By Selwyn Duke September 6, 2025
We don’t know if they fancy they can walk on water. But almost half of all Americans, including a striking number of Christians, don’t believe they’re sinners. It’s a revelation that has implications not just for the church, but for civilization generally.
The above findings are from a study, released September 4, by the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University (ACU). It’s not just that many Americans are outright sin deniers, either. For among those who claim to believe in sin, a majority contend there are no “absolute sins.” That is, “sins that are constant, regardless of the conditions or context,” as ACU puts it.
Apparently, many people think God changes his mind like a politician trying to win their votes.
Of course, such spiritual confusion is nothing new. In 2023, for example, research found that less than half of born-again Christians believe Jesus lived a sinless life on Earth. So, who knows? Maybe some of these non-sinning “Christians” think they could teach Jesus a thing or two.
Sin, the Behavior, Is In. Sin as a Concept? Not So Much
The recent findings on sin are part of the annual American Worldview Inventory. And one major finding, ACU relates,
is that just one out of every seven — or about 14% — of self-described Christians have a core theology of sin that is biblically accurate.
The rest have a culturally “accurate” (read: fashionable) view of sin.
Here’s a summary of ACU’s findings:
Eighty-four percent of adults do agree that “sin” exists.
Groups less likely to believe in sin are Gen Z’ers, Asian-descent Americans, sexual devolutionary (LGBTQ+) individuals, those lacking religious affiliation, Bible skeptics, believers in reincarnation, and those denying afterlife existence.
Seventy-two percent of those who believe in sin define it as disobedience to God. As mentioned earlier, however, 52 percent of this group claim there are no absolute sins; rather, the matter is context-dependent.As for the belief that everyone has sinned, only 52 percent of adults agree with this central Christian dogma. As to specificity, the following groups embrace the belief at the percentages indicated:
Self-professed Christians, 66; Protestants, 73; Catholics, 57.
Gen Z, 41; Millennials, 49; Gen X, 53; Boomers, 57.
Blacks, 62; Whites, 51; Hispanics, 50; Asians, 28.We Don’t Need No Salvation?
Now we come to personal sinfulness. The following groups’ members agree that they’re sinners at the percentages indicated:
American adults overall, 52.
People 50-plus, 56; those under 50, 47.
Blacks, 54; Asians, 31.
Born-again Christians, 26. (Many may believe, suggests ACU, that Christ’s forgiveness removes the label.)
Among churchgoers — mainline Protestants, 70; independent/nondenominational, 69; evangelical, 61; charismatic/Pentecostal, 55; Catholic, 50.
Non-Christians (mostly atheists/agnostics), 36; non-Christians aligned with other religions, 27.
Atheists/agnostics, 38.
Adults with a biblical worldview, 90.Additionally, ACU reported that Midwestern and Southern residents are more likely to admit sinfulness than Eastern or Western residents. (This is intuitive since the latter are in general more liberal.) Moreover, 33 percent of adults believe others sin, but deny their own sinfulness.
As to the last finding, this is where many may now exclaim, “Hey, I know a guy like that!” We do have to wonder, too, how many among that 33 percent are more concerned about the speck in their brother’s eye than the beam in their own.
No Beam and the Collapsing Pillars of American Christianity?
So what explains the ACU findings? Cultural Research Center head George Barna, who directed the university research, has some idea. As ACU relates:
“The job of the local church is to educate God’s people about God’s ways,” the ACU professor explained. “Yet, a 2019 Pew Research study that analyzed sermon content across the nation, determined that just 3% of all sermons preached even mentioned sin. That’s a devastating body blow to the Church world.”
Obviously, too many pastors, unlike God, are like politicians trying to win votes. More could be said about this wanting religious education, too.
For example, too many people, lots of Christians included, have a very simplistic view of sin. That is, if one conceptualizes sin as being limited to murder, adultery, theft, and other marquee-name sins, it’s easy believing you’re sinless. But the principle here is to hurt no one, including yourself, in not just deeds, but also words and thoughts. Apropos to this, note how Jesus warned that anyone even lusting after a woman “hath committed adultery with her already in his heart,” and that being angry with your brother can be akin to thought-murder. And, of course, sinful thinking can take manifold forms.
Moreover, there are not just sins of commission, such as the above. There also are sins of omission, i.e., failure to do things you should have done.
