All Scripture is God Breathed

2Timothy 3:16-17, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly
furnished unto all good works.”

In a recent interview with The Christian Post, George Barna, founder
of the Barna Group which is one of leading voices on cultural trends,
had a stark warning for a declining Christian Church. “People have
become more selfish, churches have become less influential, pastors
have become less Bible-centric,” said Barna of the current climate.
“Families have invested less of their time and energy in spiritual
growth, particularly of their children. The media now influences the
Church more than the Church influences the media, or the culture for
that matter. The Christian Body tends to get off track arguing about a
lot of things that really don’t matter,” he said.

Rom 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is
that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

One thing Barna has seen that worries him is how churches focus
more on attendance numbers and buildings rather than discipleship
and knowledge of the Bible. “You get what you measure. So, if you
measure the wrong things, you’ll get the wrong outcomes … [pastors]
measure how many people show up, how much money they raise,
how many programs they offer, how many staff persons they hire,
how much square footage they built out. Jesus didn’t die for any of

that. So, we’re measuring the wrong stuff and, consequently, we get
the wrong outcomes,” he said. The American Bible Society’s “State of
the Bible USA 2024” found that the number of Americans who engage
with the Bible three or four times a year outside of church has
dropped to just 38%.

Psa 1:1, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the
ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of
the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law
doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by
the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf
also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

Barna stated that the solution is to focus more on children and
families. “We need to go back and recognize it starts with families;
parents have the primary responsibility to raise their children to
become spiritual champions … local churches need to support parents
in that endeavor. Our primary focus needs to be on children … and
growing their biblical worldview. If we do that, we’ll be able to grow
the 3 percent of adults who are disciples in America today to a larger
proportion,” he said. He also emphasized the importance of
worldview. “What I’m seeing now is that we’re getting to this place
where the typical American … will not have anyone in their circle of
influence who has a biblical worldview. You’re not going to be
influenced with God’s truth,” he said. Barna’s Cultural Research
Center at Arizona Christian University found that only 4% of
Americans hold a Biblical worldview, dropping from 6%.

1Co 2:1, “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with
excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony
of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus
Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear,
and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not
with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the
Spirit and of power:”

According to Barna, a biblical worldview is described as “believing
that absolute moral truths exist; that such truth is defined by the
Bible; and firm belief in six specific religious views. Those views were
that Jesus Christ lived a sinless life; God is the all-powerful and all-
knowing Creator of the universe and He stills rules it today; salvation
is a gift from God and cannot be earned; Satan is real; a Christian has
a responsibility to share their faith in Christ with other people; and
the Bible is accurate in all of its teachings.”

Amo 8:11-13, “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will
send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for
water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: And they shall wander
from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to
and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it. In that day
shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst.”

Barna found that a Biblical worldview drastically changed an
individual’s behavior, such as more sexual purity, less gambling, and
less drunkenness. “These are not perfect people,” said Barna, “but
once they catch on to the critical principles found in the Bible and train their minds to incorporate those views into their thinking, their behavior varies noticeably from the norm.”

Corinthians 6:9-11, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit
the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor
idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves
with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers,
nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were
some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are
justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” 

2Ti 3:16, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly
furnished unto all good works.”