What are your thoughts on the decline of people professing Christianity in the United States? This is in response to the Newsweek article published titled, The End of Christian America. The article highlights the percentage of self-identified Christians from a release by Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. It states America may be “post-Christian” due to falling 10 points (86 to 76%) since 1990 and those with no religious affiliation is on the climb.
What is this due to? Politics? Reformation?
What will the future look like? Will there be an enlightenment of sort?
How much concern should we have? What does this affect?
As a Methodist living in the Northeast, I can understand some of the demographic arguments of the Newsweek article, but I don’t think that it explains adequately why non-evangelical denominations are seeing general declines in their membership. I think that there is an opportunity for strong Christian witness that does not have to have the conservative political dogma attached to it, an opportunity that many congregations miss. People look to their churches for community leadership as well as personal salvation; meekness should not be confused with timidity. I hope that more congregations consider how this combination of elements can improve devotion and build enthusiasm for Christian faith.