News

Go Figure

Recent stats on politics, evolution, and ministry.

Politics

86% Protestant pastors who say the government should not revoke a church’s tax exemption if a pastor endorses political candidates.

84% Protestant pastors who believe that pastors should not endorse political candidates.

Source: Lifeway Research

Evolution

Self-identified evangelical pastors on whether the earth is 6,000 years old:

No answer: 13%

Strongly agree : 29%

Somewhat agree: 19%

Somewhat disagree: 12%

Strongly disagree: 27%

Self-identified evangelical pastors on whether God used evolution to create people:

No answer: 3%

Strongly agree: 8%

Somewhat agree: 10%

Somewhat disagree: 9%

Strongly disagree: 70%

Source: LifeWay Research

Ministry

Protestant pastors on how many close friends (not in their immediate family) they have within their church:

12%: 0-1

4%: 1-2

10%: 1-3

38%: 3-5

16%: 6-10

18%: 11

Source: Lifeway Research

Copyright © 2011 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related Elsewhere:

See our earlier “Go Figure” postings from October 2011, September 2011, August 2011, July 2011, June 2011, May 2011, April 2011, February 2011, January 2011, December 2010, November 2010, October 2010, and earlier issues.

Also in this issue

The CT archives are a rich treasure of biblical wisdom and insight from our past. Some things we would say differently today, and some stances we've changed. But overall, we're amazed at how relevant so much of this content is. We trust that you'll find it a helpful resource.

My Top 5 Books on Jonathan Edwards

Gerald McDermott, co-author of 'The Theology of Jonathan Edwards' (Oxford, 2011)

Books to Note

The Defining Issue of the 2012 Presidential Race?

Amy E. Black, Chris Seiple, and Galen Carey

News

Do You Follow the Liturgical Calendar?

Compiled by Ruth Moon

Our Secret African Heritage

Review

Location, Location, Location

Jake Meador

Intercultural Fiesta Fail

Excerpt

Jesus + Nothing = Everything

Tullian Tchividjian

The Rhetoric of Chastity: Making Abstinence Sexy

Interview by Sarah Pulliam Bailey

Q & A: Frank Wolf on Liberty for the Captives

Interview by Susan Wunderink

Wilson's Bookmarks

John Wilson

Disappointed with Intimacy

John Koessler

Virtual Vitality: Bobby Gruenewald Links Technology and the Church

Chris Norton

News

School Choice Programs Snowball

Sheryl Blunt in Washington, D.C.

News

Postal Hike for Nonprofits Eyed, Pro-Life Group Scrutinized, and More News

Review

Wasted Charity

Amy L. Sherman

Archaeology's Rebel: Bible in One Hand, Spade in the Other

Gordon Govier

News

Trading Spaces: Inner City Helps the Suburbs

Morgan Feddes

A Fresh Call for U.S. Missionaries

Bishop Hwa Yung

Research: Rich God, Poor God

News

Quotation Marks

News

Interpretation Sparks a Grave Theology Debate

Bobby Ross Jr.

Holding Her Own

Editorial

Fighting Famine Isn't Enough

A Christianity Today Editorial

Readers Write

News

Archaeology in Turkey: Major Finds in Asia Minor

Gordon Govier

News

Missionary Money: Easier to Give, Worth Less than Ever

Ken Walker

View issue

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Russell answers a listener question about how we should perceive seemingly harmful political beliefs in our church congregations.

The Complicated Legacy of Jesse Jackson

Six Christian leaders reflect on the civil rights giant’s triumphs and tragedies.

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An Ecuadorian immigrant with legal status fell into a detention “black hole.” Church leaders across the country tried to pull him out.

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Ben Sasse and a Dying Breed of Politician

The former senator is battling cancer. Losing him would be one more sign that a certain kind of conservatism—and a certain kind of politics—is disappearing.

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