Christianity isn't dying

You've heard it suggested that the United States is simply Europe on a 50-year delay. Most churches will be museums before your grandchildren reach adulthood.

Though new numbers from Pew Research released this month point to a decline in American Protestants, no serious scholar believes that Christianity in America is on a trajectory of extinction. And, as a researcher and practicing evangelical Christian, I say to those who've read recent reports and come to that conclusion, "Not so fast."

You see, many in the USA who identify as Christian do so only superficially. These "cultural Christians" use the term "Christian" but do not practice the faith.

Now it seems that many of them are even giving up the label, and those cultural Christians are becoming "nones" (people with no religious label).

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Richard Brophy

It all started when prayer in the classroom was banned back in the 60's, and I feel incredulous how very few people even cite this.
Unless we find a way to cultivate Christianity to our children at a very young age again, Christianity will keep dwindling in this country. It is indubitable that the only reason why the far Left has gotten this far in this country is because of their godlessness.
- Wordman
  
  Good observation, Richard. The good news is that there is a cure. The bad news (at least for most serious Christian families) is that the cure is very costly in terms of time and money. Christian education is what is needed. A little research will clearly show that God-hating athiests long ago targeted and captured "public" (read "government) schools. They are no longer "our public schools." The research says that if we hope to transmit our faith to our children we need to go the costly and time consuming route of home school or, if one is available, a good Christian day school. Six to seven hours a day of godless (or worse) education under the auspices of the God-hating NEA and friends simply can't be un-done by 30 minutes per day (if you're an above average parent) and a church service or two per week. They've got us out-flanked unless we're willing to pay the price to win our children. It's a tremendous sacrifice but what are our children worth? Our children represent something like 30% of our population but they are 100% of our future!
  - Old Observer
    
    You got it–our kids have been being brainwashed in our schools for some time now–started in college, but now has dropped way down to elementary school–even to the promoting of homosexuality
  - Evermyrtle
    
    You are right, home schooling seems to be the only way for Christians to go. Around 1997 my daughter opened a Christian school to help parents to give their children a
    Christian education. We were able to keep it afloat for only about 2 years because of the lack of interest of parents in the neighborhood. She continued to homeschool her own children and sent them to a Christina college.
    
    I think the greatest decline to Christianity, is the fault of people who call ourselves Christian. We simple are not willing to put forth any interest or finances to help it survive. Many times we are so afraid of "what will people think?"As long as we are of that attitude Christian will continue to decrease until JESUS CHRIST takes HIS own out of the world and to paradise. Unbelievers will laugh and sneer until they see the miracles of our GOD and then it may be too late.
- mallen11
  
  Teaching children from a very early age must start in the home; not the school. There are too many anti-God, liberal, progressive leftist teaching our children and we don't want their idea of God or their religion being taught to our children. People today say that if the Bible and prayer can be used in our schools then their god can be read in the schools such as the Koran and every other religion be used by anti-God teachers. The only way we can turn back time and allow prayer and Bible reading in our schools again is when people start turning back to God, learn His ways and apply them to their lives. This will stop the "Freedom FROM Relgion" group trying to sue every time the name of our Lord Jesus Christ is mentioned; even at the end of a prayer.
  
  Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old (mature), he
  will not depart from it.
  - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=58215905 Wesley Woods
    
    that Proverb is actually a curse for if you fail to discipline your child in the early years there is no way to stop his bad behavior. all you have to do is look at the out of control teens and come to this conclusion.
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=58215905 Wesley Woods
  
  i hate to tell you, but the moral decay in America started clear back in 1925 at the conclusion of the Scopes Monkey Trial. by the time we reached the 1960s the decay was becoming cancerous. true Christianity is on the rise in both Europe and here in America. it is happening in places that most Christians would least likely think. it is happening with the youth that has been influenced by different theological perspectives. this cross-pollination mixed with passionate youth has produced young Christians looking for a deeper relationship with Christ and his church.
Art

Luke 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
Wordman

Disappointing news for our resident athiest, Jeff Dixon. I expect he'll be all over this very soon.
http://www.facebook.com/people/David-B-Severy/557985964 David B Severy

http://www.albertmohler.com/2005/10/14/the-scandal-of-biblical-illiteracy-its-our-problem/
- mallen11
  
