Regular Church Attendees Are Less Inclined to Accept False Doctrines, Study Finds

Study Finds Church Attendance Affects Acceptance of Biblical Teachings

A recent study by LifeWay Research indicates that individuals who attend church weekly tend to accept the Bible’s teachings more readily than those who go once or twice a month.

According to the report, which assesses the state of theology among American Protestant church attendees, about 61% of frequent churchgoers strongly disagree with the notion that “Jesus was a great teacher, but he is not God.” In contrast, only 37% of those who attend less frequently hold the same view. Additionally, when asked if God remains unchanged, 87% of regular attendees agreed, compared to 69% of infrequent attendees. Furthermore, regarding the Bible’s account of Jesus’ physical resurrection, 85% of frequent churchgoers affirmed its accuracy, versus 64% of those who attend less often.

The study addressed a range of ethical and theological questions, revealing that those who attend church less frequently are typically more likely to stray from traditional orthodoxy. For the study, “infrequent churchgoers” were categorized as attendees going once or twice a month, while “frequent churchgoers” attended weekly or more.

Scott McConnell, Executive Director of Lifeway Research, noted, “It has become somewhat common to underestimate the value of attending church, whether because other factors might predict spiritual growth better, or because it has often been viewed as the main measure of spirituality.” He emphasized that local congregations are vital in mentoring believers, suggesting that encouraging church attendance could foster stronger discipleship.

The report also highlighted some interesting statistics:

76% of frequent attendees and 52% of infrequent attendees agreed strongly that “the Bible is the best authority for what I believe.”

Notably, 68% of regular attendees stated that sex outside traditional marriage is viewed as a sin, while only 42% of infrequent attendees shared that belief.

84% of those attending frequently and 68% of those less frequent affirmed, “God created marriage to be between one man and one woman.”

Daniel Price, a statistician at LifeWay Research, remarked that the disconnect between church attendance and theological beliefs should serve as a warning for church leaders. While merely increasing attendance might not guarantee a stronger acceptance of Christian beliefs, he encouraged ongoing efforts to engage with those who attend less in hopes of enhancing their understanding of scripture.