How Will The Shocking Decline Of Christianity In America Affect The Future Of This Nation?

[WKUHilltopper]

How Will The Shocking Decline Of Christianity In America Affect The Future Of This Nation?

Is Christianity in decline in America? When you examine the cold, hard numbers it is simply not possible to come to any other conclusion. Over the past few decades, the percentage of Christians in America has been steadily declining. This has especially been true among young people. As you will see later in this article, there has been a mass exodus of teens and young adults out of U.S. churches. In addition, what "Christianity" means to American Christians today is often far different from what "Christianity" meant to their parents and their grandparents. Millions upon millions of Christians in the United States simply do not believe many of the fundamental principles of the Christian faith any longer. Without a doubt, America is becoming a less "Christian" nation. This has staggering implications for the future of this country. The United States was founded primarily by Christians that were seeking to escape religious persecution. For those early settlers, the Christian faith was the very center of their lives, and it deeply affected the laws that they made and the governmental structures that they established. So what is the future of America going to look like if we totally reject the principles that this nation was founded on?

Overall, Christianity is still the largest religion in the world by far. According to the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, there are currently 2.2 billion Christians in the world. So Christianity is not in danger of disappearing any time soon. In fact, in some areas of the globe it is experiencing absolutely explosive growth.

But in the United States, things are different. Churches are shrinking, skepticism is growing and apathy about spiritual matters seems to be at an all-time high.

Before we examine the data, let me disclose that I am a Christian. I am not bashing Christians or the Christian faith at all in this article. In fact, I consider the decline of Christianity in America to be a very bad thing. Not everyone is going to agree with me on that, but hopefully this article will help spark a debate on the role of religion in America that everyone can learn something from.

Unfortunately, the reality is that most Americans spend very little time thinking about religion or spiritual matters these days.

Just consider the following quote from a recent USA Today article....

"The real dirty little secret of religiosity in America is that there are so many people for whom spiritual interest, thinking about ultimate questions, is minimal," says Mark Silk, professor of religion and public life at Trinity College"

This is backed up by the numbers. For example, a survey taken last year by LifeWay Research found that 46 percent of all Americans never think about whether they will go to heaven or not.

To most Americans, faith is simply not a big deal. This is particularly true of our young people. Those under the age of 30 are leaving U.S. churches in droves. The following comes from a recent CNN article....

David Kinnaman, the 38-year-old president of the Barna Group, an evangelical research firm, is the latest to sound the alarm. In his new book, "You Lost Me: Why Young Christians Are Leaving Church and Rethinking Faith," he says that 18- to 29-year-olds have fallen down a "black hole" of church attendance. There is a 43% drop in Christian church attendance between the teen and early adult years, he says.

But it isn't just young people that are leaving American churches. The proportion of Americans that consider themselves to be Christians has been steadily declining for many years. Back in 1990, 86 percent of all Americans considered themselves to be Christian. By 2008, that number had dropped to 76 percent.

Meanwhile, the number of Americans that reject religion entirely has absolutely soared. According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of Americans with "no religion" more than doubled between 1990 and 2008.

So what is going to happen if these trends continue?

Dave Olson, the director of church planting for the Evangelical Covenant Church, has made some really interesting projections regarding what is going to happen to church attendance in America if current trends continue.

According to Olson, only 18.7 percent of all Americans regularly attend church right now. If this number continues to decline at the current pace, Olson says that the percentage of Americans attending church in 2050 will be about half of what it is today.

Other research has produced similar results.

According to a study done by LifeWay Research, membership in Southern Baptist churches will fall nearly 50 percent by the year 2050 if current trends persist.

If you are a Christian, you should be quite alarmed by these numbers.

But what is happening to the faith of our young people should be even more alarming for Christians.

The American Religious Identification Survey by the Institute for the Study of Secularism in Society & Culture at Trinity College is one of the most comprehensive studies on religion in America that has ever been done.

According to that study, 15 percent of all Americans say that they have "no religion".

That is up from 8 percent in 1990.

That is quite a change.

But the move away from religion is particularly pronounced among our young people.

One recent survey found that 25 percent of all Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 say that they have no religion.

