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Spiritual Zombies? What Calvinism Gets Wrong in Ephesians 2:1

Zombies

Paul opens Ephesians 2 with a strong statement: “You were dead in your trespasses and sins.” Some readers jump straight to the idea of “spiritual death” (an unbiblical concept I explore in another article). Calvinists build an entire doctrine of total inability on this verse. By “total inability,” they mean that people are so corrupted by sin that they cannot believe in God, repent, or respond to the gospel unless God first gives them new spiritual life. So, they are totally unable to choose to follow God on their own; God must first give them the ability to turn to Him. 

Yet Paul was not talking about spiritual zombies who cannot respond to God. He was doing something far more grounded in the language and imagery of his world. Let’s slow down and follow Paul’s flow of thought.

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Posted by Eddie Lawrence in Calvinism, Ephesians, Original Sin

The Day Jesus Joined the Church Staff Meeting

Shepherd

Part of the problem with the American church’s biblical worldview isn’t just biblical ignorance, it’s neglect. As I’ve written before, a distorted view of God happens when His shepherds fail to tend to the flock. I must confess my own shortcomings in this matter or risk being hypocritical. I am not a pastor, nor am I part of a church staff, but as an introvert’s introvert, it is more comfortable for me to keep fellow believers at arm’s length and avoid the messy, real-life problems of other disciples.

I am repenting of this, yet I fear slipping back into comfortable routines where I seek the quiet of my home to study and ponder another portion of Scripture. If we are going to imitate Jesus, it means spending time with people. The truth is, caring for the hurting and walking alongside those in need is not only the church staff’s job, but also the responsibility of every Christian. Keep that in mind as you read the fictional story below of “Any Church, USA.”

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Posted by Eddie Lawrence in Biblical Worldview, Church, Church Leadership, Fiction

87% of Christians Are Living Like Atheists (And It’s Making Them Miserable)

hope

My recent blog posts (here and here) highlighted George Barna’s research showing only 13% of born-again believers possess a fully biblical worldview. This presents a church in crisis. When only a fraction of born-again believers view the world through the Bible’s lens, we have a major problem. 

The survey data from 2023-2025 revealed that the number of Americans who experience anxiety, depression, and fear is on the rise. Federal government agencies state that 23% of American adults suffer from some sort of mental health problem. Barna’s research suggests that “individuals who lack a biblical worldview are more likely to struggle with these common mental health issues.”1 He concludes that some people (not all) receive a mental illness diagnosis when they actually suffer from lacking the assuredness a biblical identity and purpose provide.

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Posted by Eddie Lawrence in Biblical Worldview, Ephesians

Why Fixing the Church’s Worldview Is a Catch-22

Worldview

American churches face a serious problem: only a small minority of believers think biblically. Recent research shows that just 13% of born-again Christians hold a biblical worldview. Among pastors, the number rises to 37% which is better but shockingly and unacceptably low.2 This is more than a statistic; it is a crisis. Without a biblical worldview, Christians adopt cultural practices rather than applying God’s Word. Without it, the church loses its power to influence the surrounding culture, which now shapes the church instead.

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Posted by Eddie Lawrence in Biblical Worldview, Church Leadership

Only 13% of Born Again Christians Think Biblically—And It Shows

biblical worldview

Sometimes I’m a little late to the party. I have recently learned that as of 2025 only 13% of born-again Christians hold a biblical worldview.3 This statistic has been available for a few years, but I’ve only recently stumbled upon it. That shocking information comes from the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University and George Barna’s Biblical Worldview Inventory. Even among those who call themselves Christians, most do not see or interpret life through the lens of Scripture consistently. For Americans in general that number is even lower: only 4%.4

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Posted by Eddie Lawrence in Biblical Worldview