If you follow trends at all, then you already know that the cultural influence of Christianity is dramatically declining in the west. The current “culture wars” are evidence of this enough: Christianity is slowly losing its seat of privilege as the cultural norm. The typical symptoms – the removal of prayer from schools, the legalization of abortion, the growing religious pluralism and increasingly vocal opposition to the church – are often listed as emotional trigger points in the call to “rally the troops” in defense of “our Christian nation.” Then, in manic fashion, far too many Christians set out to storm the gates of secularism.
The result should disturb us. Sermons are boomed from the pulpit which marry the Gospel message to political agendas. Bumper stickers decorate dilapidated vehicles with clever catch phrases and trite (yet imaginative) imagery. Petty wars are waged against shopping chains who choose to utter “Season’s Greetings” rather than “Merry Christmas” as if Jesus was suddenly defined within the context of materialistic commerce.
It gets worse. Those who shape Christianity’s public image are almost always those who are the most visible and the most vocal, and they are usually those whose controversial antics draw out the media in frenzied droves. To those outside the faith, the whole of Christendom is often seen in terms of intolerance, homophobia, and scandal. It is no wonder that our cultural influence is diminishing; we have been woefully poor stewards of power.
So we see a steady decline of Christianity in the west. What had been the central hub of Christian influence for the past 500 years is slowly diminishing, but this stark image is scarcely the full picture. While we see this deterioration in Europe and North America, we see the precise opposite in the Global South. According to the statistics reported in the World Christian Encyclopedia, at the turn of the twentieth century, less than 10% of the population in Africa was Christian (approximately 9.9 million individuals); a century later, that number is closer to 50% and the population has grown exponentially (approximately 360 million Christians). We see a similar explosion in China and Latin America. Christianity is not dying by any stretch, but its geographical hub is shifting dramatically, returning to the regions out of which it was born nearly 2000 years ago in a manner rivaling the world-shaking movement of the first century church.
The Hope Of The West
These regions bear stark differences: China is a nation of exceptional affluence and scientific development; Latin America has the science but their people are often buried in poverty; Africa has neither science nor affluence. All of them share a fundamental similarity, however, when it comes to the explosion of Christianity. In every place, Christianity was a powerful counter-cultural movement whose presence took root at the margins and whose impact derived not from privilege or influence, but from an embodiment of the life-transforming presence of the Holy Spirit.
This is the hope of the west. As our privilege declines, we will be forced to reexamine our faith in light of a living embodiment rather than a political empowerment. We will need to return to being a people whose central loyalty is to a “kingdom not of this world” rather than a nationalist blend of civic religion. In other words, we will need to remember what it is to fully and completely become the living ecclesia – the church marked by the unity, transformation, and empowerment of the Spirit of God. I think Bryan Stone put it beautifully in his book Evangelism After Christendom:
“Jesus talked about the reign of God as a radically new order that comes to put an end to the age-old patterns of wealth and poverty, domination and subordination, insider and outsider that are deeply ingrained in the way we relate to one another on this planet. But in order for that new order to become a serious option for the world, it must be visibly and imaginatively embodied in the world. And if Scripture is a faithful witness, the purpose of God throughout history is the creation and formation of a new people whose mission is to do just that.”
The cultural influence of western Christianity is dying, but it is only in death that we find resurrection; it is precisely in this cultural shattering of the Christian west that we will come to reclaim the heart of the Christian message, becoming a people who cease to embody the political motif of power and subjugation and instead become the counter-cultural living witness of the New Creation.
What do you think? How do you see the relationship between faith and culture?
Image Credit: Salim Photography
Keith January 31, 2013 at 10:57 am
Agreed, and while we are at it… can we take down the flags in places of Christian worship as well?
T. E. Hanna January 31, 2013 at 2:36 pm
But Keith, didn’t you know? You can’t be Christian without being American. I’ll pray for you, my British friend.
Jackie Durkee January 31, 2013 at 1:39 pm
Basically what we have is spoiled Christians who take their Faith, Church, and Bible for granted. I agree that only when we get serious about our faith and our personal relationship with Christ, will we see real revival within the hearts of God’s people.
T. E. Hanna January 31, 2013 at 2:33 pm
I think it’s more than just “spoiled Christians”. I think the place of privilege we have so long held has caused many of us to see Christianity in political terms rather than spiritual. Our ethics should absolutely shape our stance on policies, but to understand the faith primarily in terms of political ideology truncates the gospel and robs the Church of its power.
melanie jean juneau (motherofnine9) January 31, 2013 at 2:19 pm
A delight to read an intelligent perspective on. I believe that the decline in the west will bring us to our knees, to a position of humility and need. Control, self-sufficiency, pride, ..all are barriers to surrendering to Love
T. E. Hanna January 31, 2013 at 2:35 pm
It’s pretty challenging to think that we are no longer the launching pad for missions, but rather the mission field. It will be interesting to see the shape of Western Christianity in the coming years
RG2Cents January 31, 2013 at 2:58 pm
Very good points, here. I do feel that Christianity is targeted for intolerance far more than other religions in this country, but taking a militant stance won’t change the situation. We have to be certain that we show Christ in our lives rather than our anger at injustices against us. We have to remember that the small infringes we have here, are minor compared to the suffering of believers elsewhere. How strange it is, that the countries which persecute Christians the most, seem to produce Christians with the strongest Faith.