Obviously the Christian faith is not winning the battle for the hearts and the minds of our young people. The cold, hard truth is that in America today, the younger you are, the less likely you are to consider yourself to be a Christian.

Large numbers of young Americans that went to church while they were growing up are now leaving U.S. churches entirely. A recent study by the Barna Group discovered that nearly 60 percent of all Christians between the ages of 15 and 29 are no long actively involved in any church.

But not only have they left the church, our young people have also abandoned just about all forms of Christian spirituality.

Just check out the results of one survey of young adults that was conducted by LifeWay Christian Resources....

•65% rarely or never pray with others, and 38% almost never pray by themselves either.

•65% rarely or never attend worship services of any kind.

•67% don't read the Bible or any other religious texts on a regular basis.

If this does not get turned around, churches all over America will be closing their doors. When the survey above first came out, the president of LifeWay Christian Resources stated that "the Millennial generation will see churches closing as quickly as GM dealerships."

But it is not just church that our young people are rejecting.

The reality is that they are also rejecting the fundamental principles of the Christian faith.

One survey conducted by the Barna Group found that less than 1 percent of all Americans between the ages of 18 and 23 hold a Biblical worldview.

The Barna Group asked participants in the survey if they agreed with the following six statements....

1) Believing that absolute moral truth exists.
2) Believing that the Bible is completely accurate in all of the principles it teaches.
3) Believing that Satan is considered to be a real being or force, not merely symbolic.
4) Believing that a person cannot earn their way into Heaven by trying to be good or by doing good works.
5) Believing that Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth.
6) Believing that God is the all-knowing, all-powerful creator of the world who still rules the universe today.

Less than 1 percent of the participants agreed with all of those statements.

That is staggering.

But it is not just young adults that are rejecting the fundamentals of the Christian faith.

Even large numbers of "evangelical Christians" are rejecting the fundamental principles of the Christian faith.

For example, one survey found that 52 percent of all Americans Christians believe that "at least some non-Christian faiths can lead to eternal life".

Another survey found that 29 percent of all American Christians claim to have been in contact with the dead, 23 percent believe in astrology and 22 percent believe in reincarnation.

Without a doubt, the religious landscape of America is changing.

Over the past several decades, church attendance has been steadily declining, the percentage of Americans that consider themselves to be Christians has been going down, and the number of people that hold traditional Christian beliefs has been dropping like a rock.

So what does all of this mean for the future of America?

How Will The Shocking Decline Of Christianity In America Affect The Future Of This Nation?

[mattfivefour]

The Barna Group asked participants in the survey if they agreed with the following six statements....

1) Believing that absolute moral truth exists.
2) Believing that the Bible is completely accurate in all of the principles it teaches.
3) Believing that Satan is considered to be a real being or force, not merely symbolic.
4) Believing that a person cannot earn their way into Heaven by trying to be good or by doing good works.
5) Believing that Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth.
6) Believing that God is the all-knowing, all-powerful creator of the world who still rules the universe today.

Less than 1 percent of the participants agreed with all of those statements.

That is staggering.

That IS staggering. Nonetheless, I do not find it completely surprising. I have long felt that many (perhaps even the majority) who call themselves Christian are not. They reject some of the necessary beliefs in Jesus, who He is, and what HE did, that are necessary in order to be saved. If Barna's survey represents anywhere near an accurate picture, 1 percent of the population of America is approximately 3,128,775 people. If one were to suggest that is the number of real Christians in America, I think most would say that is way, WAY too low ... there are many more Christians in America than that. Possibly. But what did Jesus say? "Wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. Small is the gate and the narrow is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it." Maybe while our flesh recoils at the idea that most—even those in churches—are lost, we should perhaps heed what Christ has told us and, thus, work to ensure that those whom we worship with are indeed saved.

[Elijah's Mantle]

staggering indeed !

I believe sincerely the only thing holding back what has the power to utterly collapse America is the fact a few windows are still open and operating to get the true Gospel preached to the uttermost parts of this world .

I also believe there is only a small
few at most years left in order for people to accept or reject
the true Gospel

So what does all of this mean for the future of America?

