The new findings are from The American Bible Society, says the Christian Post. It released chapter six of its "State of the Bible USA 2025" report. The study analyzed the responses of 2,656 Americans during the month of January.
State of the Bible Editor-in-Chief John Plake said that it found, "Identity levels are strong among people who practice religion — and not just Christianity."
According to the report, 52% of respondents who are part of a different religion than Christianity report a strong sense of identity. It found that practicing Christians have the strongest sense of identity overall, with 64% of them having a strong one.
Dr. Alex McFarland of Exploring the Word shared his thoughts with AFN.
"One of the real keys to emotional stability and resilience and just the fortitude to face each day with confidence and joy – one of the keys to this is to have a sense of self and to know who we are and to have a realistic vision of our life and our purpose," says McFarland.
He said one might expect this result: that more time in God's Word brings these positive outcomes.
"To get God's word on this and what God says in the Bible – His promises, His reassurances – that makes for a healthy state of mind. It really does," states McFarland.
He said this is just one more reason of many why people should daily be in the Word, why people should draw their conclusions about life and hope for the future from the promises of God's word.
"In Second Timothy chapter two, Paul says – and many of us could relate to this, but he says, ‘I know who I have believed in, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I've committed unto him against that day’," quotes McFarland.
McFarland explained that when one knows the Lord, when one is trusting in and standing on His word, then we have confidence and joy.
"The very same Bible that tells us about Jesus, who gave his life for us, also says in verses like Matthew 6:8 that God knows what we need even before we ask. What confidence, what hope, what joy for living we get from the regular reading of His word," says McFarland.
