The news has been filled with reports regarding the decline of Christianity in the U.S.
A recent study by the Pew Research Center shows a 7.8% decline in Americans who self-identify as “Christian.”
Looking more closely at the numbers, we see “Unaffiliated” growing by 6.7% and a growth of non-Christian faiths of 1.2%, which total to 7.9% — about the same number as the decline.
Most of the loss shows up in the Mainline Protestant churches (3.4% decline in 7 years) and Catholicism (3.1% decline despite the immigration of millions of Catholics from Latin America).
But even the evangelical churches are in decline — although by the relatively modest 0.9%. This category would include the Southern Baptists and the Churches of Christ.
And we know from separate studies that both denominations are in numerical decline.
So what are we to make of these figures? How bad are they really?
Ed Stetzer is an expert on church growth who works primarily for the Southern Baptist Churches. He knows the numbers better than anyone. And he’s said some things we should pay attention to.
In a Christianity Today article, he points out three important long-term trends in American Christianity —
Trend #1: The Hemorrhaging of Mainline Protestantism
This trend is hardly news—mainliners will tell you of this hemorrhaging and of their efforts to reverse it.
Mainline Protestantism is perhaps the best known portion of Protestantism, often represented by what are called the “seven sisters” of the mainline churches. Mainline churches are more than these, but these seven are the best known, perhaps:
- United Methodist Church
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
- Episcopal Church
- Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
- American Baptist Churches
- United Church of Christ (UCC)
- The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
They tend to fall on the progressive side of the theological continuum, but there is diversity of theology as well (Methodists, as a whole, are probably most conservative, for example).
Mainline Protestantism is in trouble and in substantive decline. Some are trying to reverse this, through evangelism and church planting initiatives.
However, this is an uphill battle and, as a whole, mainline Protestantism will continue its slide.
I’m not the expert, by any means, but it seems to me that the biggest reason for the decline of the Mainline denominations is the disconnect between clergy and pew. The clergy simply don’t believe what the membership believes. Denial of inspiration and the blending of Christianity with humanist philosophies is not working.
Stetzer next says,
Trend #2: Continued Growth of Pentecostalism and the Charismatic Movement
The second thing I think you’re going to continue to see is the continued growth of Pentecostalism and the charismatic movement. The Charismatics and Pentecostals have already won the worship war—most churches are now comfortable with what would be “Calvary Chapel” worship in 1980. They are in the process of winning the spiritual gifts debate concerning cessationism, a view which seems in decline in the next generation.
Yes, that growth has slowed in North America and the charismatic practices (both inside and outside of the movement) have also been tamed.
In other words, Pentecostals and charismatics are growing and influencing, but they also look a lot less like the Pentecostals and charismatics of a few decades ago.
Many in the movement are shying away from the oddities and excesses of Pentecostalism, while evangelicals are moving towards the theology of Spirit-filled and Spirit-led ministries.
I see both of those trends continuing.
[italics are mine]
In other words, the Christianity that is growing is Christianity that teaches that the Spirit continues to be active in Christ’s church. It’s not so much tongues and faith healing as God alive in each Christian and each congregation through the personal indwelling. After all, it is what the Bible teaches.
Stetzer’s third trend —
Trend #3: Networks will Explode in Number and Influence
Denominations still matter—and they actually, for example, do most of the church planting in North America. However, networks are growing in influence and impact.
Ironically, some networks are going to become denominations (or denomination-like). For example, both the Vineyard and Calvary Chapel, some of the early forerunners of networks, basically function like denominations today.
Networks are predominantly made up of nondenominational evangelical churches. The fastest growing category in North America is nondenominational evangelicalism—so growth here is inevitable.
The future is less mainline denominations or flat evangelical denominations, and more nondenominational evangelical networks.
[italics are mine].
As much as the most conservative Churches of Christ would like to peg their progressive sister congregations as like the Mainline liberals — they just aren’t. Rather, they fit more into the second trend, largely evangelical in doctrine, teaching a living, active Holy Spirit without being Pentecostal.
Meanwhile, there’s no real trend among the progressive Churches of Christ toward becoming a distinct denomination. Rather, there’s simply no advantage in following that failing model. Instead, churches cooperate with other churches — along or across old denominational lines — as needs require. Thus, one congregation may work with non-Churches of Christ in town to provide care for the needy, while also networking via a church planting or missions para-church organization to do world evangelism within its historical denominational roots.
Of course, the Churches of Christ have never had much in the way of denominational structures — but we’ve historically refused to cooperate across denominational lines — and that is definitely changing among the more progressive congregations.
In an interview at CNN, Stetzer notes this important fourth trend —
A better reading of the stats is found when you move beyond the headlines and see a long, slow (but accelerating) decline of (mostly) nominal Christianity. However, the percentage of convictional Christians has remained relatively steady, with some decline. The decline of nominal Christianity is not the only thing happening, but it’s a big part of the real story.
