Christianity’s Future?

If you are prone to pessimism I am about to give you some ammunition.  The future of Christianity is not looking so good, at least in America.  Researchers from the American Religious Identification Survey have compiled some alarming stats. College students today fall into three categories: 1) one-third true believers, 2) another one-third “spiritual” but not religious (read that unbelieving and narcissistic), and 3) 28% who care nothing for God or His purposes. Here’s where it gets really bad. Of the one-third who believe, only 70% of those claimed to be “Christian.” The majority, two-thirds-plus declared themselves to be, what are now known as, “nones” – no religious identity of any kind. It seems that the real challenge isn’t the college crowd rushing toward atheism but rather the majority who could care less about transcendence or morality. No longer are those outside traditional religion merely “unaffiliated,” as in the past. They are now non-theistic, totally humanistic. To make matters worse, many of this group formerly attended church but lost interest.

Pages could be written analyzing why and how this happened. I have zillions of thoughts on this. But one fact stands out. First Corinthians 1:18 states:  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God (KJV). College students are having their beliefs challenged in a secular environment without having seen the “power” of God.  The church in America has exchanged the “power” of God for the “message” of God.  We hear the message all day long on Christian radio and TV, in conferences and seminars. What we are missing is the witness of God’s power. Deliverance does that.  Exorcism makes it unmistakable.  The Early Church needed the demonstration of God’s power and so do we. As Paul said in 1 Cor. 2:4, My speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.