Blurring Lines: Survey Reveals Growing Confusion Among Churchgoers on Bible’s Teachings About LGBT Issues

A new nationwide survey has revealed a striking shift in how American churchgoers perceive the Bible’s teachings on hot-button social issues, including homosexuality and transgenderism. The study, titled Social Issues and Worldview—conducted by the Family Research Council and Arizona Christian University’s Cultural Research Center—found that fewer believers now view Scripture as clear or decisive on these controversial topics, signaling what researchers describe as a growing “disconnect between faith and cultural influence.”

According to the findings, only 40% of respondents said the Bible clearly addresses transgenderism, down sharply from 52% in 2023. Meanwhile, 23% of churchgoers considered the Bible “unclear or ambiguous” on the issue, 24% believed it does not address it at all, and 11% were unsure. When asked about homosexuality, 47% said the Bible provides a clear moral stance, while 26% viewed its teachings as ambiguous, 16% believed it was not addressed, and 11% did not know.

The trend extended to other key moral debates. Only 51% of respondents said the Bible offers clear guidance on abortion, compared to 63% last year. Likewise, 59% said Scripture speaks clearly on religious liberty, though a significant 20% described its teachings as “unclear or ambiguous.”

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, who also serves as a Baptist pastor, said the results underscore the urgent need for stronger biblical teaching within the church. “Many pastors are hesitant to address controversial issues for fear of offending or losing members,” Perkins told The Christian Post. “That hesitation has created a vacuum—one now being filled by cultural voices and media narratives that shape the worldview of many believers.”

Perkins emphasized that a renewed commitment to Scripture-based discipleship is essential if the church hopes to reclaim moral clarity in an age of competing ideologies. “We must return to systematic teaching of God’s Word,” he said. “When the pulpit goes silent, the culture speaks louder—and too often, that’s what’s defining truth for today’s Christians.”

As debates around gender, sexuality, and morality continue to intensify across the U.S., the survey’s findings highlight a sobering reality: while church attendance remains steady, confidence in the Bible’s authority on social issues appears to be slipping—revealing not just a generational divide, but a theological one.