6/16/24 – Dwindling Discipleship?

Question: “What is the cause of the decline in Christianity in America, and what are we to do about it?”

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While you might find this question to be a two-parter, it is actually a three-part question, as we must determine if there is actually a decline in ‘Christianity’ in America, or is it more a loss of the hidden character of a less-than-adherent cloaking of ‘being a Christian’. What I am suggesting as the first part of the question is have we been ignoring the CINO (Christian In Name Only) reality in America for a long time? It is a fair reading to think I am being cynical in even asking the question. However, if we want a true answer to the question actually asked, we must determine what the baseline of “Christianity” is that we are assuming we are losing.

IF there is a true component of CINO realism in American society, then simply acknowledging the self-unmasking of the population of not-true believers does not indicate that there is a decline in Christianity in America that our question presumes. For the most part, the pre-2000s society presumed that it was out of step with the mainstream culture to not be “Christian”, and that meant that it was easier to claim Christian membership than to note your skepticism or open non-belief. I believe this cultural normism continued into the early 2000s as that non-believing population slowly became less apt to hide their lack of belonging to the Christian population.

For the purposes of our discussion, I will stipulate that we have no way of knowing what population the nonbelievers that felt a need to falsely belong actually could be quantified. In the same sense, we can not really know what part of today’s believers are attempting to conform to a perceived need to belong even if they have serious doubts or outright disbelief. So, it might be that we have no way to quantify any loss of the population of Christians in America – then or now. With that in mind, we will assume that the question reflects a truism on its face.

What might make it less likely that people today would become Christian?  First in my mind is the questionable image of Christianity that the ‘in the news’ Evangelical Christians that are showcased in our political discussions and machinations today.  If any thoughtful person was to contemplate upon the base values of Christianity, it becomes harder and harder to equate the self-serving, egotistical, less-than-loving stances, and outright rejection of those in need, that we hear from Evangelical Christians as they defend their political stands and reasons for raising their voices in today’s  discourse.  I have to ask anyone that understands the message of love from Christ if they would agree to become a member of this Christian population based on the alleged Christian message coming from some in the news cycle today that seems to fly in the very face of Christ’s message in Scripture? It seems to me that even in a society much more accepting of hypocrisy as displayed in today’s political discourse, it is really hard to swallow the benefit of believing in this Christian population, much less publicly advertising membership. I raise this as one reason Christianity wanes in today’s America.

Secondly, there is much research that cohorts under the age of 50 seem much less interested in becoming a member of ANY group than our older generations that based their societal connection on membership in specific groups.  With the cyber universe allowing perceived membership without the need to actually participate or associate, it is so much easier to achieve a sense of ‘membership’ without belonging – or you might suggest it is easier to ‘belong’ without being an acknowledged ‘member’ of a group.  If you think this is a valid reason for a decline in the membership in Christianity, you might actually find the ‘population’ of Christians has increased rather than declined – it’s just harder to identify members, and thus it appears that the Christian population has declined.  This lack of acknowledgement of belonging does not mean that there are less Christians today, only that we can’t point them out.

I would condition my feelings on reason number two countering the assumption of our question with the understanding that Christianity is based on community as noted time and time again in Scripture.  However, that norm from Scripture ignores that coming together in community was the ONLY way to build Christian understanding and commitment in the days before the internet, phones, radio and other means of mass communication that is available to us today.  So, I am not sure an increased ‘cyber’ community of Christianity is actually an overall benefit to the Christian population or commitment.  It boils down to the “Great Commission” from Christ – to make believers.  (A note:  Christ meant believers in the love and purpose of God, not simply believers in Him – which we sometimes see as that Commission.)

Third, and possibly the strongest reason that Christianity has declined (if it has…) is the universal manifestation of the original sin – wanting to be God ourselves, meaning we want to be in control.  As the possibilities to exert some form of control in our lives multiplies through the strengthening of ‘individualism’ in today’s society makes it less necessary to claim a “God” actually is in control of us, much less the universe.  We see ourselves more and more as the only controlling factor in our life that we can acknowledge with any degree of certainty.  In actuality, that is a totally false and counter interpretation of reality today.  We are even less in control of our own lives and our environment than ever before.  This in and of itself is, I believe, why we cling even harder to the idea we need no god as our guiding light and key to continued life.  Like a shipwreck victim in choppy waters, surrounded by sharks, we create our own version of reality to escape the certainty of total lack of control…even as we will perish from ignoring reality.

If three reasons are enough to quench your thirst for a reason, then it remains to answer the second part of our question – what do we do about it?  I would point out that this is the easiest – and hardest – answer and aspect of the question.  We should get involved and BE the ‘light on the hill’ that Scripture suggests of us as Christians.  It does not mean we have to be a “Billy Graham” and ‘convert’ a multitude of non-believers, nor does it mean we should become a pastor/minister/cleric in order to spread the Word.  What it means is that we should accept the perfect path that God wove for us in the Tapestry of Creation, our thread in that ‘Big Picture’ we Christains call The Word of God.  

So, how hard is it to follow your path?  Well, first you must believe you have a thread.  Then you have to open yourself to the possibilities God placed on that path – yes, God prepositioned opportunities to be an evangelical Christian in the truest sense … giving you an opportunity to testify one-to-one.  The hard part is recognizing you may have only “Ten Seconds” of testimony in the path God set before you.  So, I’d just suggest you be an open professing and practicing Christian and let God take it from there.  “Adding” Christians to the roles is NOT our job, our job is to be ‘good advertising’ and being ready to advocate for God-love and show the way to eternal love relationship with that God – so don’t be shy in claiming your Lord (Jesus) and advocating His teachings.  That’s all we need do….it’s all we are called to do.  In other words, don’t just be a CINO, be true to your namesake – introduce others to your God.

Thoughts? Comments?