Check out Fred’s interview with Mike Frost over at Wineskins.
I guess the question for my American readers, that will only make sense if you read the quote below, is do you agree with Frost? Is that day really coming for us?
More than that, one of the benefits of my being Australian is that while I come from a highly industrialised Western country not too dissimilar to the United States, my country, unlike the United States, is in an advanced state of secularisation. Only around two to three percent of the total population is evangelical. But you need to face the fact that the number of evangelicals in your country is beginning to slide too.
So in a sense, I come from your future. I know how much worse things can get for the American church. Your country has begun the same slide into secularisation that Australia has been experiencing. Our decline began earlier than yours and has advanced more quickly. As a result, Australian missional church leaders have had to discover incarnational principles as a matter of life or death. We think we?ve learned a thing or two that many American church leaders have been insulated from needing to know. But the day is coming for you.
Telling Stories, Asking Questions, Learning Lessons
Wade –
I don’t think he’s entirely correct. First, America is only about 9% evangelical anyway – so it’s not as if we’re awash in evangelicalism. Second, I’m not sure it’s accurate to say religiousity (which is the correct antithesis to secularization) is on a declining trend. See Barna here and herefor more.
Thirdly, I don’t know what evidence there is to suggest that Australia is further ahead of the missional church curve than the US or other countries. Sounds awfully myopic and anecdotal.
By the way, the reference for the 9% is here.
It appears that religiousity is on something of an upward trend in teh US, at least over the past quarter century.
What are we as parents passing on to our children? That is the question that comes to mind as we talk about the future of the church in America. Are we raising kids in a relevant biblical way? I think we have to start with ourselves, maybe not the church as a whole.
I agree with Lynn. My children are 29 and 23 and they tell me how things have changed alot since their days in high school and college. I know this sounds like a dumb cliche but there is truth here..Pogo said “we are surrounded by insurmountable opportunities” in one of his newspaper comics. It was about something else but I think it applies. I have to be the disciple HE called me to be.
I think the religious trends in each country is dictated primarily by their sociological and historical backgrounds, I dont think the US will ever become like Australia or the UK (where I am), securlism will come in a different form, if it comes at all, they are vastly different fields of mission, and it maybe too simplistic to bring comparisons between them in the way quoted here.
While saying that, there is much to learn from missional practitioners from all over which can be used in approaches adopted which are tailored to the local requirements.
Living in Boston, MA, I have to say I’m with Frost on this one. I believed him in theory before moving here, but I’ve seen it first-hand since being here. I’m not talking about “the destruction of the American family” or any of those right-wing agenda items … I’m simply referring to a widespread disdain of anything “Christian.” It’s harder to see in other regions of the country, but it’s crystal clear in the highly populated and most influential cities on the coasts.
The alleged increased influence of Evangelicals we’ve heard over the last few years — mostly in reference to political action — is, I believe, a last gasping breath, not a battle cry due to a resurgence. The institutional church is losing its influence at large in America, and its response appears to be militancy, political spin, and anger.
The church Jesus established accepts its place as counter-cultural and marginal, welcoming — yes, even welcoming — resistance and “loss of influence.” The American church has, in many ways, pulled its sword to lop off the head of resisters and detractors, to which Jesus calmly but firmly states, “Put your sword away.”
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Steve Jr.–I think you’re right. We’re not dealing with a religious monoculture here in the states. I guess that’s why contextualization is so important. What we do in Tulsa ain’t gonna work in Boston and vice versa.
I think it’s happening. I may be biased because a lot of my world is in a secular College classroom that sometimes laughs, jokes and mocks Christianity. It’s tough when you’re American Government teacher mocks Christianity today for being so weak- you sit and wonder what to say, what Jesus would say and how can you respond when it’s so true.
America is losing Christian ground, but that’s OK, because numbers don’t matter. What I see are people who are weak, being easily torn from God into other religions that serve “God,” even ones that themselves are god.
I see Christians becoming stronger, more faithful, more trusting and hopefully more authentic. We have nothing to fear- according to Ortberg, the promise “I will be with you” is more prevelant in the Bible than “I will forgive you.” Should say a lot about where we are going.
Ok, my interview with Frost dove-tails with a recent perspective I gained and by some people that should matter to the Christ-follower more than any (and they’re not from downunder).
What those Jesus misses the most are saying
http://fredpeatross.wordpress.com/2007/01/04/a-review-on-christianity/