In reality, anyone seeking after holiness — striving to walk with God — learns that it’s as with improvement at anything. There’s always another level that can be reached.
That is, in this case, until you reach Heaven.
Slouching Toward Sodom
Then there’s another matter. How could anyone believe God deems what sin is, but also that sin is not absolute (i.e., it’s changeable)? The answer is that, as is so common with humans — and especially moderns — these people are operating emotionally, not rationally. It’s all part of the relativism, and relativism-shaped thinking, epitomizing our time.
Regarding this and related to the above, I’ve reported on how most Christians don’t believe in morality (objective by definition). Rather, the most common way they make what we call “moral” decisions is based on feelings.
And, of course, if morality is changeable, so is immorality (or sin). It’s mighty convenient, too. For if sin is changeable, people can change it to whatever suits them at the moment based on what sin is in.
This matters for society — a lot. For it’s much as if we ceased believing there’s an objective standard for human nutrition. It would be much less likely anyone would improve his diet. After all, dietary “sin” could then be whatever one’s palate dictated. That junk food could now be heavenly (and not just in flavor). “If it tastes good, eat it.”
A people that ultimately believes there’s no objective standard for behavior will be plagued by increasing misbehavior. And, of course, is not this belief, and the consequent actions, precisely what we witness all around us today?
The above Article reveals the current and continued state of “The church”. This all stems from the watered down, non-convictional “sermons” found in the Religions and theirHouses of compromise. These are the ministries that the LORD our GOD exposes in the Scripture(s) of (Jeremiah 10:21) ”For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore, they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered’’. and (Jeremiah12:10) “Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness”. All of this leads to the Spiritual destruction of the congregation, who participate week in and week out, sometimes for their entire life, not being fed the Gospel of JESUS CHRIST, and they being without any Spiritual discernment (1 John 4:1) as to what is going on but the “Bondage of Religion through Tradition”. The Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 4:4 ” In whom the god of this world (devil) has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of JESUS CHRIST, who is the image of GOD, should shine unto them”. This is what we pray ! That they wake up and come out of these houses of compromise !!
Yes, there are a very small percentage of Ministries that participate in the 5-fold Ministry of Ephesians 4:11-25… Preaching the TRUTH of (JESUS CHRIST) (John 8:32) and the WORD of GOD without compromise or complacency. These are the Ministries that operate under the Fire and “Anointing of the HOLY SPIRIT” (1 John 2:27) (which are extremely rare) and not the Government sanctioned “501c3” IRS special Non-Profit, Non-Taxable status. Simply put, they keep everything they collect and pay no tax. But it comes at a tremendous cost. The Government has a say of what can be said. If this is violated, the “church” could lose their exemption. GOD forbid !!
(Ephesians 4:11-25) ”And HE gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors, and teachers.
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of JESUS the Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of GOD, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of JESUS CHRIST:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even JESUS CHRIST:
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the LORD, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of GOD through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But ye have not so learned JESUS CHRIST.
21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in JESUS:
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind.
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after GOD is created in righteousness and true holiness.
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another.
We are in a Spiritual battle for our souls every day ! How do we know this ? The LORD warns us in 1 Peter 5:8 ” Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” How does the “devil” devour ? Because the Souls he is after are easy targets and have no real defenses, these souls operate under……. Stupidity, Ignorance, Blindness, Weakness, Compromise, Complacency, and the lusts of the flesh (Galatians 5;19-21). How many are taught the Spiritual Battle defenses in 2 Corinthians 10:4, and Ephesians 6:10-21 in these houses of Compromise ?? No, they would rather discuss subtle Prosperity messages or the milk of their sermons and not the “STRONG MEAT” that JESUS warns us of in Hebrews 5:12-14 !!
There has to be a powerful Spiritual movement to the LORD JESUS from each and every Soul that has been compromised, asking the LORD JESUS for forgiveness, participating in sincere Repentance (deep sorrow, compunction, or contrition for a past sin, wrongdoing, or the like), and being “BORN AGAIN of WATER and the SPIRIT” (John 3:3-5). Without this, there is no chance. Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
May the LORD JESUS CHRIST bless the reader(s) and cause a movement of their HEART to accept JESUS as LORD and Savior, (John 15:5-8) “5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in ME, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without ME you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in ME, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in ME, and MY words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this MY FATHER is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be MY disciples”.
Amen and amen !!! col317.org
Last Updated on February 8, 2026 by admin