I believe it would be a grievance and a troubling one for the true Christians of today to consider what will be done with millions of churches that have no people attending them

there is just a lot of things folks we wont have to contend with

we can rest assured the time of the Gentiles are coming full
and God the Holy Spirit , and heaven has done all to provide people with the ability to accept or reject and that's the cross hairs we are all living in daily daily and I pray folks recognize how precious what time we have left is

the real future of America will most likely be that of a remote 3rd world country fighting for its existence and recognition
a hard concept for folks that were so abundantly blessed by the largest most prosperous bread basket in the world

the flip side of that concept is
God kept his promises to his own
and he always will

[arapahoepark]

I think this is because of liberal selfishness and the welfare state. This happened it Europe for similar reasons unfortunately. People are so individualized they only care about themselves and their so called dreams. They aren't realists forseeing that some of these dreams can't and won't happen. They could careless about helping other people so long as they achieve success and brag. This is what America and the world for that matter have made them into, self-seekers. Go and make something out of yourself regardless of what it is.
now I am going on a rant, but I believe that's part of it. I know for sure a majority of it is selfishness, I mean what else could it be?

[Elijah's Mantle]

your absolutly right about that

why else did Jesus Christ teach
death to the self ?

most have not grasp why ? even still

It takes much more than a motivational message or a self help book to bring people to that understanding

something the church in general has failed miserably to even grasp .

there is a greater reason we are seeing and hearing how many
billions is being spent for presidential election campaigning purposes all why they claim it for us

the subtility of lies even sugarcoated ones are still dangerous ones

Jesus Christ taught ""death to the self"" and for good reason
a captive or in bondage self is not a free self indeed
the "TRUTH" of the Gospel has the power to lead the captives out of the delusions ONLY when they realize they cant do it themselves

strange thing as it is people fight death to self almost more than they would simple passing's from this life

satan sure isn't a dummy though
he has millions sitting on the pedestal of self driven motivational messages spouting vain babbling of how great they are

selfishness is what people who go fishing to feed me and my four and no more do unfortunately

they have left the cross and have a heart of unbelief toward God

all while thinking they can do it themselves in their own strength

they will perish under such a delusion as that

[Bobbi]

I think it has to do with what kind of churches there are. Are people attending a Church that calls sin what it is? Well we wouldn't want to offend anyone, so we just cover over that little fact about repentance, all we have to do now is ask Jesus into our hearts and we will be saved. No need to repent and we can then live anyway we want. This kind of "Christian life is dead" and will never lead anyone in victory, so why stay when you aren't happy. Also Christian children are indoctrinated in the public school system and colleges to be anti-God. So what can parents expect when they send their little one into the rotten apple cestpool of the nation. People are looking for a "church" that will make them feel comfortable with themselves and one that will not challenge them to live a victorious life for Christ. Paul told Timothy that this would happen and I am not supprised with this decline at all, but it is very grevious that these people will have to endure God's wrath if they will not repent and turn to Him.

[arapahoepark]

I think it has to do with what kind of churches there are. Are people attending a Church that calls sin what it is? Well we wouldn't want to offend anyone, so we just cover over that little fact about repentance, all we have to do now is ask Jesus into our hearts and we will be saved. No need to repent and we can then live anyway we want. This kind of "Christian life is dead" and will never lead anyone in victory, so why stay when you aren't happy. Also Christian children are indoctrinated in the public school system and colleges to be anti-God. So what can parents expect when they send their little one into the rotten apple cestpool of the nation. People are looking for a "church" that will make them feel comfortable with themselves and one that will not challenge them to live a victorious life for Christ. Paul told Timothy that this would happen and I am not supprised with this decline at all, but it is very grevious that these people will have to endure God's wrath if they will not repent and turn to Him.

That's definitely another reason. We don't want to offend people and we paint people like Jonathan Edwards and some others as evil because they talked about hell *gasp* and man's current condition in front of God.
Some people are in for a rude awakening when they see the holiness of God.

[Momof3angels]

Plus the government schools that emphasize the religion of secular humanism and deny the fundamentals of Christianity have certainly played a major role. This secular humanism has crept into the churches as well. David Kupelian, who wrote the book, "How Evil Works" brought up a point I had never thought of before. He states that the liberals (and homosexual militants) have worked their way into the positions of power in religion as well as in other areas of authority, seeking to influence society from positions of power. That would explain the large number of priests now sexually abusing young parishioners. Many of these militants have also found positions in theological seminaries.

