I just read the cover story article of Newsweek which is coming out on the 13th. It is titled "The Decline And Fall Of Christian America." You can read it here.The cover looks gloomy almost like a horror film with an all black background and red letters.
What is in the article doesn't surprise me, as it does describe the world we are in. It uses the term "post-Christian" which many have been using for quite a while. We don't have to be convinced we are in a "post-Christian" world, as we live in it and already recognize it. So I agree with the basic premise of the article. It is a good article and worth taking the time to read.
At the same time, I just back from our evening worship gathering right before I read this. It was a crowded night - lots of energy. Talked to someone who isn't a Christian yet and heard part of their story and why they are seeking truth and Jesus now. The evening gathering is primarily those in their 20's. Our situation isn't unusual as all across America there are churches that are growing - many by younger people.
It was ironic reading the article, as moments before I had just read on a blog that a large church back east had 30 people trust in Jesus in their worship gatherings today. I'm not sure how they counted it, but it is still exciting to read. This morning I talked to another young church leader from Los Angeles who was in town so he came to one of our morning gatherings. He is on staff at a church and he shared how his church was planted a year ago and after a year it is almost 200 people and that God is doing great things in the lives of people who normally never are part of anything "Christian". A few weeks ago I was with someone who is a house church planter. He shared how 2 people recently came to faith in Jesus there as part of their house church. In our town there is another year old church plant, and they just baptized several college-age students who were not Christians before and recently put faith in Jesus.
So I think maybe there is a decline of a certain shape and sub-culture(s) of "Christian America" as the article states. But at the same time, there is a rising and surging of missional church leaders, church planters, and Christians who have already recognized that we are in a "post-Christian" America as the article states. But that recognition has simply fueled creativity, prayer and passion for mission and because God is God, people are coming to a saving faith in Jesus. Churches may die out in geographic places, but the Spirit is alive and powerful and changing lives, even though certain local churches may close their doors or types of churches lose their effectiveness. So it is ironically quite an exciting time period in the midst of this gloomy title and cover. It feels as though some expressions of church and Christianity maybe is fading out. But at the same time there is excitement and energy and hope as churches who have already recognized what this article says about being in a "post-Christian" country - and have made changes to become churches on mission.
I am so optimistic for the future and have great hope. Yes, there is a "decline and fall" as the article states of certain types of "Christianity" and church perhaps. But there is also a rising and churches and Christians who are rethinking what it means to be "be the church" and to be the church on mission. It may mean rethinking how we go about things since we do live in a "post-Christian" world. It may not be as easy or routine as it has in the past. It may shake up some of our ecclesiological categories that we have constructed. But it should only spur us onward in adventure, not get us depressed looking at a spooky black cover with red letters.
So... gloomy...yes. But... no. Exciting. Adventure. Prayerful. Mission. So don't let this cover discourage you - and then turn inward thinking the world is falling apart and we wait for the end times novel stories to come true so we can escape the "decline and fall". But instead may it motivate us and provoke us all the further into mission and see living here in America all the more as a missional adventure filled with potential.
Perhaps in 5 years or 10 years we will see another article "The Rise of Rebirthing of The Church In America". A different kind of church perhaps. But oh my, what wonderful, crazy and hopeful times we are actually in.