  Good article.
agbjr

If anyone believes Christianity is 'dying' they really need to look at Sunday morning church attendance. No, not traditional mainstream protestant churches attended by the narrow-minded and frankly bigoted few but the non-traditional congregations most media dismiss as "evangelicals." These churches are vibrant, open congregations attended mainly by young people craving God's Word. Unlike most mainstream congregations these young people are not mired in tradition and dogma. They look for new ways to reach out to others and witness the Gospel to their community. They reject the ancient notions of their elders who admonish, "That's not how we do things here!" and congregations who demand unwaivering adherence to a specific set of rules for worship, fellowship. and deportment. They instead openly welcome challenges to their beliefs and thrive on discussing their love and devotion to the Lord and Savior. These "evangelical" youths are TRUE Christians and their ranks are steadily growing. To be sure, you will find many youths in mainstream churches but only within congregations who truly understand God leads through our young people not through an old book of denominational rules. Christianity is not dying it is alive and thriving in our young population and the churches who embrace our youth and their Christian enthusiasm will thrive and grow. Churches who do not welcome their youths' refreshing approach to worship and outreach, congregations who insist "This is not how we have always done things here!" will diminish and die. The future is held by our youth and their vibrant Christian Faith gives assurance the future is bright for Christianity.
Old Observer

It all depends on how you define Christian. Some people say they are because they basically believe in God and consider themselves "good" people. Then there are what I call "Default" Christians—Christian simply because they are not anything else–and there are true Christians in the Biblical sense–those who have accepted Jesus Christ's gift via the cross and His resurrection, and follow Him in their daily lives. No one is perfect, and Christians do screw up–but God forgives. Still, that is no reason to do wrong simply because you can ask for, and receive, forgiveness.True Christians will be willing to lose their lives before renouncing their faith in Christ–which they will be facing should Islam gain control
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_PTIF6KGUK7QASUBRKKR5A6LM2Q Tod

It started when We sat in church and they preached,and did things that things the Bible doesn't say,or tell us to do! Like starting with,pictures of Jesus, that We all know nobody Knows what Jesus looks like ,and pictures and statues of things in heaven,which the Bible warns us not to do.Having church on Sunday the first day of the week,instead of the Sabbath as our Ten Commandments demand of us.Celebrating Pagan Christian blendings of Christmas and Easter which is called Syncretism,and which the bible tells us is a Abomination to God,and Nowhere in the Bible does it tell us to celebrate Jesus birth or death.And that's just a few of the things that has caused people to stray away from your man made churches ,because their not teaching by every word of the bible as God commands us to do. For what the Bible really teaches go to lcg.org and click on the true gospel.
Luzmark1

Yes wicked men shall get worst and worst, Christians will be raptured and then the unbeliever will get a good dose of God in the tribulation and if they don't believe then ,then they get to face Him Face to face and then to the Lake of Fire.
- bighoss
  
  Triburapturlation is one of the false doctrines that has crept into too many folks and has made a mockery of New Testament eschatology.
- mallen11
  
  Luzmark1, you are absolutely correct and the people who don't believe what you said need to study the scriptures under a teacher who is trained in the original languages to set them straight. Paul taught about the rapture, the tribulation and the millennium but it was lost because of the cathoics who distorted the Word of God with their man-made religion. Satan is having a great time their false religion. Sad.
  - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=58215905 Wesley Woods
    
    the whole the wickedness will worse and worse is nothing more than a self-fulfilling prophecy. we are seeing the result of Proverbs 22:6 when you fail to discipline children and punish wickedness. Paul never taught a rapture like dispensationalists teach for the only rapture that Paul taught when we die we will be free from the sinful flesh and present with the Lord Jesus Christ. the entire New Testament was teaching about the coming end to the old covenant that started with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and was completed in 70 AD with the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem. the old covenant and Old Testament was pointing to Jesus Christ as the fulfillment.
    - mallen11
      
      You are so pathetically wrong.
      - Pastor Dwayne
        
        mallen11,, Dispensationism is the term people like woods invented when people disagree with their phony theology . Woods claims he is Methodist, Big problem,,,, I am Methodist, well, I was until I was Born Again, then got out. Six weeks of catachism, then confessing Jesus is Lord , then a little water sprinkled on your head, and then you are told your name is written in the lamb's book of life, DOES not make you a Christian. Fact is I do not believe Woods is a Methodist, never did..
      - mallen11
        
        Thank you for your encouragement. I thought he was a catholic. I just realized I knew some Methodist when I was a teen but actually have not met any since. That is interesting regarding what they believe is salvation. I have known for a long time that they teach the social gospel. I am glad you found the truth in time.
      - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=58215905 Wesley Woods
        
        neither does saying the sinner's prayer. salvation comes from a person believes, says, and does for if you believe Jesus is Lord, confess with you mouth, and live your life as He is Lord and keep his commandments you are saved.
John Adams