One of the young pastors in a church I once attended mentioned a class at seminary that challenged his faith. The professor basically said parts of the bible weren't true. If these ideas are being taught in seminaries, is it any wonder these notions are creeping into the churches as well?

Combine that with an almost pathological fear of offending others, and you have a rapidly disintegrating society. I dread to think what this nation will be like in another ten years.

[arapahoepark]

Plus the government schools that emphasize the religion of secular humanism and deny the fundamentals of Christianity have certainly played a major role. This secular humanism has crept into the churches as well. David Kupelian, who wrote the book, "How Evil Works" brought up a point I had never thought of before. He states that the liberals (and homosexual militants) have worked their way into the positions of power in religion as well as in other areas of authority, seeking to influence society from positions of power. That would explain the large number of priests now sexually abusing young parishioners. Many of these militants have also found positions in theological seminaries.

One of the young pastors in a church I once attended mentioned a class at seminary that challenged his faith. The professor basically said parts of the bible weren't true. If these ideas are being taught in seminaries, is it any wonder these notions are creeping into the churches as well?

Combine that with an almost pathological fear of offending others, and you have a rapidly disintegrating society. I dread to think what this nation will be like in another ten years.

I totally agree!
I've been looking around for seminaries and have found a few I would definitely attend, some I think that are ok, and unfortunately, many others I wouldn't attend at all for those reasons. Even some that I thought I would like to try ended up going down in recent years....

[Kist]

Simple answer, look at europe.

[melanie]

1%?...Oh. My. Gosh! I don't see have that can be accurate.

[froggy]

Good churches are SO hard to find anymore. Self absorption, psychology, self help classes, "modern" worship with superficial choruses repeated over and over, sermons on how to be a nicer person in the flesh--that's the modern church in America. I live in Las Vegas and have for 23 years. I have NEVER heard a message here decrying the evils of gambling--ever. There are twelve step programs for those addicted to it but it appears that the addiction is considered the problem and not the actual sin they are addicted to!

People need to hear the TRUTH of God's Word proclaimed boldly without thought to whom might be "offended." The church has conformed itself to the world--we are to be set apart from the world--that's why people are leaving--you may as well put Oprah in the pulpit.

2Ti 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2Ti 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2Ti 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2Ti 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
2Ti 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.


I agree--death to self is the only way to freedom in Christ.

Joh 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
Joh 12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
Gal_2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

The Church needs to stop training its members to put makeup on corpses and teach how to bury them instead! Relinquish control of your life, your possessions, your desires, your aspirations, your emotions, your will, your mind---all of it to Christ and let Him lead you into a life better than anything you could imagine! This is the only hope for mankind! Why are we so timid in sharing it!?

2Ti_1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

The world is so hungry for absolute truth to make heads or tails of this mushy immoral mess that life has become. Why is it that Islam is growing here if people don't like being told how to live? It's growing because it offers structure and absolutes (albeit the wrong ones).

What ever happened to mission conferences where you personally met the missionaries that you support as a church? When I was a teenager they would last for two weeks at a time--every night of the week-twice a year. The missionaries would stay at the homes of church members so you really got to know them. I loved those conferences! You would get first hand testimonies of what God was doing all around the world and they would inspire you to get involved, go on mission trips, share the Gospel where you lived as well. They were evidence of the Power of God to radically change lives! Contributing a few bucks to some faceless corporate missions fund just stinks--it steals the blessing and edification away from the giver and receiver.

We need a revival --and it starts with each one of us praying for God to change us into the likeness of His Son no matter what it takes to do so--total commitment. We cannot accomplish this--but He can! It is not our work to do the changing because we can't. All we need to do is to follow His leading, trust and obey what He tells us to do--even if it sounds crazy to our corrupted little brains.

I'm through preachin' now.

[mattfivefour]

Good churches are SO hard to find anymore. Self absorption, psychology, self help classes, "modern" worship with superficial choruses repeated over and over, sermons on how to be a nicer person in the flesh--that's the modern church in America. I live in Las Vegas and have for 23 years. I have NEVER heard a message here decrying the evils of gambling--ever. There are twelve step programs for those addicted to it but it appears that the addiction is considered the problem and not the actual sin they are addicted to!

