WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 16, 2025) —Even regular churchgoers are increasingly uncertain about biblical teachings on life, family, and morality, according to a new national study conducted by the Family Research Council (FRC) in partnership with the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University (CRC).
The findings show that traditional convictions are eroding quickly within America’s churches, as cultural influence outweighs biblical authority for many believers.
The report, Social Issues and Worldview: A National Survey of Churchgoing Americans, surveyed more than 1,000 adults who attend Christian worship services at least once a month—either in person or online. It is the first of two reports from Dr. George Barna, Director of Research at CRC and Senior Research Fellow at FRC.
This initial release focuses on the changing views of churchgoers regarding the sanctity of life and the definition of family, offering sobering insight into the spiritual state of the church and its impact on culture.
Key Findings
- Only 43% of churchgoers now identify as pro-life, a sharp decline from 63% in 2023.
- The share identifying as pro-choice has risen from 22% to 35% over the same period.
- Confidence that the Bible is clear about abortion has fallen from 65% to 51%.
- Just 46% of churchgoers embrace a biblical definition of family—one man and one woman married with children—while only 34% of Gen Z churchgoers agree.
- Nearly three-quarters (73%) of churchgoers hold contradictory views about abortion, revealing widespread confusion.
- Still, more than 80% affirm that every person is made in the image of God, and 83% agree that every human being has undeniable worth and dignity.
According to David Closson, Director of FRC’s Center for Biblical Worldview, the study underscores the depth of the discipleship crisis facing the American church. “Confusion inside the church is not primarily a political problem; it’s a discipleship problem,” Closson said. “When the people of God lose moral clarity on an issue as fundamental as the sanctity of life, it signals a serious discipleship crisis.”
The survey also found that many churches are reluctant to address moral issues directly. Just over half (53%) of churchgoers said their church preaches or teaches on abortion at least once a year, while one-quarter of Protestants (26%) and 16% of Catholics said their church never addresses the topic.
The findings demonstrate that many Christians are being shaped more by cultural voices than by Scripture. As Closson explained, “The next generation is being catechized daily by social media, entertainment, and academia—often far more effectively than by the local church.”
Dr. Barna said the findings point to the urgent need for believers to respond with conviction and courage. “The media bombardment favoring a new moral standard is clearly having a transformative effect on Americans,” he said. “Bible-believing Christians must be more candid and bolder in engaging friends and family in dialogue about critical moral issues. We cannot let unbiblical views go unchallenged.”
Despite these troubling trends, the report also highlights signs of hope. The majority of churchgoers still affirm foundational biblical truths about God and human value. More than 80% believe that every person is made in the likeness of God, 83% say every human being has undeniable worth and dignity, and 75% affirm that the God of the Bible is the only author of life.
Closson pointed to these results as a reason for optimism: “Even amid these concerning trends, there are encouraging signs,” he said. “The vast majority of churchgoers still affirm that every person is made in God’s image and that life originates from Him alone.”
As he noted, “Those are profoundly important starting points for rebuilding a biblical worldview on issues like abortion and family. The fact that many still affirm these truths shows the foundation is not lost—it simply needs to be reinforced through faithful preaching and intentional discipleship.”
This report, “U.S. Churchgoers Are Increasingly Ambivalent About Family and Abortion,” is the first in a two-part series from Dr. Barna and FRC’s Center for Biblical Worldview. A second release, coming later this fall, will explore churchgoers’ views on worldview, politics, voting, and Israel, offering further insight into how today’s believers integrate faith with public life.
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