A growing share of Protestant churchgoers within the US say many individuals aren’t aware that they’re Christians. Still, a majority of them wouldn’t hesitate to let non-Christians know where they stand on their faith, in accordance with a latest Lifeway Research study.
In the study, 2025 State of Discipleship Living Unashamed, Lifeway researchers highlight the beliefs, desires and actions of Protestant churchgoers within the U.S. around living unashamed. Living Unashamed is one in all eight signposts in Lifeway’s Discipleship Pathway Assessment used to measure spiritual maturity.
The latest Living Unashamed study included responses from 2,130 Protestant churchgoers to 6 questions collected in a survey conducted from March 19–26, 2025. On a scale of 0 to 100, the typical churchgoer scored a 61, which is the seventh lowest among the many signposts.
More than half (53%) of Protestant churchgoers either somewhat or strongly disagreed with the statement that “Many individuals who know me should not aware I’m a Christian.” Another 30%, nevertheless, either strongly or somewhat agreed while 17% were neutral.
The 30% share of Christians who agree that many individuals aren’t aware they’re Christian reflects a doubling of that cohort since 2013.
Data from a 2013 Lifeway Research study shows that 14% of churchgoers said many individuals who knew them weren’t aware they were a Christian. That climbed to twenty% in a 2019 Lifeway Research study. Approximately six years later, it stands at 30%.
“Ideally, a Christian can be talking about their relationship with Jesus Christ, not as something they have to say, but as an overflow of their love for Him and His impact on their lives. The honesty of churchgoers about gaps in living unashamed reveals large numbers have room for growth on this vital aspect of discipleship,” Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research, said in a statement on the study.
“It will be very easy to compartmentalize our lives. We have work friends, neighborhood friends, church friends and friends we meet up with for fun who may not overlap,” added McConnell. “The discipleship query is whether or not Jesus Christ is in all of those parts of our lives as a part of our core identity as a follower of Christ.”
When it involves letting non-Christians learn about their faith, nevertheless, 65% of churchgoers either strongly or somewhat disagree with the statement that “I’m hesitant to let non-Christians know that I’m a Christian.” Some 17% either strongly or somewhat agree with the statement, while a similar share said they neither agree nor disagree.
Protestant churchgoers were also almost equally immune to the statement that “Many facets of who I’m don’t have anything to do with God.” A healthy 61% of them somewhat or strongly disagree. Another 21% strongly or somewhat agree while 18% neither agree nor disagree.
The study also showed that even when speaking with other Christians, only 35% of American Protestants either somewhat or strongly disagree with the statement that “Spiritual matters don’t are inclined to come up as a standard a part of my every day conversations with other Christians.” A major 42% of respondents within the study either somewhat or strongly agree with the statement while 23% neither agree nor disagree.
When it involves identifying as a follower of Christ, churchgoers are divided.
In response to the statement, “I don’t think everyone I’m acquainted with must know I’m a follower of Christ,” lower than half of churchgoers (47%) somewhat or strongly disagree with it. Another 33% strongly or somewhat agree while 20% neither agree nor disagree.
Research released by Barna in 2022 found that a majority (56%) of Christians see their spiritual lives as private. A 2021 survey released by Probe Ministries, a nonprofit that seeks to assist the Church in renewing the minds of believers with a Christian worldview, found that the acceptance of pluralism was among the many top reasons they gave for not telling others about their faith.
When asked why they don’t share their beliefs with others, born-again respondents chosen the next as their top three responses: “They can get to Heaven through their different religious beliefs,” “We shouldn’t impose our ideas on others” and “The Bible tells us not to guage others.”
“At first glance, this may occasionally seem surprising. But in a culture where pluralism is a dominant a part of all religious groups, it begins to make sense,” said Steve Cable, senior vp of Probe Ministries. “And the pluralistic reasons were dominant, attracting around two-thirds of the population across all religious groupings.”
Source: https://www.christiantoday.com/news/a-growing-number-of-protestants-say-others-dont-know-theyre-christian
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