Making Sense of the Newsweek Article on the Decline and Fall of American Christianity April 10
I was in New York City this week, speaking at Kings College in Manhatten. It was a great time. I also was able to visit some of my media friends there. I was asked constantly about the Newsweek piece this week on the Fall and Decline of Christian America. It reports on a recently released poll showing that those identifying themselves as Christians has declined 10% in the last two decades.
I was in New York City this week, speaking at Kings College in Manhatten. It was a great time. I also was able to visit some of my media friends there. I was asked constantly about the Newsweek piece this week on the Fall and Decline of Christian America. It reports on a recently released poll showing that those identifying themselves as Christians has declined 10% in the last two decades. This is seen a statistically significant. What it actually represents is the peeling away of people nominally related to the faith in the past who now say it is not necessary or desirable to maintain this kind of identity.
Now there also was a second part to the findings, the only religious group growing were evangelicals or those identifying with a more conservative take on the faith.
For the most part, Jon Meacham’s article is a well done survey of the findings and what they indicate. He interviews Al Moehler of Southern Seminary about the results. The findings show what Tim Keller has been saying for some time. In our country there is a two-fold phenomena taking place: some are no longer finding it necessary or desirable to keep a veneer of Christian identification, while those who are having a religous experience are embracing it in its more tradtional or conservative forms.
The article also points out that on issues of cultural and political engagement the evangelical movement is seeking to regain a sense of balance. This analysis is fair. The fact is that many under 30s in the country are tired of the cultural wars of the last several decades, and that includes under 30 evangelicals. This is a key demographic, often underappreciated in these analyses, becasue they show the future. Generally speaking these evangelicals are seeking incarnational engagement that shows love and service, genuine small group encouragement, and community. These are all good things. The only question is whether it will be pursued with some or enough of an eye on the content of the faith, so it keeps its Christian character rather than morphing into a simply another form of culturally accepted practice. Another key will be what becomes their attitude as they begin to reach the age of raisiing their own children and applying the values they have formed. Will their chidren be churched or not? And if so, in what way?
There are elements of triumphalism and foreshadowing of doom in this article when it comes to the dilemma of the religious right. That may be premature. In fact, if one compares the cover of the magazine to the contents of the article, the way forward described there is not so clearly an evidence of decline as it may be of a reconfiguring of priorities (There was some hype in the cover of the magazine. They do want to sell magazines). Sometimes people learn for their past efforts. If that is done here, a more effective and significant presence can exist for Christians as they seek not only to confront that which concerns them in society (and all of us, religious or non-religious, have concerns we wish to challenge in our world) but also to engage in meaningful contributions to the society to show its love and concern for people.
6 Comments
Bill N.
the Evangelical future
I see this analysis as being in line with the recent www discussions on the future of the Evangelical movement. I distingush between cultural Evangleicalism and theological Evangelicalism. The expectation is that cultural Evangelicalism as we know it today will fade in size and influence, and I think most agree there are aspects of that cultural Evangelicalism we will not miss.
Peace…
Tim Farley
A Veneer of Christianity
Thank you Dr. Bock. I agree with you when you say that this study shows that “some are no longer finding it necessary or desirable to keep a veneer of Christian identification.” I have seen several studies in the past that show extremely high percentages of people who identify themselves as Christian. When I read that 85% of people claim to be Christian and then look around, I see that something does not add up. I think it is good that we are actually getting more honest answers from people and maybe more accurate numbers (althought I think 76%, as listed in the study behind the Newsweek article, is still over-inflated).
Bryan
Cultural Fatigue
I think you understate the evangelical movement’s shift on issues of cultural and political engagement. I’m not convinced that it is seeking “balance” but it’s my view that there is a major move away from the “taking a stand” approach that has been the mode of operation for evangelicals the past few decades. Balance is not what is happening. It is an abandonment of a failed approach to expressing our faith. We are moving back to a more biblical role within the culture. Evangelicals are moving away from the combative activist role of the Moral Majority to a more compassionate and more truly evangelistic role. The greatest accomplishment of the evangelical church during these past few decades is that we have successfully antagonized the culture and polarized the population to the point we are virtually irrelevant within it. By taking political stands and staging political protests the perception has become that Christians are a bunch of judgmental religious radicals. Our voice is not valued within the culture because we have made it a practice of pointing out the “splinter” in the eye of the culture while ignoring the “beam” in the eye of the church. My hope is the shift is moving us toward a more compassionate, more truly evangelistic Christianity. We have needed a good dose of humility and empathy. I believe we are moving toward an attitude that acknowledges that sin a problem shared by ALL of us and there is no moral or ethical high ground available to any of us…only grace.
Will Tucker
newsweek article
Dr. Bock,
I found it interesting that you said people on the fringe of the faith no longer find identification with it necessary. I agree and see this far too often. The dilema the church faces, I feel, is discipiling those whenever first contact is made with the church. Do you feel we, as teachers and leaders of the church have failed in our initial efforts to show Christ to the world or has the world failed to grasp just who Jesus really is and how He relates to their life?
bock
Newsweek article dlb
Will:
The short answer to your question is that it is a little of both. However, our key role is to not only say who Jesus is but live and engage in a manner that reflects his teaching. We could do a much better job of this.
dlb
Will
Finally leaving politics!
I’ll be so glad when Christianity is finally leaving the political landscape. They have no role whatsoever speaking on ANY political issues. In fact, the militaristic political view many “evangelicals” have taken in the last decade has been nothing evil. I remember the first time I saw fighter jet video and flag waving to some hymn in church. I was so disgusted.