A Lifeway Research study finds high confidence in reading and explaining Scripture alongside growing willingness—especially among younger and less-attending churchgoers—to treat some biblical teachings as outdated or incompatible with personal beliefs.
High personal confidence: 91% of U.S. Protestant churchgoers say they usually understand how a Bible passage is relevant to them, and 95% enjoy exploring Scripture.
Interpretation and doubt: 82% believe Scripture can mean different things to different people, while 56% say they find it challenging to make sense of the Bible when reading alone.
Age and attendance patterns: Younger churchgoers (18–29) and those attending less often or smaller churches are more likely to view parts of Scripture as obsolete or selectively true.
Churchgoers increasingly reject some biblical truths • Pathway Faith Churchgoers increasingly reject some biblical truths Aaron Earls September 22, 2026 BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (Lifeway Research) — Churchgoers remain confident in their ability to understand and explain the Bible, but a growing number believe the truths of the Scripture have lost relevance. Around 4 in 5 express confidence in their ability to address others' concerns or questions about the Bible in various situations.
It is very important for me personally to encourage non-Christians to trust Jesus Christ as their Savior. Yet, most (56%) say they find it challenging to make sense of the Bible when they read it on their own. His invitation was for the whole, not parts."\ Biblical confidence Almost all U.S.
Churchgoers aren't only confident in their ability to understand the Bible themselves. They also believe they can help others' doubts and confusion. More than 4 in 5 believe they could address someone's doubts about the truthfulness of Scripture (84%), someone's difficulty accepting morals taught in the Bible (82%) and someone's confusion over a passage in the Bible (82%).
M. Gryboski, CPost Protestant churchgoers in the United States appear increasingly willing to reject some biblical truths, with young adult attendees under 30 most likely to say some of...
US Protestant churchgoers who hold evangelical beliefs are more likely than their non-evangelical counterparts to express confidence in the Bible and its continuing authority, according to new research from Lifeway Research.
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