True Christianity is not dying; it cannot die. However, much that has crawled under the umbrella of Christianity, but truly isn't, is dying and praise the Lord it is. The fact remains, however, that the tares will exist with the wheat until the angels bring in the harvest.
- Evermyrtle
  
  Right! To destroy Christianity would be killing CHRIST, and HE died one time but now HE lives, not to die again, ever. HE is living heaven with HIS and our FATHER. Before Christianity if finally destroyed, before the world is destroyed HE will return for HIS own, those who endure to the end.
Wordman

"The Church is an anvil which has worn out many hammers and the story of the first collision is, in essentials, the story of all."
"…upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it." Mat 16:18
- http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/VBBCYNZUJPMNVGYK45HXRD7ZJ4 A Real American
  
  So, who do you say is "this rock" that "I will build My church"?
  - Wordman
    
    Well when one studies the original it's clear that it wasn't Peter but the faith which Peter had just exhibited when he, by faith, proclaimed that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.
annelouisegelinas

But in every human being there is the innate ability to want to always be free. Not one American will ever let America die nor allow the Christianity of America's base be obliterated. In doing such a vile unwarranted act, they would be destroying the very country they were born in and also if not born in then made a concious effort to be here and become an American. Religion or no religion means the difference between keeping America as our Founding Fathers envisioned it to be. With no religion we will stand the chance of being overrun by the Islam Ideology. Then we will have to bow to the muslim world here in America. Think about that. Even atheists and gay folks will find they have no favor in the muslim world of thinking. They will be outcasts in society and we the Christinas won't be able to save them from the torment they will endure without us.
LouiseCA

Mainstream churches who are just practicing "Churchianity" and refuse to allow the Holy Spirit to take control of their services will most like continue to lose members. But the good news is they won't lose them for the Savior. Those people will find churches that are alive with New Testament fervor, who desire to worship, serve and know God with their whole heart and soul and want to see the lost come to Him. These are the people who will turn the world upside down for Jesus Christ. They exist all over the world and they come from all age groups. If true persecution comes to America-and it could-then praise God, because true Christianity will then explode and the nation will turn around.
- Wordman
  
  Actually, the Charismatic thing seems to have peaked. Many have discovered that spontaneity and exuberance do not necessarily spell true spirituality. Quite a few people are leaving the "happy-clappy" places for churches that are putting more emphasis on solid Bible teaching. Worship is important, but many Christians are being spiritually starved in churches that pursue manifestations and entertaining music as substitutes for systematic Bible teaching. Someone said that the American church is 3,000 miles wide and three inches deep. Worship and evangelism are all important, but the Word is the foundation for everything and can not be neglected without spiritually starving the saints. You can only get so far on pablem.
  - mallen11
    
    Thank you, Wordman, you are absolutely right. Emotionalism will last probably as long as one gets to the exit door of the church but it can't be applied to every day problems. We need solid Bible teaching to learn God's plan for our lives so we can use His Word to solve our problems and make good decisions.
John J Flanagan

Nero believed the Christian church was dead also. And he believed that persecution would cause it to disappear. What happened? Well, Nero is dead and condemned. The writer who once said, "God is dead,"…..he is dead also, but not Christianity. So long as Jesus Christ is the head of the church, it shall last forever, through persecution, tribulation, heresy…….Jesus lives, and so does His church.
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=58215905 Wesley Woods
  
  that author was Friedrich Nietzsche who after writing his last book, Antichrist, and
  signing it Antichrist went insane and spent the last seven years of his
  life in an insane asylum.
http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/VBBCYNZUJPMNVGYK45HXRD7ZJ4 A Real American

The article is correct in that there is a growing "cultural" divide in America (especially) where liberal religious persons wormed their way into the true church via sectarian beliefs and liberal evangelicalism. The "Church" was fragmented starting after the end of the first century and into the early second century when Roman Catholicism started creating an environment of Nicolaitanism…and the Reformation did not change things that much because those sectarian denominations resumed and borrowed ways of the Catholic order of worship and incorporated it into their services. The same exists even today. The true Christian "Church" is found only in the "home church" Biblical example.
- Wordman
  
  So, when two or three, or perhaps two or three HUNDRED gather in His name in a dedicated building that is not someone's home, He is not there in the midst of them?
  - Winston
    
    I have yet to fine one authentic Biblical Christian church. Most are cessationist and the churches are dead. Oh, they may speak the words and teach "Jesus" but is it rote or real?
- mallen11
  
  Not all churches have accepted the ways of religion sectarianism. Our church is totally oriented to the teaching of God's Word. No programism, no choir (the congreagation is the choir), no showing of emotionalism in our services when the Word of God is being taught. There are churches like ours all over the United States and in other countries where missionaries are taking the teaching of the Bible.
  
