree.”
A majority of respondents (56%) found interpreting Scripture without assistance challenging, with women more likely to report difficulty than men (61% vs 51%).
The findings also exposed a generational gap, with more than half of churchgoers aged 18 to 29 (54%) agreeing that cultural shifts can render some biblical teachings less applicable. This view was less prevalent among older age groups: 40% of those 30 to 49, 19% of 50 to 64-year-olds, and 13% of those 65 and older.
Younger churchgoers were more inclined to say some biblical teachings did not align with their beliefs, with 56% of those aged 18 to 29 concurring. An overwhelming 87% of this age group believed that biblical truth could be interpreted differently by different individuals.
Church attendance frequency seemed to correlate with respondents’ confidence in engaging with Scripture.
Among those attending services one to three times monthly, 62% struggled to interpret the Bible solo, compared to 52% of those attending four or more times monthly.
Churchgoers in congregations of fewer than 50 people reported the most difficulty interpreting Scripture alone, at 65%.
Conversely, respondents from congregations of over 500 were least likely to believe biblical teachings had become outdated, with 84% rejecting this notion, while a quarter rejected the idea that biblical truth varies among individuals.
Lifeway’s findings also showed broad consensus on the importance of contextual interpretation of Scripture.
A substantial 96% agreed on the importance of understanding the context in which the Bible was written, though strong agreement dropped from 73% in 2019 to 67% in the latest survey.
Additionally, 92% concurred that the Bible’s message and principles should be applied to modern circumstances, though strong agreement decreased from two-thirds in 2019 to 60% in 2025.
McConnell remarked, “We live in a re-mix world in which people apply phrases, pictures, tunes, and memes to situations that may have nothing to do with the originals. AI often pulls from past content in the same way.
“That may work for a laugh or to make something sound familiar. But the value of biblical principles is not to sound good. The message of the Bible was revealed to specific people in contexts we need to understand to know how that message applies to us today.”
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
