The Decline Of American Christianity Might Have Stalled. Will It Reverse?

In 1897, the famous author Mark Twain, in response to an article reporting he was on his deathbed, wrote to the document:” The review of my death was an understatement” .&nbsp, The young reporter who falsely declared Twain’s fate confused Twain with an poor niece, jumping to a realization before thoroughly checking out the details. &nbsp,

Twain’s words came to mind as I read about the recent Pew Research Center Religious Landscape survey showing the decline of American Christianity has stabilized. &nbsp, Pew finds that the percentage of American adults identifying as Christian remained at 62 to 63 percent ( with an 0.8 percentage point of error ) over the past couple of years. &nbsp,

In many ways, those who have been reporting on the demise of American Christianity have been doing the same thing as the young reporter who hastened the news of Twain’s demise. In their eagerness to conclude American Christianity is dying, they have missed what may be happening.

Instead, the number of Americans who identify as Christians has stabilized after years of decline and hopefully has turned a corner and will return to being a vital part of our national tapestry. &nbsp, Still, it is also important to note that many who identify as Christians are not adhering to the core beliefs of the faith. &nbsp, &nbsp,

For them, their faith is still based on nostalgia rather than Christ’s revelation in the Bible. In fact, most of the decline of American Christianity is within mainline Protestant denominations that have become increasingly leftist in their beliefs. &nbsp, Those denominations that have abandoned biblical truth continue to shrivel and die, while the decline among evangelicals, who generally lean less to the left, is slower. &nbsp,

For years, we have witnessed moral and cultural decay in American society as mainline Protestant churches began preaching more about leftwing politics rather than on the gospel of Jesus Christ. By seeking to conform to the culture rather than confront it, they have lost their moral voice as Americans quit listening to leftist platitudes that had no basis in biblical truth. &nbsp,

A New Era? &nbsp,

Even The New York Times has taken notice that things may be changing back towards the Christian faith. Their religion reporter, Ruth Graham, wrote:” For decades, social scientists, demographers, and Christians themselves have told a familiar story about the state of Christianity in the United States: The country was rapidly secularizing … Now that narrative is changing. After years of decline, the Christian population in the United States has been stable for several years, a shift fueled in part by young adults” .&nbsp, &nbsp,

Graham quotes Ryan Burge, a political scientist at Eastern Illinois University, who observes that the number of “nones” who claim no religious affiliation has slowed or stopped. He states,” We’re entering a new era of the American religious landscape … and that’s a big deal” .&nbsp,

The numbers are still problematic, as the report notes, when it comes to “nones” — particularly among young adults. But today Americans who call themselves Christians are taking their faith more seriously than in recent decades.

A Deeper Faith

When one engages in conversation with American Christians, it becomes quickly evident many are turning away from shallow platitudes, moral hypocrisy, and messages that are anything but biblical. Instead, they are seeking genuine faith, moral certainty, and meaningful relationships. They are no longer interested in “playing church” .&nbsp,

Thus, if Pew’s research is correct, we may be evolving away from a nation where faith is based on shallow platitudes and on human, rather than biblical, understanding that offers short-term gratification. &nbsp, Our nation may be seeking a genuine and deepening faith that transforms lives.

In Matthew 21: 18-19, Jesus curses a fig tree because it is bearing no fruit. In contrast, in John 15: 5, he notes that if a tree abides in Him, it will bear much fruit. This analogy sums up the American church today. As I mentioned earlier, churches not bearing fruit are dying, but those that abide in Him are growing and thriving. &nbsp, &nbsp,

American Christianity still exists because its growth is fueled by individuals who are developing deep spiritual roots — ones that will keep the church from toppling over regardless of the prevailing cultural winds. It is not about the numbers of trees, but about the strength of each tree and the fruit it bears. &nbsp, &nbsp,

This is the real story that those reporting on the slow death of Christianity have missed — just like the young reporter did when he erroneously wrote about Twain’s premature demise. &nbsp, &nbsp, This is also very important, because as then-President John Adams warned in a letter to the Massachusetts Militia in 1798:” Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other” .&nbsp,

Our culture and society will reap the rewards of the fruit that emerges from a healthy American church and strong robust faith. Without such faith, we will become like the diseased tree. &nbsp,

While there is much more work to be done to restore America back to “one country under God”, the Pew report at least shows we may be turning a corner back to faith — or at least, fewer Christians are falling away from their faith — and that faith will have deeper and stronger roots. That is why I am cautiously optimistic that the news proclaiming the demise of American Christianity is indeed premature and “greatly exaggerated” .&nbsp,

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