When American evangelicals affirm the Trinity but don’t see the Spirit as a personal being, when they consider Jesus as the sole source of righteousness but insist that people are still inherently good, either not enough churches are teaching sound doctrine or not enough churchgoers are listening.
That’s what Ligonier Ministries had to say about the results of its latest State of Theology survey, conducted in partnership with Lifeway Research.
“Many of the survey answers from evangelicals in 2025 reveal an alarming lack of biblical literacy, as well as a tendency to hold contradictory beliefs without seeming to recognize the incongruity,” the report said.
The survey takes place every two to three years and captures theological stances among US adults and evangelicals in particular. The research defines evangelicals as Christians who report strong beliefs in biblical authority, evangelism, Jesus as their Savior, and the power of the Cross.
It’s no surprise that nearly everyone who agrees on those tenets of faith would also affirm the Trinity (98%), an unchanging God (95%), and the physical resurrection of Christ (98%).
Yet in other survey questions, their responses contradict foundational beliefs in the God of the Bible. Somehow, 28 percent of evangelicals, who all said they “trust in Jesus Christ alone” for salvation, agreed with half the country that Jesus was a great teacher but not God. And despite professing belief in “one true God in three persons,” over half of evangelicals say the Spirit isn’t a personal being.
“The survey seems to indicate that evangelicals, defined in the survey according to a form of the Bebbington Quadrilateral, are confused about the nature of God and his relationship with the world he has created,” said Glenn R. Kreider, professor of theological studies at Dallas Theological Seminary. “It also demonstrates inconsistency in beliefs, even to the point of contradiction.”
Evangelicals, he said, could do a better job synthesizing their beliefs and practicing systematic theological thinking—but that takes training.
With each State of Theology survey, evangelicals have been prone to agree with beliefs outside of Christian orthodoxy: Around half consistently say people are good by nature and that God accepts the faith of non-Christian religions.
The prevalence of evangelical misunderstandings or inconsistent beliefs has held relatively steady over the past decade and hasn’t climbed significantly. (On most points, the stances of Americans at large haven’t changed much either.)
Theologians see the trends, though troubling, as an opportunity for the church.
“It does not take much wisdom to look at the numbers from the 2025 study and see there is a problem theologically. It does, however, take wisdom to know what the best course of action is after the study,” said Ronni Kurtz, systematic theology professor at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. “In my opinion, the study represents less of a call to hunt heresy and more of a call towards discipleship.”
That’s where theologians, scholars, and professors do see signs of hope. Evangelicals, they say, are taking more interest in studying doctrine, creeds, and systematic theology.
Kreider remembers decades ago, as evangelical students focused in on biblical exegesis and hermeneutics, many didn’t see the value of further theological education.
“I am seeing more and more interest in theology and am encouraged that many recognize that constructive theology needs a foundation of Christian orthodoxy,” he said. “It has been a long time since I have heard students object to the need for systematic and historical theology courses.”
Kurtz, similarly, has seen among pastors a renewed interest in church fathers and centuries-old thinkers, “especially as it relates to those theological topics we call ‘theology proper’—dealing with doctrines like the Trinity and divine attributes.”
For the first time in a decade, a majority of US seminaries saw enrollment growth last year, according to the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), and the trends are particularly strong at the top evangelical seminaries. The number of theology doctorate students is up over 13 percent in the past five years, and non-degree enrollment has spiked by 46 percent.
Still, even pastor-theologians armed with seminary degrees and deeper study will struggle to disciple evangelicals who don’t see church involvement as a priority.
That’s one shift in the State of Theology that’s held over from the pandemic: 63 percent of Americans and 44 percent of evangelicals say worshiping alone or with family is just as good as going to church. Most Americans and nearly a third of evangelicals (31%) don’t think Christians have an obligation to join a church.
Kurtz cautions against a “how dare they” approach to the theological misunderstandings reflected in the survey results and instead sees the situation as a call to bring fellow believers into a richer, truer understanding of God.
“While there is a place for gatekeeping as it relates to orthodoxy, I am convinced many more would come feast at the banquet that is theology if they simply felt invited,” he said. “I would encourage those who are discouraged by the numbers to invite people into the deeper waters of theological thought but in a way where you truly love your neighbor and want them to ‘come and see’ the beauty that has so transformed you.”
