Study Finds Most Churchgoers Believe Bible Lacks Clarity on Sexuality

Amid a noticeable dip in transgender identification among college-age Americans, a fresh poll indicates that a majority of regular church attendees find the Bible murky on the topic of homosexuality.

Conducted by the Family Research Council in partnership with Arizona Christian University’s Cultural Research Center, the “Social Issues and Worldview” report shows only 47% of churchgoers now regard Scripture as “clear and decisive” on the moral status of homosexuality—down from 63% a year earlier.

That 16-point plunge in a single year underscores a rapid shift in how even committed believers interpret ancient texts on modern questions.

A full 26% describe the biblical stance as “unclear or ambiguous,” while 16% maintain the text is silent on the matter altogether and 11% say they simply don’t know. Taken together, more than half of respondents express some form of uncertainty or disagreement with the idea that Scripture offers a definitive word.

The numbers drop further on transgenderism: just 40% call the Bible “clear and decisive” on its moral acceptability (versus 52% in 2023). 23% label the guidance “unclear or ambiguous,” 24% say the Bible never mentions it, and 11% remain undecided. The combined uncertainty here tops 58%, painting a picture of even deeper confusion on an issue that has exploded into public debate only in recent decades.

According to Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, the organization which conducted the study, called the trend a wake-up call for “robust biblical instruction” on the pressing questions of the age, urging congregations to embody and proclaim a scriptural worldview with renewed urgency.

“The data reveal a vacuum that culture is all too eager to fill,” he warned.
The findings are “sobering in ways that demand pastoral attention” the authors say. “Finally, this is a Gospel moment.”

The authors say, “In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, many young people are entering our churches searching for truth, stability, and hope. What will they find? By God’s grace, let it be sermons filled with Scripture, communities shaped by holiness and love, and discipleship that connects biblical doctrine to real-world decisions.”

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