‘Christian’ means different things to different people
It’s helpful to statistically clarify Christianity in the United States into three categories—cultural, congregational, and convictional. The first two categories are nominal Christians—they identify, but do not shape their lives around the Christian faith.
Cultural Christians are the least connected — they call themselves Christian because of heritage or culture. Congregational Christians have some connection to a local church, but rarely attend. On the other hand, convictional Christians call themselves Christians like the other two categories, but they attend church services regularly and order their lives around their faith convictions.
If you read the headlines this week, you’d think the latter category is collapsing. But, that would be a sign of bad math, not an accurate reading of the situation.
About 70-75% of the U.S. population calls itself Christian, but about 25% of the U.S. population practices that faith in a robust manner. This includes, in order of size, evangelicals, Catholics, mainline Protestants, and others.
Yet, the majority of people who use the term Christian, do so in a way that is different from their church-going and faith-driven friends. Think about it—your religious uncle and irreligious neighbor could both call themselves Christians, but mean different things. I am not deciding here who is and who is not a Christian, but I am saying that it means different things to different people.
And, what they mean is changing.
What do the numbers say?
Today, we are seeing cultural Christians, and even some congregational Christians, now self-identify as religiously “unaffiliated.” Folks who previously marked “Christian” on a religious survey because they weren’t Hindu or Jewish are now choosing “none of the above.”
Meet the Friendly Atheists Next Door
In other words, nominal Christians (cultural and congregational) are becoming the “nones.” That’s not all that is going on, but the nominals becoming the nones are a big part of it. How do we know? Well, math.
[italics are mine]
I believe that Evangelical churches will continue to fall at a faster rate. For one reason, the message to society, “We’re forgiven, you’re not; we’re under mercy and deserve understanding when we sin, you’re not”, no longer grab anyone’s spiritual and intellectual curiosity. In this day and time when church leaders are falling off pedestals faster than we can count, another way of reaching and feeding the hungry hearts and minds must be found. The “Moral Parade” of the church has been found out to be a show while our filthy rags were hidden at home. We are examined for a genuine compassion; nothing else impresses.
There were numbers of believers who were “filled” or “full” of the Holy Spirit who did not receive (from the New Testament record) what we would normally call “the miraculous measure of the Spirit”, among them John the Baptizer, Elizabeth, Mary (mother of Jesus), those present at Acts 4:31, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas. Also, we do not see any record of “gifts of the Spirit” among the household of Cornelius beyond the initial tongues speaking in Acts 10 nor do we see the Apostles of Acts 2 continuing in the gift of tongues. Neither is it certain that every believer had the hands of the Apostles laid upon him or her. What seems to be apparent is the Spirit at work as the Spirit wills.
The conclusion is that being “full of the spirit” or “filled with the spirit” does not “require” or even “intimate” a “miraculous” expression.
Reviewing the CNN atheist link, it clearly shows man’s innate desire for community and relationship. It has no more to offer than timothy Leary’s “If it feels good, do it.”
The comforter would come after Jesus left…the Holy Spirit. One of the few gifts that we relate to the HS, but was needed during the times of persecution and something we would not call a spiritual gift, but it was. The old saying of “God works in mysterious ways”, is true when we reflect that we don’t know how God and the Holy Spirit work within us, but we must believe that they do, even though we don’t see evidence in the form of speaking in tongues or prophesy.
I like the term “Networks”… Maintains some individual autonomy yet reflects a willingness to work in close association to meet a particular objective… Sounds like Paul asking a group in Corinth to set aside some resources to send to another group in Rome or Jerusalem or wherever help was needed among other “believers.” I’m convinced that WE is always more effective than ME..
Lest we think the sky is falling, there are individual congregations within Christianity which are growing. Even some Catholic, Episcopal, Calvinist Baptist, and Orthodox churches have seen decent, unexpected, and shocking growth lately with younger people. Some denominational churches have decided to focus on the Gospel, the Holy Spirit, and not on politics. There are some priests who are very good at the 12-15 minute, one-point, old-time Gospel homily, and they are getting the crowds. These are not watered-down homilies but the kind that make you squirm in the pew and hope lightning doesn’t strike. However, there is no personal bashing and no blanket condemnation to hell, though hell is not off-limits and is still mentioned as the reward for the wicked. Churches can still grow. A lot of the growth is due to the clergy being human, willing to admit they have faults, and understanding of human nature, basically characters who are willing to be first to admit their mistakes and doubt. These churches are willing to accept new people and they didn’t change anything for them. Choirs, pipe organs, old English liturgy, and port in the chalice are still there and haven’t changed.
Price, I would like to think we are all networked through Christ, but often times we don’t know it, appreciate it or accept it. We think of almost everything in a proprietary, local sense in regards to our church, instead of seeing it as the church and then relating everything down from there. Even the 7 congregations in Asia, despite their issues, were linked through thier acceptance of Christ.
