God is the all-knowing, all-powerful creator who still rules today

This section relies on current statistics from reputable polling and survey organizations. Generally, these statistical findings are corroborated by other equally reputable sources. These organizations have conducted comparable surveys for many years, consistently yielding similar outcomes. However, there is one notable trend: the proportion of individuals who identify with certain principles has been decreasing. Initially, this decline was gradual, but more recently, it has accelerated.

A large majority of American adults - 80% according to surveys - say they believe in God. Only a marginally smaller percentage, 70%, profess faith in an all-knowing, all-powerful deity who continues to rule over the world today. While lower than historic numbers from past decades, these statistics remain relatively high and indicate widespread theistic belief.

However, there is one figure that gives pause: only 93% of self-identified Christians state they believe in the same all-powerful, actively governing God. This means nearly one out of ten Christians does not fully espouse the basic theological tenets of their professed religion.

Several potential factors may contribute to this discrepancy. It is possible some Christians have adopted more progressive interpretations of their faith, conceive of God in less traditional terms, or harbor some doubts without abandoning their religious identity altogether. The survey question itself may also lack nuance and fail to capture more complex perspectives.

Additionally, the high percentage of overall American adults affirming belief in God’s active sovereignty could reflect some conflation between various faith traditions. Without further data, it is difficult to unpack which theological concepts are most widely embraced.

In any case, while a 7 percentage point difference between Christians and the general population might seem disconcerting, the broader numbers still indicate a fairly high level of belief in God. The void is not drastically wide, though it does raise questions about the consistency between identity and ideology. It may point to a need for churches to better reinforce central tenets of Christianity and help adherents integrate their avowed beliefs with their practical living. But it does not necessarily amount to Christians doing a “bad job” of expressing core faith commitments, when 93% still attest to God’s supreme power and rule. With further teaching and discipleship, this number can continue rising across Christendom.