Reflecting on the Decline of Christianity in America

Christianity is on the decline in America.  I did not need an expert to tell me that, but I found the facts and figures in a new report from Pew Research.  There has been a 12% drop in the percentage of Americans adults who describe themselves as Christian in the last decade alone.  In surveys conducted in 2018 and 2019 65% of American adults describe themselves as Christian, down from 77% in 2009.  During the same period the number of religiously unaffiliated has grown from 17% in 2009 to 26% currently.  The unaffiliated includes those who identify as atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular.

While the study from Pew Research does not provide data on individual denominations it is a known fact that that membership in every mainline denomination is on the decline.  The study did break down Christians into two sub-groups, Protestants and Catholics.  Protestants showed a larger decline from 51% of the population in 2009 to 43% today.  In 2009 23% proclaimed to be Catholic and that has dropped to 20% in 2019. 

While I am not an expert I think my years in ministry have provided me with some insights.  Allow me to share what in my mind are two of the major reasons Christianity is on the decline.

The emphasis on preserving tradition: While maintaining our church buildings and preserving our liturgy is important, they are man-made.  Church buildings, no matter how majestic or historically significant, are just structures.  When the focus becomes maintain what we have, rather than expanding the kingdom, we are doomed.  The same can be said for the style of worship.   The hymns we sing and the liturgy we follow are not ordained by God.  They are only vehicles to be used.  The Gospel message is the only thing that remains constant.  How it is shared needs to be constantly changing to fit the time and needs of the people who need to hear it.

The focus on internal relationship:  We need to spend less time around the coffee pot visiting with friends and more time in the parking lot welcoming visitors.  Years ago when the church growth movement was in vogue, one of the principles was that when someone joins a church there is a six month window during which they will invite friends.  The truth being that after that time they become en-cultured, and part of the church family.  Whether it be youth group, women’s guild, men’s club or senior ministry our friends are not only the ones we share an interest with but the focus of our lives.  In the process we build a wall between us and those who are different.  So often those are the people who really need to hear the Gospel

All is not lost.  I sincerely believe God’s church will survive.  The Gospel message will still be preached.  Those who listen to God’s call and respond to the needs of this world will find their ministries blessed. 

Tear Down the Silos and Pitch a Tent

A new report from the Barna Group confirmed what I already knew; most young adults do not feel cared for by those around them.  The Barna study was done in partnership with World Vision.  The study was not limited to the United States but rather included 15,000 18–35-year-olds from 25 countries around the globe.  In a fast-paced, internet connect world it was not surprising that 57% of those polled felt connected to people around the world.   When it came to feeling cared for only 33% felt “deeply cared for by those around me.”  Additionally, only 32% responded “they felt someone believes in me.”   The bottom line is there are a lot of lonely people in the world and many of them are under the age of 35%.

The report does have some encouraging things to say about faith communities.  Young adults who belong to a religious tradition seem to have stronger feelings of being in relationship with others.  Has expected those individuals were in the minority, 19% Christian and 23% another faith tradition.  While faith communities may be facilitators of connection for troubled 18–35-year-olds getting young adults in the door can be a challenge.  World-wide, Millennials seem little interested in connecting with a faith community. 

As I reflected on this I had to wonder if the traditional model of congregational ministry is not the problem.  That model has ministries divided up by gender or generational groups.  One popular term is “silo ministry,” with separate silos for people with various interests.  A church might have a men’s club and women’s guild.  There is a ministry to married couples, young adults and senior citizens.  Unfortunately we can become comfortable in our silos and so focused on those relationships that we can become oblivious to the greater needs of the community. 

Perhaps a tent is a better model.  Instead of separate silos (ministry groups) all people gather across generational and interest lines.  As I got to thinking about it, a tent model might be more biblical.  God’s Old Testament people worshiped in a tent.  It was called the Tabernacle.  The Old Testament model also was cross-generational.  The older adult took on the responsibility of communicating the faith to young generations.  Quite frankly, the “silo model” is not even biblical, it is just more comfortable.  Perhaps it meets our needs but not God’s desire for his church.

This Joker is no Joke

I was sitting in our family room over thirty years ago when a disturbing news bulletin flashed across the screen.  Families in a neighborhood not far from us were warned to lockdown and seek a safe place in the center of their house.  It was not a tornado that was eminent, rather a man dressed in camouflage and carrying semi-automatic weapons.  He was walking up and down a residential street firing randomly into homes.  Fortunately no one was seriously injured and police were able to safely arrest him.  He actually lived in the neighborhood and in his mind he was defending “his turf.”  When they searched his home they found poster of Rambo on the wall and a similar movie in his VCR. 

I thought of this incident on Friday when I read of the release of the new Joker movie. As I understand, the plot centers around a man named Arthur who is beaten down in life both mentally and physically.  As a result he descends into madness and takes on the character of “the Joker.”  In this scenario the Joker becomes happier and more well-liked has he embraces horror and anarchism.  In a world where mass shootings are so common, I struggle to find any value in this story.  Frankly, it sounds like the backstory to too many of the disturbed people who have committed actual violent acts.  The sad fact is too many people cannot distinguish fantasy from reality.

I will admit a bias when it comes to Hollywood.  My family will tell you that I don’t go to the movies.  We do own a DVD player but I prefer to watch concert videos or old sitcoms like Cheers, Coach or WKRP.  If I do watch a movie it’s usually a classic that I have seen before like Hoosiers or Coach Carter.  It’s a scary world and I don’t need to go to movie to be reminded of that.  I also disdain any film that promotes violence.  An additional reason for skipping the flics is Hollywood seems to have a genuine disdain for Christianity.  Additionally I feel the film industry promotes much of the moral shift that we have seen in our culture. 

I am not sure what I want you to do with this information.  I certainly am not advocating a boycott.  I guess I would just hope you are more aware of what kind of entertainment you watch and what kind of behavior and lifestyle you encourage.  Today’s children and teens are growing in a challenging environment.  We do not need an entertainment industry that further leads us further down the wrong path.