We’ve done a lot of unpacking of Triennial Conference over the past two months, and indeed, we’ve been reimagining this entire year. In our March and April issue of The Global Advocate, we focused on Evangelism and Discipleship and because we are now driving towards the 2022 Discipleship Forum (Plug), it’s worth our time to revisit some of those ideas and unpack them a bit more.
A recent study (posted a mere 3 days ago!) from Pew Research Center suggests Christianity will probably continue to see a proportional decline in the United States well into this century. By 2070, Christianity could see itself lose the majority position in the religious landscape to the “religious nones,” those Americans who are affiliated with no religion. Pew gives a warning about using this as a predictive model, as they recognize there are many other factors, unknowns, and potentialities, which they simply cannot account for. Revival could happen for any number of reasons.
“War, economic depression, climate crisis, changing immigration patterns or religious innovations – could reverse current religious switching trends, leading to a revival of Christianity in the United States.”1 And I would add, a miracle from God would be unaccounted for, and could certainly do it.
The number one reason cited for the American church’s consistent percentage decline is not ‘religious nones’ raising religious none children, nor is it some rapid increase in other non-Christian religions. No, the largest factor is, by far, the switchers. People who were at one time Christian but who have switched to be atheist, agnostic, or just non-affiliated, are projected to grow between 4%-22% depending on the model used. That’s a fairly wide margin, but in either scenario, Christianity is likewise projected to lose between 10% - 29%. Such a trajectory would, if it came to pass, follow the religious landscape shifts seen in Europe over the last half century.2
Reasons for switching are undoubtedly diverse. Data from a 2016 study, also by Pew Research Center, suggested that the number one reason (49%) for switching was simply because of “unbelief.” Shockingly, only 4% of respondents switched because they felt the church had become too political, although, more recent studies done by Lifeway Research show a massive change in that particular data point, jumping to 25%.3 It’s not surprising to see that after the tumult of the 2016 election, more respondents might perceive politics as a divisive issue within Christianity.
Okay, the data is getting messy, so let me be very clear:
There is a strong possibility that the number one group of unchurched, unevangelized, and undiscipled people will be those who have intentionally left the church. Frankly, I don’t think that we have coherently thought through what that means or what kind of strategies will be necessary to reach that group. Likewise, this switching leads to and exacerbates the problem of children being raised in non-Christian homes.
The data shows that while a large portion of people are leaving the church from societal changes which the church may or may not be able to adequately address, a not insignificant portion of the switching is directly attributed to perceived problems with the American church itself. The church’s engagement with specific political parties, clergy sex scandals, clergy abuse scandals, and the general declining trust in religious institutions are critical issues that need to be addressed from the top down, from national, to regional, to local.4 This isn’t to say the American church can have no relationship with political parties, such a thing seems both impossible and imprudent, but the results of such a course have not been weighed, perhaps, carefully enough.
How does this connect to evangelism and discipleship? I’m glad I asked. As a Christian body, we need to think more carefully about what evangelism and discipleship look like when engaging those who have turned away. This isn’t about pre-conversion discipleship or post-conversion discipleship, this is about post-Christian discipleship. The fundamental question is: how do we show the love of Christ to those who have rejected the church?
This will undoubtably involve more internal reflection. Newly elected CGGC president, and current Wharton Pastor David Odegard made clear in his acceptance address that “in the way that we have operated, somehow, we have let the world come to the conclusion that we hate them and it can’t be that way…. Somehow, you’re going to have to bridge that gap so that they know that even when you disagree, you love them… We have to love our enemies and practice radical hospitality.”
One of the hardest things to hear as a Christian is the criticism of former Christians. It is painful and, if we are honest, terrifying when we see once devout people bounce off the faith. If we are to succeed in discipling people in our present, and future, American context, it will require, as President Odegard said, radical hospitality, especially to those who perceive us as enemies. It will require a kind of discipleship that sheds itself of the kind of hypocrisy Christianity has become known for amongst our detractors. It will need to be a kind of discipleship that is humble about where prior Christians have fallen short, and where God is transforming us.
Practically, this may mean beginning hard conversations without immediately pulling out our arsenal of apologetic tactics. That’s not to say that apologetics aren’t important or effective, but that many former Christians have criticisms of the church for which right theology is not the solution, because wrong theology was not the problem, sincerity was and is. If we want to win over post-Christians, casting them as an enemy to be crusaded against, probably isn’t going to work. However relational we think we need to be to win over non-Christians, we will need to be doubly so to win back post-Christians. Adopting an attitude of curiosity and understanding toward our detractors will be crucial to hearing their complaints, and meeting them where they are. It is easy to get defensive when we hear the church being criticized, but there comes a time when we must admit that we Christians don’t hold all the answers, Jesus does. We probably can’t heal every hurt and broken heart, but Jesus can. It is our job as disciple makers to show them Jesus.
We can probably put our swords back in our scabbards and allow Jesus to suffer the cross for them, just as He did for us.
May God bless you,
Jacob Clagg
CGGC eNews—Vol. 16, No. 37
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