  Our pastor teaches from the original languages of Hebrew and Greek using ICE:
  
  I= isagogics, the interpretation of scripture with its framework of historical setting or prophetical environment.
  
  C=categorical, communication of scripture – comparing scripture with scripture which results in Biblical systematic theology. Theological nomenclature must be assigned to give retention of categories.
  
  E=exegesis, the expository approach to scriptures and based on the analysis of the grammar, etymology, syntax of the scripture. Every verse must be correctly translated so it can be accurately interpreted. Must be interpreted in the time of writing. This is to determine under the ministry of God the Holy Spirit the exact thought of any given writer under any given context.
  
  Col 2:7 having been firmly rooted (in Bible Doctrine) and now being built up in Him and
  established in your faith (Bible Doctrine in your soul), just as you were instructed (taught by
  your pastor teacher), and overflowing with gratitude.
  
  You can read the Bible but you can’t dig out all the Bible Doctrine that a trained pastor-teacher who can get the actual meaning because he has studied from the original languages and spends time studying and teaching. Our services last at least an hour of solid Bible
  teaching four times a week; not feel good idealism or religion. If one so chooses they have plenty of lessons on CDs and DVDs to use the other days and many do, including me.
  - Winston
    
    You just described your pastor is a Nicolaitan…having assumed the role of the one person between God and those in your church. Only the Apostle Paul had true "theological" instruction of those who were with Jesus, none of the rest attended a theological school.
    - mallen11
      
      I have no idea where you came up with that explanation of our pastor. Isn't a pastor to study and teach his congregation so they will grow spiritually? Do you believe that just anyone who has not been taught the original languages can teach the whole Bible accurately? We have teachers who have learned under our P-T who teach children through the age of 12 and then they can attend the adult services. The disciples who became the Apostles were given all the spiritual gifts through the power of the Holy Spirit to learn and teach before the canon of scripture was completed. I have sat in many different congregations many years under many different pastors; even went to a Christian college and never learned as much as I have under our well prepared pastor. He proves everything he teaches and I appreciate this and thank God for it.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=58215905 Wesley Woods

Jesus told St. Peter, "upon this rock I will build My Church and the Gates of Hell will not prevail against it." Matthew 16:18 in 64 AD Satan the forces of Hell tried to destroy the church through the beast of Revelation Roman Emperor Nero Caesar. Nero died less than four years later, but the church still stands. Trajan decided to kill the bishops to kill the church and even would rather hear of a threat to his throne than learn of a new bishop of Rome. how about Diocletian who declared he would destroy the wipe out the church before he had to a vacate the throne due to intestinal worms. there are many others who tried to get rid of the church, but the church of Jesus Christ is still here. it is just too bad that most western Christians do not a clue on the long history of attacks against the church. the church of Jesus Christ is 1982 years old still growing all around the world. nothing has stopped Jesus from building his living temple here on earth not even all the forces of Hell be able to stop his building.
- mallen11
  
  I know you constantly ignore the truth but I am still sending it…
  
  Ps 118:22 The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief corner
  stone. The Stone which the builder rejected. Peter never went to Rome; Paul
  did. Where in the Bible is the proof that Peter went to Rome? Mt 16:18 I also
  say to you that you are Peter, and upon THIS ROCK I will build My church; and
  the gates of Hades will not overpower it. Peter’s original name was Cephus and
  means: little stone and Barjonah means: Bar = son, Jonah = his father’s name in
  the Aramaic. Little Stone Son of Jonah
  into Greek is Petros, a little stone in a group of bigger stones. Peter, and on THIS ROCK Petra is what Peter SAID, not about Peter himself. Petra is a gigantic rock made
  up of a lot of little stones. We are little stones in the gigantic rock, the
  Royal Family of God; The Church: not a building but all believers of this age.
  