People need to hear the TRUTH of God's Word proclaimed boldly without thought to whom might be "offended." The church has conformed itself to the world--we are to be set apart from the world--that's why people are leaving--you may as well put Oprah in the pulpit.

2Ti 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2Ti 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2Ti 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2Ti 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
2Ti 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.


I agree--death to self is the only way to freedom in Christ.

Joh 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
Joh 12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
Gal_2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

The Church needs to stop training its members to put makeup on corpses and teach how to bury them instead! Relinquish control of your life, your possessions, your desires, your aspirations, your emotions, your will, your mind---all of it to Christ and let Him lead you into a life better than anything you could imagine! This is the only hope for mankind! Why are we so timid in sharing it!?

2Ti_1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

The world is so hungry for absolute truth to make heads or tails of this mushy immoral mess that life has become. Why is it that Islam is growing here if people don't like being told how to live? It's growing because it offers structure and absolutes (albeit the wrong ones).

What ever happened to mission conferences where you personally met the missionaries that you support as a church? When I was a teenager they would last for two weeks at a time--every night of the week-twice a year. The missionaries would stay at the homes of church members so you really got to know them. I loved those conferences! You would get first hand testimonies of what God was doing all around the world and they would inspire you to get involved, go on mission trips, share the Gospel where you lived as well. They were evidence of the Power of God to radically change lives! Contributing a few bucks to some faceless corporate missions fund just stinks--it steals the blessing and edification away from the giver and receiver.

We need a revival --and it starts with each one of us praying for God to change us into the likeness of His Son no matter what it takes to do so--total commitment. We cannot accomplish this--but He can! It is not our work to do the changing because we can't. All we need to do is to follow His leading, trust and obey what He tells us to do--even if it sounds crazy to our corrupted little brains.

I'm through preachin' now.

What are you talkin' about, bro??? You're just getting warmed up. Preach it!!! You are right on target!!!

[dave-o]

[...] I know for sure a majority of it is selfishness, I mean what else could it be?

In think that Selfishness's evil twin Pride is also a big factor.

[Kenny64]

Good churches are SO hard to find anymore. Self absorption, psychology, self help classes, "modern" worship with superficial choruses repeated over and over, sermons on how to be a nicer person in the flesh--that's the modern church in America. I live in Las Vegas and have for 23 years. I have NEVER heard a message here decrying the evils of gambling--ever. There are twelve step programs for those addicted to it but it appears that the addiction is considered the problem and not the actual sin they are addicted to!

People need to hear the TRUTH of God's Word proclaimed boldly without thought to whom might be "offended." The church has conformed itself to the world--we are to be set apart from the world--that's why people are leaving--you may as well put Oprah in the pulpit.

2Ti 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2Ti 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2Ti 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2Ti 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
2Ti 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.


I agree--death to self is the only way to freedom in Christ.

Joh 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
Joh 12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
Gal_2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

The Church needs to stop training its members to put makeup on corpses and teach how to bury them instead! Relinquish control of your life, your possessions, your desires, your aspirations, your emotions, your will, your mind---all of it to Christ and let Him lead you into a life better than anything you could imagine! This is the only hope for mankind! Why are we so timid in sharing it!?

2Ti_1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
The world is so hungry for absolute truth to make heads or tails of this mushy immoral mess that life has become. Why is it that Islam is growing here if people don't like being told how to live? It's growing because it offers structure and absolutes (albeit the wrong ones).

What ever happened to mission conferences where you personally met the missionaries that you support as a church? When I was a teenager they would last for two weeks at a time--every night of the week-twice a year. The missionaries would stay at the homes of church members so you really got to know them. I loved those conferences! You would get first hand testimonies of what God was doing all around the world and they would inspire you to get involved, go on mission trips, share the Gospel where you lived as well. They were evidence of the Power of God to radically change lives! Contributing a few bucks to some faceless corporate missions fund just stinks--it steals the blessing and edification away from the giver and receiver.

We need a revival --and it starts with each one of us praying for God to change us into the likeness of His Son no matter what it takes to do so--total commitment. We cannot accomplish this--but He can! It is not our work to do the changing because we can't. All we need to do is to follow His leading, trust and obey what He tells us to do--even if it sounds crazy to our corrupted little brains.

