Coronavirus Pandemic Is a Wake Up Call: Exclusive Joshua Fund Poll


With the coronavirus pandemic causing unprecedented lockdowns and distress throughout the United States and around the world, my colleagues at The Joshua Fund and I have created two resources for pastors, ministry leaders, laypeople, and the media.

First, after consulting with a number of senior pastors, theologians, and seminary professors, we have published a 12-page fact sheet titled, “What Does the Bible Teach About Pestilence, Plagues & Global Pandemics?”

Second, we have commissioned an exclusive national poll to better understand how Americans—non-Christians as well as followers of Jesus—view the crisis and whether it is altering their spiritual habits and interest in the Bible and prophecy.  Part of a larger national poll of 1,000 “likely” American voters, the poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.1% at a 95% confidence interval.

The results were both fascinating and surprising. Here’s a quick snapshot:

A stunning 44.3% of poll respondents said they believe the coronavirus and resulting economic meltdown is a “wake up call for us to turn back to faith in God,” signs of “coming judgment,” or both.
 


Fully one-in-five non-Christians (21.5%) polled said the crisis is causing them to start reading the Bible and listen to Bible teaching and Christian sermons online even though they usually don’t, search online to learn more about Bible prophecy and God’s plan for the future of mankind, and have more spiritual conversations with family and friends.
 


Four-in-ten self-identified Christian (40.1%) respondents said they are reading the Bible more than ever, watching or listening to Bible teaching and Christian sermons online since they cannot go to church, and searching online to understand Bible prophecy and God’s plan for the future of mankind.
 


Nearly three-in-ten Americans (29.4%) polled believe the coronavirus and economic meltdown are “signs that we are living in what the Bible calls the ‘last days.’”

The Joshua Fund is a non-profit educational and charitable organization that my wife, Lynn, and I founded in 2006. Our aim is to mobilize Christians to bless Israel and her neighbors in the name of Jesus, according to the Abrahamic Covenant of Genesis 12:1-3.

As part of our mission, The Joshua Fund seeks to educate the Church and all those who are interested about God’s plan and purpose for Israel and the nations, the purpose and power of Bible prophecy, and the relevance of the Bible to the people of the Middle East and to all people around the world. Over the years, we have held Bible conferences and seminars in the U.S. and around the world and commissioned polls to better understand Christian views on important biblical matters.


The Questions

Here is the precise wording of the three questions that we asked.

1. Do you see the global coronavirus pandemic and economic meltdown as:
• Signs of coming judgment
• A wake-up call for us to turn back to faith in God
• Both
• Neither—this pandemic and economic trouble have nothing to do with God or Bible prophecy
• Don’t know/refused to answer

2. Do you believe that the coronavirus pandemic and global economic meltdown are evidence that we are living in what the Bible calls the “last days”?
• Yes
• No
• Don’t know/refused to answer

3. As a result of this unprecedented global coronavirus pandemic and economic chaos—and the fear and uncertainty that they have created—would you say that you have more interest in God and spiritual matters? Asked of non-Christians:
• Yes, and I have started reading the Bible, even though I usually don’t
• Yes, and I have started listening to Bible teaching and/or Christian sermons online, even though I usually don’t
• Yes, and I am having more spiritual conversations with family and friends
• No, the crisis has not changed my interest in spiritual matters at all

Asked of Christians (those who self-identified as Protestant, Catholic or Orthodox):
• Yes, and I am reading the Bible more than ever before
• Yes, and I am now listening to/watching Bible teaching and Christian sermons online since I cannot go to church
• Yes, and I am searching online to learn more about Bible prophecy and God’s plan for the future of mankind
• No, the crisis has not changed my level of interest in God, the Bible or spiritual matters at all


The Results

Further down in this article, I will share slides presenting detailed poll results.
 
Yet, I wanted to draw your attention to some of the results that I found particularly intriguing, some of which are not included in the slides.


Are We Experiencing a “Wake Up Call To Return to Faith in God” and/or “Sign of Coming Judgment”?

While 43.4% of all respondents say yes, we are experiencing a “wake up call,” coming judgment, or both, how do specific groups of Americans respond?

• 42% of Jewish people say yes 
• 25.4% of self-identified “secular” Americans say yes
• 39.3% of single people (compared to 49% of married people) say yes
• 54% of military households say yes
• 51.7% of Hispanic Americans say yes
• 63.6% of African Americans say yes
• 40.3% of whites say yes
• 26.3% of Asian Americans say yes
• 41.8% of young people, age 18-29 say yes
• 46.6% of people age 30-40 say yes
• 42.8% of people age 41-55 say yes
• 50.9% of people age 56-65 say yes
• 39.6% of people over 65 say yes


Is the Crisis Creating More Biblical Interest Among Non-Christians?

While 21.5% of all self-identified non-Christians responding to the poll say yes, the crisis is causing them to start reading the Bible and listening to Bible teaching and Christian sermons online even though they usually don’t, search online for teaching on Bible prophecy and God’s future for mankind, and/or engage in more spiritual conversations with family and friends, how do other groups of Americans respond?

• 37.6% of Jewish people say yes
• 22.7% of Americans who say they have no religion say yes
• 7.2% of self-identified “agnostics” say yes
• 7.8% of self-identified “atheists” say yes
• 35.1% of non-Christian Hispanic Americans say yes
• 35.6% of non-Christian African Americans say yes
• 25.4% of non-Christian Asian Americans say yes
• 27.5% of non-Christian young people age 18-29 say yes
• 36% of non-Christian people age 30-40 say yes
• 16.3% of non-Christian people age 41-55 say yes
• 9% of non-Christian people age 56-65 say yes
• 6.9% of non-Christian people over 65 say yes
• 28.5% of non-Christian military households say yes


Are We Living in the Last Days?

While 29.4% of all poll respondents say yes, the crisis reveals that “we are living in what the Bible calls the last days,” how do other groups of Americans respond?

• 29.5% of Jewish people say yes, we are living in the last days
• 25.4% of self-identified “secular” Americans say yes
• 28.5% of single people (compared to 31.6% of married people) say yes
• 36.6% of military households say yes
• 50% of Hispanic Americans say yes
• 40% of African Americans say yes
• 24.7% of whites say yes
• 14.2% of Asian Americans say yes
• 28% of young people age 18-29 say yes
• 33.3% of people age 30-40 say yes
• 28.9% of people age 41-55 say yes
• 33.4% of people age 56-65 say yes
• 23.8% of people over 65 say yes

 

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1. McLaughlin & Associates, a nationally-respected polling company, conducted the survey from March 23 through March 26. Our three questions were included in their monthly omnibus poll, comprised of questions from numerous clients. The questions were asked of 1,000 likely American voters. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.1%, at a 95% confidence interval. While this poll was structured by M&A to ask likely voters, it should be noted that The Joshua Fund is a non-partisan, non-political organization. Our purpose was not to understand the political motivations of the American people, but rather their spiritual views and motivations. The results are not intended for partisan political purposes, or to influence legislation at the federal, state or local levels.    



 

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