Christianity Today asked several of us to answer, "What was the most significant change in Christianity over the past decade?" I gave more than one answer (I could not resist) but they chose one focused on North America.
Before I share mine, let me say that I agree with Olasky that the big global story is China, particularly the growth of Christianity. He wrote:
"The huge surge of Christianity in China is a major development that several decades down the road could make the difference between peace and war. If Christianity continues to grow in China, I think relations between the U.S. and China will develop very well. If Christianity sputters out there, we're probably looking at a military confrontation of some kind. The hopes for world peace depend on what happens in China."
Marvin Olasky, editor-in-chief, WORLD Magazine
Here was my answer:
"Evangelical angst about its current state and future prospects. Evangelicals are trying to figure out who they are and who they should be. We see that in the 'Evangelical Manifesto,' the Gospel Coalition, in This We Believe. There are all these movements trying to define who evangelicals are and what evangelicals should be. Since evangelicalism is the only growing segment of American Christianity, its angst and future will matter deeply to the church in North America."
Ed Stetzer, editor, president, LifeWay Research
There are several others, both in the print magazine and online, but I thought Cathy Grossman's answer was worth noting:
"A widespread abandonment of Christian doctrinal commitment -- even doctrinal knowledge. Forget the rising number of people with no religious identity; the news to me is the vast number of self-identified Christians who have no real knowledge of, or deep commitment to, a specific Christian faith. You could say they were watering down Christianity's teachings, but I question if they even know those core teachings."
Cathy Lynn Grossman, religion reporter, USA TODAY
In this post, I explained that evangelicals must "regain confidence in the gospel" and "overcome evangelical confusion." If that does not happen, Christianity won't die out, but it will be increasingly ineffective (at least in the West).
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