The Collapse of Evangelicalism & American Methodism

We are on the verge – within 10 years – of a major collapse of evangelical Christianity. This breakdown will follow the deterioration of the mainline Protestant world and it will fundamentally alter the religious and cultural environment in the West.

So begins a commentary by Michael Spencer in The Christian Science Monitor.  He lists seven reason he believes this to be true.

1. Evangelicals have identified their movement with the culture war and with political conservatism.

2. We Evangelicals have failed to pass on to our young people an orthodox form of faith that can take root and survive the secular onslaught.

3. There are three kinds of evangelical churches today: consumer-driven megachurches, dying churches, and new churches whose future is fragile. Denominations will shrink, even vanish, while fewer and fewer evangelical churches will survive and thrive.

4. Despite some very successful developments in the past 25 years, Christian education has not produced a product that can withstand the rising tide of secularism. 

5. The confrontation between cultural secularism and the faith at the core of evangelical efforts to "do good" is rapidly approaching. We will soon see that the good Evangelicals want to do will be viewed as bad by so many, and much of that work will not be done.

6. Even in areas where Evangelicals imagine themselves strong (like the Bible Belt), we will find a great inability to pass on to our children a vital evangelical confidence in the Bible and the importance of the faith.

7. The money will dry up.

Spencer is certainly not alone in predicting the demise of the church in America.  Reports flourish which point to the decline of the church as we know it.  A quick survey of any mainline denomination's statistics reveals shrinking numbers.  The United Methodist Church fits into this category.

While Spencer remains pessimistic about the future of evangelical churches in America, he also sees some possibilities to be hopeful.  One in particular caught my eye for I find it incredibly timely for the United Methodist Church in America.

The ascendency of Charismatic-Pentecostal-influenced worship around the world can be a major positive for the evangelical movement if reformation can reach those churches and if it is joined with the calling, training, and mentoring of leaders. If American churches come under more of the influence of the movement of the Holy Spirit in Africa and Asia, this will be a good thing.  (emphasis mine)

Right now there is a movement within United Methodism which rather than bringing the American church under the influence of African & Asian United Methodists seeks to minimize it.  Indeed, if the amendments which were passed at last spring's General Conference are ratified by the Annual Conferences, any influence by our African & Asian sisters and brothers on American United Methodism would be eliminated. 

Now is the time when American United Methodists should be looking to places like Cote d'Iviore, Nigeria, the Philippines and other African and Asian countries where United Methodism is growing for input and influence.  Sadly, there are some within the American UMC who have an agenda which does not include being an evangelical (communicating the good news of Jesus Christ in word & deed) body.

I am convinced that if we are to prove Michael Spencer wrong and that the American evangelical church as a whole and our own United Methodist Church in particular is not on the verge of collapse, then we much look to those through whom God is working in miraculous ways.  We have much to learn, if we will only listen.

Comments

[gavin richardson]

amen john!

i've often wonder why we have our heads up our own culture butt so much we never ask about what is helping grow our global connection

[Pathik]

I am from India and strongly believe in the fact that without Evangelical faith, the future of UMC and other mainline denominations is dark, It should be clear to even so called liberals who seems to have their own agenda in the church. Well the question I am struggling at this time in my life is: Can I go ahead with perusing ordination in UMC? (I have three Masters degrees in theological and missions studies). I also hear that there is significant Evangelical influence in UMC because many from Asian and African origins are ordained as pastor. Shall I go in UMC ministry to be prophet with the denomination, if everyone leaves because its heading toward wrong direction, there is no hope. I want your ideas and opinion. By the way I am on staff of one of the UMC church in California.

[John B]

Pathik,

I've been a UM pastor for 20+ years, there have been times when I wondered if it was worth the struggle to stay. But in the end, I am convinced that the UM doctrine and Discipline remains the best understanding of scriptural Christianity. I hope you will continue in your pursuit of ordination within the UMC. We need dedicated individuals like you.