Dwight. Are you suggesting that an evidence that we are connected with Christ is that we are connected with each other ? If so, I would agree
We are baptized into Christ and regeistered in heaven by God and according to I John 1 as we walk in the light we have fellowship with one with another. So yes indeed. Now we can separate and disclude or include, but this doesn’t affect the membership as only God can accept or deny who are His. All things point to Christ…hearing (of Chrsit), confession (of Chrsit)…faith (in Christ), baptism (into Christ). This is one of the problems I have with the conservative branch of the coC is that they focus on and teach the plan of salvation instead of Jesus the person, the priest, the sacrifice, etc. Christ, God in the flesh, savior of mankind, first, then teach the response. The “plan” doesn’t get us into heaven, Christ does and our willing response to Christ.
It seems that culture has a bad view of Christianity more and more as of late. Maybe we have earned it in some cases(Catholic abuse cases), but there seems to be something darker at play here. Take for example the Dugger situation. They are now the punching bag for anyone in the mainstream who has a voice. Not sure why. Their show, and I’ve watched many episodes, portrays a big close knit family who genuinely seem to love God and each other. They never said, “we’re perfect” or that “this is how you need to live.” Their values certainly drive a dagger in the heart of many secularist and so now they have detected a flaw and they are ready to make a mockery of them. Kick them while they’re down. IT’s the same culture that despises Tim Tebow, A muslim man shouting jihad can cut off a woman co-worker’s head and they’re “not sure” why he did what he did, and it certainly isn’t a reflection on the peaceful Muslims, but let a 14 year old Christian boy make some sinful mistakes of the sexual kind(how many 14-15 year old guys have their sexuality under control) and grow up and get his life under control(apparently) and they want to make him the poster boy for why you shouldn’t be a Christian. I mean grown teachers having sex with their underage students receive kinder, even almost celebrity status (if you read the headlines.) than what Josh Dugger did as a 14 year old. IT’s never called “molestation” in those headlines .
I’m not saying what he did wasn’t wrong or disturbing, it was, but from what I’ve been able to read, it wasn’t rape or even near rape. But to read the headlines you would think he raped them all. This is purely shock value being used for ratings. I think his dad taking him to the police was admirable. I don’t know of many fathers who wouldn’t try to cover up their child’s misconduct rather than expose it.
Somewhere along the way, at least to the secularist media, being a Christian means you never ever do anything wrong. And if you do something wrong, then it only proves how hypocritical your beliefs are. That same standard doesn’t apply to other religions. It makes you wonder where all of this is heading.
Monty, the liberal media and agenda have a double standard involved. If it is done under the label of liberal, but wrong it is placed under freedom and right, but if it is done by a conservative, who should know better, it is wrong. That is why the Vagina Monologue which was heralded by the liberal media and celeberties many years ago, even though it was largely about rape, lesbian rape of a young girl, but somehow it wasn’t rape, but a coming of a very young age into freedom of expression. What we do will always be worse than what they do due to perception. But sometimes we make ourselves a target in preaching what to do right and not expressing that saints don’t do everything right, but saints are in Christ and are striving towards God and doing good. We often push them away as much as they push us away in our perceptions.
Monty, I believe that some of it is just the enemy at play… We won’t ever get a free pass from evil.. and many love to take shots at anything good.. On the other hand, Christians have at times have had a “holier than thou” attitude towards people and when that happens, seeing one of those folks fall presents too good an opportunity to pass the shame back to the one who was handing it out. When the church becomes more relevant in their local communities, the communities will respond with love and support.. When that put out the billboards condemning everybody but themselves…they get what they deserve.
Perhaps the reason that the Torah portion containing the sex/incest/forbidden relationships law was read on Yom Kippur was that God’s chosen people needed to be reminded just how low humans could go. Perhaps these rules need to be read again one Sudnay morning.
Mark, not a bad idea. We often do topical lessons, but why not just read it and let it sink in.
Dwight, it is because letting it stand on its does not allow for it to be taken out of context and used to make a point that the intact text does not make.
Networking has done more to help the church of Christ than many other changes. When we help EVERYONE in need, not just other members of the cofC, it diminishes the “holier then thou” label.
mkheadley49,
Thanks. I agree entirely. And it displays to the world the unity that the gospel produces.
mkheadley49,
There are many in Alabama doing this good works networking individually since their coC wouldn’t approve.That is plainly seen during Tornado destruction. Many do not do as the preacher says, negatively and surprisingly, also, positive.
My CoC congregation not only refuses to work with “denominational” churches, we are reluctant to work with other congregations of the One True Church because it might affect our autonomy and because the other congregations might be too liberal. We have circled the wagons to keep out false doctrine but we also keep out souls in need of salvation.