42% of Self-Described Evangelicals Believe Salvation Can Be Earned

The most recent findings of the AWVI 2020, conducted by CRC Director of Research Dr. George Barna, also show that these views of sin and salvation have permeated American culture so deeply that even a majority of people who describe themselves as Christian (52%) accept a “works-oriented” means to God’s acceptance.

What is even more shocking is that huge proportions of people who attend churches whose official doctrine says eternal salvation comes only from embracing Jesus Christ as savior nonetheless believe that a person can qualify for Heaven by being or doing good. That includes close to half of all adults associated with Pentecostal (46%), mainline Protestant (44%), and evangelical (41%) churches. A much larger share of Catholics (70%) embrace that point of view.