82: Why Fixing the Church’s Worldview Is a Catch-22

I'm Eddie Lawrence, and this is the Ready for Eternity podcast, a podcast and blog exploring biblical truths for inquisitive

Bible students. Pastors can't teach what they don't know, and congregants are failing to identify unqualified pastors.

The church is stuck in a catch -22. American churches face a serious problem.

Only a small minority of believers think biblically. Recent research shows that just 13 % of born -again

Christians hold a biblical worldview. Among pastors, the number rises to 37%, which is better, but still shockingly and unacceptably low.

This is more than a statistic, it's a crisis. Without a biblical worldview,

Christians adopt cultural practices rather than applying God's word.

Without it, the church loses its power to influence the surrounding culture, which now shapes the church instead.

What is a worldview? A worldview is the lens through which you see and interpret everything.

It shapes how you understand the world, make decisions, and determine what is right and wrong.

Everyone has a worldview, even if they don't think about it. In a biblical worldview, scripture shapes the lens.

You believe God created the world, gave people purpose, loves them deeply, and caused them to live in a way that reflects his character.

Scripture guides your decisions, priorities, and understanding of right and wrong.

George Barna's research finds that among believers, syncretism dominates.

Syncretism blends scripture with cultural trends, personal preference, and emotion.

It creates a patchwork worldview drawn from multiple and contradictory philosophies.

People think they are following God, but in reality, live according to society's rules.

This is where the catch 22 of church reform comes in, and fixing this problem is like climbing out of a deep, slick well.

Here's why. Only 37 % of pastors have a biblical worldview, and pastors cannot teach others to think biblically if they themselves lack a biblical framework.

On the other hand, churches need pastors who possess a biblical worldview, yet most congregants lack a biblical worldview themselves.

They can't recognize leaders who meet God's standards. Even worse, they not only neglect what the

Bible says about qualified shepherds, they're largely apathetic about ignoring the standards.

It's a circular failure. Unbiblical thinkers appoint unqualified pastors who produce more unbiblical thinkers.

The result? Churches appoint leaders based on charisma, popularity, or perceived success, not biblical qualifications.

The solution begins where it always should, with scripture's description of a pastor's true work.

What does the Bible say pastors do? The New Testament clearly defines pastoral duties.

They are to pray, teach, shepherd, protect, and equip. Acts chapter 20 verse 28 and 1

Peter 5 verses 2 -3 urge pastors to shepherd the flock not as overlords, but as examples.

Ephesians 4, 11 -12 calls pastors to equip the saints for service and maturity.

In short, the job of pastors is to pray, teach, guard, equip, shepherd, and model godliness.

This ensures that the church grows in truth, holiness, and unity under Christ.

Jesus is the chief shepherd of the church, intimately knowing and caring for his sheep.

Human pastors serve as under -shepherds, called to emulate his example by knowing their flock personally, guiding them faithfully, and protecting them sacrificially.

Anything that takes a pastor's focus away from these duties is an unbiblical distraction.

But what do pastors actually do? In many congregations, especially those exceeding 175 -200 attendees, pastors act more like CEOs than shepherds.

They manage budgets, staff, volunteers, events, programs, and technology.

Most churches have only one pastor, and this is both unbiblical and impossible.

It's unbiblical because the New Testament consistently depicts each congregation having more than one pastor.

It's impossible because one man cannot personally know, teach, and disciple hundreds of people.

The chief executive officer model is a major problem for larger churches.

Pastors cannot effectively teach scripture while also running a large organization.

Spiritual formation takes a backseat to administration, marketing, and growth metrics.

Another problem is that too many unqualified men serve as pastor. Churches frequently choose pastors based on their personal opinion of what makes a good pastor, focusing on attendance, revenue, or popularity.

Scripture, however, prioritizes faithfulness and character, not performance metrics.

The consequence is predictable. Unqualified men occupy spiritual leadership perpetuating a culture that neglects biblical worldview formation.

Without systematic, consistent instruction in scripture, believers default to cultural assumptions.

Ethics, politics, relationships, and personal decision -making all reflect society more than God.

Many sermons prioritize encouragement, entertainment, or personal application over Bible exposition.

Barna notes that a 2019 survey found that only 3 % of sermons even mention sin.

Believers leave with partial knowledge of God's Word. They miss the framework needed to understand culture, morality, and creation.

Encouragement without depth produces spiritual consumers, not disciples capable of thinking and acting biblically.

The biblical church model is simple and relational. Elders pray, teach, protect, and equip.

They shepherd real people in real relationships. In contrast, churches often adopt a complex program -driven model.

Pastors manage staff, programs, technology, and budgets, and they lead from behind a desk instead of alongside their flock.

Barna found that a greater number of people now view the local church as a source of benefits rather than a center for a mutually accountable, faith -based community.

The relational model produces disciples. The program model produces consumers.

One prioritizes obedience to God, the other prioritizes comfort, convenience, and tangible material results.

So why is the problem hard to fix? Forming a biblical worldview faces four major obstacles.

First is structural. Many churches are too large for relational discipleship.

Many congregants don't know each other. Pastors don't know all of the congregants.

Pastors become managers instead of shepherds. Reason number two is cultural.

Congregants expect comfort, entertainment, and convenience. They resist and reject correction or accountability.

Number three is leadership. As we've already mentioned, many pastors themselves lack a biblical worldview.

Their example and teaching remain incomplete. And fourth, spiritual.

Biblical thinking requires humility, repentance, and submission to God, and many believers simply avoid this.

Each layer reinforces the others, and addressing one without the rest fails.

Worldview formation is not a casual task. It requires intentional discipleship, personal example, and systemic change.

Churches must prioritize relational spiritual growth over attendance, marketing, or popularity.

They must appoint as many qualified pastors in each congregation as is needed and equip them to share the shepherding load.

They must teach Scripture deeply and consistently, not merely entertain.

George Barna said, What we have been doing for decades—topical preaching series, small group discussions, demographically segmented programs, ministry through hired staff, treating ministry to children like spiritual childcare—clearly is not working.

Believers must learn to evaluate life, culture, and decisions only through God's Word.

They must seek truth, not comfort. They must serve, not be served.

The American church faces a formidable challenge. Most believers think culturally, not biblically.

Many pastors lead as managers rather than shepherds. Church structures and selection processes reinforce this problem.

Fixing it will require courage, wisdom, and obedience. Leaders must model and insist upon biblical thinking.

Churches must return to relational discipleship, and congregants must engage

Scripture actively. The task is difficult, but not impossible.

It will require hard choices by courageous people whose desire is to serve

God. God calls His people to think, act, and live according to His Word.

And without effort, syncretism will continue to dominate. With courage, teaching, and prayer, a biblical worldview can flourish in the church again if we choose to pursue it.