[The Christian Posy] 23 Jul 2008--Most Christians, notional and evangelical alike, desire a personal relationship with God, a new study showed. But evangelicals were the only Christian segment that desired much more in their faith life.
At least 90 percent of Evangelicals, who make up 8 percent of the population, according to The Barna Group, said they wanted a clear purpose for living, one marriage partner for life, good physical health, to live with a high degree of integrity, and to be deeply committed to the Christian faith along with having a personal relationship with God. They were the only group among the dozen Christian segments surveyed by the research group among which at least 90 percent listed as many as six of the 19 future-life possibilities as being "very desirable."
"Evangelicals are intensely driven by their faith: their life is substantially influenced by their beliefs and their lifestyle choices and aspirations reflect the centrality of their spirituality," said George Barna, who directed the study.
Most evangelicals, 84 percent, also said that being personally active in a church was "very desirable" and 75 percent said they desired a life in which they make a difference in the world.
The only thing "very desirable" to at least 90 percent of born-again Christians who are not evangelical in their theological views was a personal relationship with God - listed by 94 percent. Still, 87 percent of born-again Christians said they desire a clear purpose for their life, 86 percent said they desire being deeply committed to the Christian faith, and 68 percent said they want to be personally active in a church.
"Non-evangelical born again adults consider faith to be important but it is not the defining aspect of their existence; it is influential but not the determining factor," said George Barna, who directed the study.
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