In his book Faith for the Curious (Baker Books, 2024), Barna senior fellow Mark Matlock explores the tension between Christians’ need for certainty and their capacity for curiosity. Partnering with Barna on research for the book, Matlock examined how a preference for structure and predictability among Christians contrasts with an openness to questions and exploration, particularly in leadership and ministry. The research reveals that 39 percent of practicing Christians have a high need for closure—significantly more than nonpracticing Christians (29%) and non-Christians (27%). (See About the Research below to learn how data was collected and analyzed.)

Individuals with a high need for closure tend to prefer definitive answers and clear situations, prioritizing order and predictability over exploring multiple possibilities. As Matlock explains, having a high need for closure isn’t inherently negative. But if the need for closure dominates a posture of curiosity, leaders run the risk of shaping church cultures that stifle spiritual exploration and growth.

In a recent conversation with Matlock, he unpacks this dynamic and its implications for church leadership, offering insights into fostering curiosity and embracing innovation for the sake of helping people grow a vibrant faith life.

Q: How do curiosity and certainty affect church leadership?

Mark Matlock: We used a curiosity scale developed by Todd Kashdan, a primary researcher in the field of curiosity. It measures curiosity in two factors: one is embracing—where we embrace change, uncertainty and ambiguity—and the other is stretching—where we actively seek new opportunities to go beyond our routines. We found that practicing Christians tend to lean toward certainty and away from spiritual curiosity.