I'm through preachin' now.

Amen!! This sounds like a good sermon.

[LivnForChrist]

Preach on Froggy!

[Carl]

Now that mainstream denominations are pushing the God is Love it leaves a big hole for ungodliness. Why would a loving god allow all the suffering that happens? I'm not going to honor a god that is so unrighteous! Further, as a country, we depend on technology and science to solve our problems, which translates into we don't need God. If you watch the History channel or the National Geographic channel you will find that if God is mentioned He is deminished in favor of science. So people don't know, don't understand, don't care, or just ignore the possibility that God exists.

[SteveJM]

A must read thread! I've felt for a long time that we're steadily moving backwards. Church lite, seeker friendly churches, Christianized social clubs, Rick Warren, "Christian TV," church scandals, Hollywood, Public schools, state and private universities, liberalism, hypocrisy, materialism, pornography, drugs, etc, is it any wonder people are turning away? I visited a large, once solid Baptist church, that has since dropped the Baptist from their name and become a seeker friendly church. They have a large congregation and have spread out to start several sister churches. It didn't take long for me to realize that it had become a church lite. Seldom was the Bible referenced, and often the only time you heard the name of Jesus was in the closing prayer. It was much like going to an Oprah Winfrey church. The pastor announced that he was returning to school for his Masters. I thought, "Good!" Later it was revealed that he was pursuing a degree in Psychology. I'm not saying anything against Psychologists, but I thought that Theology would have been a better choice, as he admitted to me that he was weak in that area. It was torture to sit there for an hour, and begin by singing the same verse at least a half dozen times, then another song, and again another half dozen repeats. I felt like I was fasting from God's word when I was there. How can someone come to Christ when they don't even learn who he is or what he taught? I can tell you that many times I've heard preachers talk more about their golf game than God's word. It's a shame. I'm without a church right now. I'm having a difficult time as I'm not a calvinist or liberal. That excludes many of the churches. I can understand the growth in the number of reformed churches, because, even though I don't agree with all of their theology, they are more seriously into God's word than many of the other groups. Our next church try will be a community church that's not in our community, but not too far away.

P.S. There is nothing wrong with being friendly to seekers, we should be, but we don't have to sacrifice solid expository preaching and a thorough exegesis of Biblical text, in the process. I know that there are churches that do both, are seeker friendly and still solid for the believers. As far as "Christianized social clubs," (I should've added "private" to that) that's in regard to the churches that are like several that I've visited in my area, you go in, and nearly no one, other than someone who may be designated as a greeter, speaks to you. I even went to one Baptist church that has adopted a reformed theology, where the only one who spoke to me was a member, who informed me that they(the church) were strongly Calvinistic, and if I wasn't I wouldn't be welcome there, that's a nice hello. My wife and I went to the United Methodist Church near our home, and I did have reservations about it. It was the same thing, there, we took the initiative to say hello to a few on our way in, those who would make eye contact, but no one spoke to us afterwards. We went to a more contemporary church, where the preaching was good, but again, the only ones that greeted us were the greeter designate and two other people. We filled out a visiter card with all of our personal information, such as address, e-mail, and home phone, with the hope that they were simply trying to not overwhelm us as new visitors, but that they would contact us, right? Wrong! We never had a call or visit, but I do receive general e-mails from the church. You almost feel like an intruder to the "club," some people look you up and down, to others you're invisible, all the while they banter amongst themselves, or others, like my wife and I, sit alone and are isolated. I know it isn't that way in every church. I've know the sweet fellowship of believers in church, believers who would almost trip over their own feet, myself included, to greet a stranger and make them welcome. Maybe it's the times we live in or my geographical location, here in the northern area of the midwest, I don't know. It's no wonder to me, as I previously stated, that church membership has dropped.

To answer the question posed by the thread, we only have to look to Europe. I listened to a missionary from France, who shared that many of the youth in France have never heard a clear presentation of the Gospel, and many have very little knowledge of Jesus Christ.

I know this has been a pretty long P.S., but rather than "open a can of worms" or "stir the pot," I thought that I should elaborate on my words.