The Church is a Building Project

I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” – Jesus (Matt. 16:18)

We’ve been living through a period in the West, (Europe and the U.S.) of a decline of attendance and influence in the Church. When I was a kid, in the ‘60’s, and ‘70’s, churches were full and it was unusual for a person not to have some connection with a local church. At that time Christianity was seen as an authority, and people looked to the Church for answers.

Around that time, in the U.S., we began to see a shift in general attitudes toward the church and religion in general. We could point to many possible causes of the shift. Cultural tastes in music and entertainment created the impression that the Church was old and irrelevant to our lives as churches used the same instruments and sang the same kinds of songs that had been sung in the 1940’s, not to mention the 1740’s. A reformation in the way we “do worship,” in answer, sometimes created additional rifts. Churches continue to struggle through the reforms.

The incredible rise in the effectiveness of scientific research meant we had a new authority to life’s questions. At the same time, immorality and hypocrisy in the Church made people question the Church’s authority. Then, Richard Dawkins’ book, The God Delusion, (and others from the “New Atheists”) were telling us that there wasn’t any Divine Authority over us anyway, so we can live and do whatever we want. This new “freedom” had an appeal.

The decline peaked, I believe, with Covid and political wrangling creating the perfect storm to separate people from their church family and alter the population’s religious habits.

But two new studies, one in the United States through the Pew Research Center, and one in Britain, through the Bible Society, have shown that Jesus’ church isn’t dead and buried, but is actually resurrecting. The New York Times headline in February read, “Christianity’s Decline in U.S. Appears to Have Halted, Major Study Finds.” And in an article from this past Easter Sunday, The Independent newspaper in England, called the trends in the U.K., “The Quiet Revival.”

That report says that Gen Z (13-28 year-olds,) is leading the return to the Church:

· This shift is attributed to several factors, including a change in the perception of Christianity, a search for belonging, and the potential benefits for mental well-being.

· Young Christians cite a sense of community, personal connection with God, and hope as key aspects of their faith.

· The report also notes higher life satisfaction and lower stress levels among church goers compared to non-churchgoers.

It’s easy to become discouraged when it seems the Enemy is winning and like the gates of hell are prevailing, but Jesus is building his Church, and Satan doesn’t have the last word. General trends and attitudes will flow with peaks and valleys, as the culture reacts to movements God makes to draw us to Himself.

This is actually all part of Jesus’ building Project of the Church. A Church that freely and sincerely trusts and follows Jesus must work through societal shifts. We can be confident, though, that God will continue to grow his Kingdom and that He’s using you and me to make an eternal difference.