New findings from a study commissioned by Leadership Journal have identified five types of Christians. Based on a sampling of answers about church attendance, Bible reading and basic Christian theology, the study categorized Christians as:

Active (19 percent) – Believe salvation comes through Jesus Christ, are committed churchgoers, Bible readers and church leaders. Invest in personal faith development through the church. Feel obligated to share their faith; some 79 percent do so.

Professing (20 percent) – Believe salvation comes through Jesus Christ and focus on a personal relationship with God and Jesus. Have similar beliefs to Active Christians, but different actions. Less involved in church and less committed to Bible reading or sharing faith.

Liturgical (16 percent) – Predominantly Catholic and Lutheran. Regular churchgoers with a high level of spiritual activity, mostly expressed by serving in church and/or in their community. Recognize the authority of the church.

Private (24 percent) – Largest and youngest segment of Christians. Believe in God and in doing good things. Own a Bible, but don't read it. Spiritual interests are outside of a church context. Only about a third attend church. Almost none are church leaders.

Cultural (21 percent) – Show little outward religious behavior or attitudes. Aware of God, but have little personal involvement with him. Do not view Jesus as essential to salvation and instead affirm many ways to God, favoring a universalist theology.

Meaning for the Church

What do these newly defined types mean for churches?

At first glance this study's "Active" type may be the same people George Barna identified as "Revolutionaries" two years ago in his book, "Revolution."

In addition, Barna has long reported the American disconnect between faith and church attendance. While 84 percent of Americans consider themselves Christians, Barna says only about 40 percent attend church regularly.

Laying one set of data on top of the other leads to the conclusion that the 40 percent of church attendees is comprised of the 19 percent of Active Christians, 16 percent of Liturgical—both regular church attendees—and a combined 5 percent of the remaining types.

What this seems to point out is that the other types are basically the "unchurched" Dr. Thom Rainer uncovered in research conducted about three years ago.

His study revealed 15 characteristics of churches that were reaching the unchurched.

Churches that bring in the unchurched:

1. Keep priorities in order and goals in clear view

2. Are biblical, conservative and convictional

3. Give priority and passion to evangelism

4. Provide deep biblical teaching

5. Use effective small groups for discipleship

6. Maximize relational connections to the unchurched

7. Keep neat, clean and updated facilities

8. Have a user-friendly greeter ministry

9. Keep the friendliness issue before the church

10. Are committed to excellence

11. Provide inquirers and new members classes

12. Have high expectations and contagious excitement

13. Show clear purposes

14. Foster a high level of involvement

15. Place a strong emphasis on prayer

Read more of his study here, then contemplate ways your church can turn the uncommitted into Bible-believing Christians.