  Oikodomeo – to build on the
  ROCK Christ Jesus, not a stone or any human including Peter.
  - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=58215905 Wesley Woods
    
    as for Peter going to Rome just read where he says the saints send greetings to his audience. there is no way it can be the Babylon that Judah was exiled to for the city was completely gone the death of Alexander the Great. you can never build on a cornerstone for it is not a foundation. the cornerstone is the most important stone when building a building of any kind for the rest of the stones that make up the foundation are based upon it placement. the cornerstone is buried underground unless you are building on a concrete slab. if fact a building will fall down if you would ever remove the cornerstone. trust me i know architecture for i had studied it.
    - mallen11
      
      The RCC believes the “rock” was Peter. Petros: the name Peter – His given name was Simon but Jesus changed his name to Peter. Peter means stone – but is not THE Rock who is Jesus Christ. “Stone” is in the masculine gender in Greek. Petra is in the feminine gender and cannot refer to Peter the man. Petra means a large
      rock – the fortress can only be the Lord Jesus Christ.
      Peter was a leader of the Apostles until Paul took over. Peter was reprimanded by Paul (Gal 2:1). Peter was the first to confess that Jesus Christ is God and it is that statement that His church would be built – not a building but all Church Age believers. Peter was not the founder of the Church: I Peter (was built on the person of Jesus Christ and no one can pick up the mantel of Christ). The Apostles were given the authority to write the NT Epistles that were inspired by the Holy Spirit. Everywhere they went they established local churches (usually in homes) and left them with a pastor-teacher for the dissemination of the gospel and Bible Doctrine to grow spiritually. No one can be an Apostle after those 12 who had seen Christ.
      Could no longer be Apostles for no one could meet those qualifications.
      The successors are not some man but the NT itself.
      
      II Peter 3:15-16 and regard the patience of our Lord to be delivered; as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable Christian distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.
      (Paul had to brace and denounce Peter’s legalism in Jerusalem at one time and Peter realized it…
      Gal 2:11-12 But when Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision.)
      - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=58215905 Wesley Woods
        
        you stated that there are only twelve apostles, which would make Paul not one for Judas Iscariot was replaced with Mathias. if Paul is not an apostle than we should not listen to him anyway. you keep using "Bible doctrine", so you worship the Bible. that would make you as guilty of idolatry as the first century Jews who worshiped the temple, sacrificial system, law of Moses, Jerusalem and angels instead of the one true God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Paul submitted to the other apostles including Peter for he and Luke both mentioned it. Luke mentions it near the end of Acts when Paul returns to Jerusalem for the festival and how he was taken prisoner by the Roman for safety from the Jews. if there are no longer apostles than no one can be save for nobody could hear the gospel for no one would have been sent. you might find it interesting that the pagans in ancient Rome had the several of the same problems with the church that anti-catholic protestants have with Catholicism; cannibalism(Eucharist), infanticide(infant baptism), and orgies(love feasts). these practices in the church were already common in the church by the end of the second century, a whole hundred plus years before Constantine and Nicaea.
      - mallen11
        
        Matthias was allowed to be chosen by the Apostles; not God.
        It was not God’s plan for him to serve as an Apostle. He was never mentioned again.
        Paul was God’s chosen Apostle to replace Judas.
        
        We use the words “Bible Doctrine” because the Bible uses it.
        We put “Bible” in front of Doctrine to distinguish it from any other forms of teaching.
        We do not worship anything or anyone except God the Father, God the Son and God
        the Holy Spirit who gave us the Word of God where we learn His doctrines; not manmade
        creeds.
Charles Giles

The term Christianity maybe on it's way out, because the growth that I am experiencing is coming from people who refer to themselves and real devout believers as Messianic, people who understand the errors included in the new testament, that originated from Jesuit Translations, or customs and traditions from the Papacy, they want to know the Hebrew Roots that have been denied to them, and the lies that have been spread from the pulpit.
They tend to check the New Testament from the Old Testament for verification, YAHUSHUA stated you know the scriptures,"the OLD TESTAMENT" they speak of me, so it is evident that understanding without the Hebrew cultural understanding is leaving out a whole lot of truth.
- Wordman
  
  Emmm. How do they like Galations? Friend, I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but I strongly suspect you have some rough sailing ahead. Had some friends go that direction. For awhile it was all fun and excitement, singing all those cool songs in minor keys. But they ended up disavowing Paul, and forming their own cannon of scripture, sans Hebrews and the Pauline Epistles. They even tore out some parts of Acts. And you might want to start shopping for a Shofar and some religious head gear if you haven't got them already. If you'd like to give me an email address I'll shoot you some materials to give you a head start on some of the issues you'll probably be dealing with soon.
bigbadude

The people who say those things are lost Christianity is about to take off and blosum like a beautiful flower!
Sam

The highest form of government is self government. Christianity has set principles and values that we can follow in order to be as free and prosperous as we are each able to do. It teaches us how to govern ourselves. The Christian-Judeo culture has been the light of the world. May this light forever shine on earth.
Bret Stiles

Christianity is dying because of modern counterfeit bible versions. Go get a King James Bible!