By profession, pastors were most likely to say they rush from task to task (54 per cent), which adversely also gets in the way of developing their relationship with God (65 per cent).
"It's tragic. And ironic. The very people who could best help us escape the bondage of busyness are themselves in chains," said Dr Michael Zigarelli, associate professor of Management at the Charleston Southern University School of Business, which conducted the study.
Professionals whose busyness interferes with developing their relationship with God include lawyers (72 per cent), managers (67 per cent), nurses (66 per cent), pastors (65 per cent), teachers (64 per cent), salespeople (61 per cent), business owners (61 per cent), and housewives (57 per cent).
"The accelerated pace and activity level of the modern day distracts us from God and separates us from the abundant, joyful, victorious life He desires for us," said Zigarelli.
While the study does not explain why Christians are so busy and distracted, Zigarelli described the problem among Christians as "a vicious cycle" prompted by cultural conformity.
"[I]t may be the case that (1) Christians are assimilating to a culture of busyness, hurry and overload, which leads to (2) God becoming more marginalised in Christians' lives, which leads to (3) a deteriorating relationship with God, which leads to (4) Christians becoming even more vulnerable to adopting secular assumptions about how to live, which leads to (5) more conformity to a culture of busyness, hurry and overload. And then the cycle begins again."
Zigarelli, who believes busyness and distraction may be a global pandemic, suggested breaking the cycle by "re-ordering our thinking", including "the way we think about who God is and how He wants us to live our lives".
The Obstacles to Growth Survey was conducted on 20,009 Christians.
