Word-Spirit Orientation Scale – WSOS

Statement A: I feel regular church attendance is an integral part of the Christian faith. Statement B: I feel that one can maintain Christian growth without regular church attendance.

Statement A: When reading the Bible for the purpose of understanding and interpretation, I tend to rely more often upon my own resources to shed light upon the subject. Statement B: When reading the Bible for the purpose of understanding and interpretation, I tend to seek help from other people's writings to shed light upon the subject.

Statement A: When I am with a group of new people, I am more often concerned with just being myself. Statement B: When I am with a group of new people, I am more often concerned with making a good impression.

Statement A: When witnessing to others, I tend to present the lovingkindness of Christ. Statement B: When witnessing to others, I tend to present claims of Christ's life, death, and resurrection.

Statement A: I feel that a church should be more concerned with a vision for worldwide evangelization. Statement B: I feel that a church should be more concerned with the fellowship and growth of its own members.

Statement A: I feel the biblical concept of the nature of man places him in a position of being basically good. Statement B: I feel the biblical concept of the nature of man places him in a position of being basically evil.

Statement A: I feel the scriptural teachings and doctrines are better defenses of Christian faith. Statement B: I feel personal testimonies and experiences are better defenses of Christian faith.

Statement A: I feel the main emphasis of Sunday School should be to teach children application of faith, such as acceptance of others and themselves. Statement B: I feel the main emphasis of Sunday School should be to give children solid biblical teaching, such as the doctrine of salvation.

Statement A: When making life decisions, I tend to rely mostly upon what I feel to be God's will. Statement B: When making life decisions, I tend to rely mostly upon my own intellectual capacities.

Statement A: If I were to hold some leadership position in my church, I would feel more comfortable allowing members to help me in the decisions and delegating responsibilities to those members. Statement B: If I were to hold some leadership position in my church, I would feel more comfortable making decisions and being responsible for following them through myself.

Statement A: When getting together with a few of my close friends for reasons of Christian growth, I prefer to spend time in Bible study, group discussion, and interpretation of the passages read. Statement B: When getting together with a few of my close friends for reasons of Christian growth, I prefer to spend time in sharing personal experiences we have had with God and praying together.

Statement A: In my own personal Bible study times, I spend more time concentrating on finding the correct interpretation of Bible passages, even going to commentaries once in a while for further insight. Statement B: In my own personal Bible study times, I spend more of my time reading for inspiration and strength to meet present problems.

Statement A: I feel that it is an important part of my faith to give 10 percent or more of my income to the local church. Statement B: I feel that my spiritual growth will not suffer by giving less than 10 percent of my income to the local church.

Statement A: I feel that God wants a church to listen for a call to outreach on a day-to-day basis. Statement B: I feel that God wants a church to have a well-structured, long-range, ongoing program of outreach.

Statement A: Most of my reading materials are theological and doctrinal in nature. Statement B: Most of my reading materials are devotional and inspirational in nature.

Statement A: I see my ministry as a Christian as dealing with those who are lonely, suffering, and overcome by temptations (even as a layperson). Statement B: I see my ministry as a Christian in the area of teaching, pastoring, and administration (even as a layperson).