Carson Weitnauer January 31, 2013 at 6:36 pm
Interesting post. I think there is hope in this trend. Moving from cultural Christians to counter-cultural disciples will bring renewed faihfulness. However, faithful disciples create new culture, and because what they create is good, they want it to influence others widely, to renew the world. I think grief as some of the cultural good that is being destroyed now is appropriate even as we expectantly hope for new cultural good to emerge.
T. E. Hanna January 31, 2013 at 6:39 pm
That’s just it tho, I think we have largely abandoned a faithful embodiment of the body of Christ in favor of political discourse. Cultures are not transformed by legal dictates, but by incarnational witness
Jason January 31, 2013 at 10:18 pm
Amen. Put succinctly and clearly.
T. E. Hanna January 31, 2013 at 10:51 pm
Thanks Jason! I appreciate you stopping by!
themightyf February 2, 2013 at 8:04 am
You said it hombre “becoming a people who cease to embody the political motif of power and subjugation and instead become the counter-cultural living witness of the New Creation.’
Susan Karsten February 7, 2013 at 9:15 am
I checked out your blog bc you “liked” my own blogpost at graciouswoman.wordpress.com in which I wrote about Beauty. You have tackled a large subject. It is sad, but we can still have joy, great joy. We must put no confidence in princes. The latest thing that is bugging me is Christian people who are captivated by the Dodge truck commercial that was aired during the Superbowl. Simply because the narration mentioned the name of “God”, Christians became enamored of this ad, not even realizing that the adv. took the Lord’s name in vain! The ignorance…
T. E. Hanna February 7, 2013 at 9:24 am
Hi Susan! I’m glad you were able to stop by!
I actually thought it was pretty gutsy for Dodge to air a two minute commercial during the Superbowl which is entirely built around the idea of God creating. The narration was actually an edit of a rather famous radio broadcast by Paul Harvey, who was an avid Christian and good personal friend of Billy Graham. I don’t think the emphasis was to actually make a theological argument for an eighth day of creation, but rather to elevate and honor the work of farmers which largely goes unnoticed. It is worth noting, however, that the entire implication of those two minutes (an eternity for a super bowl ad) presupposes a Christian worldview framework for it to even make sense. So, I actually rather enjoyed the commercial.
Susan Karsten February 7, 2013 at 10:15 am
It makes me cringe when such an un-Biblical picture of God is placed before believers and unbelievers and it is accepted as a plus without any analysis. I believe whether Paul Harvey and Billy Graham were Christians isn’t a cogent argument for this misrepresentation to be a-okay. It smacks of adding to the word of God. Paul H. could have said something about the 6th commandment and how God gave dominion to man and then segued into talking about how that relates to farming. — that would have been Biblical and I don’t think that’s asking too much.
Andi February 18, 2013 at 3:09 pm
I really enjoyed that ad too. I didn’t find a single thing wrong with it. I agree that it was brave and smart of Dodge to do that ad. I don’t remember the Lord’s name being taken in vain. Did I miss something?
I was happy that a commercial like that one ended up being one of the most favorite instead of any of those ads that were all about sex appeal.
Ken Garrett February 7, 2013 at 8:47 pm
Thank you for a thought-provoking, encouraging essay! I live in Portland, Oregon, where I was born and raised–and I understand that we are considered by some to be unabashedly post-Christian in our local culture. The many articles and pieces that I’ve read decrying the “unchurched Northwest,” (resulting in more church-planters that we probably need) has at times made me wonder whether anyone really gets what a unique, challenging, vibrant opportunity now exists for the church–now that much of our sub-biblical cultural baggage has been shed. Don’t they get it? Dad’s gone for the weekend, left us the keys to the car, and now we can explore some different parts of town that we might have missed before! I often tell folks that I worship with, “Don’t pine away for Christianity anywhere else in our country–you’d just be bored with it! You were hard-wired to be Christian in a post-Christian city!” Again, thanks!
Jim February 8, 2013 at 8:16 am
Further evidence the current membership debate in Boy Scouts of America. Whether or not to allow openly gay Scouts and leaders will be followed by debating allowing atheists in. A more complete gutting of what BSA stands for.
T. E. Hanna February 8, 2013 at 10:49 am
So Jim, are you arguing that the Boy Scouts of America – which is a civic group – should not only disallow homosexual members but nonreligious members as well?
Out of curiosity, how would you feel about openly gay individuals attending your church service? What about atheists?
robin claire February 8, 2013 at 11:01 am
Hi
I’m leaving this comment so I can click on the button to follow your blog
T. E. Hanna February 8, 2013 at 11:23 am
There should be an email subscription and an RSS feed in the sidebar, is it not there?
Charles I Urban February 11, 2013 at 10:40 am
Rise of the non-religious,I hope means ,that believers will be more biblical and less institutional in their reflections on life’s issues.This is the very thing that the new world order afraid of to date. To God be the glory!!!!!!!
T. E. Hanna February 11, 2013 at 4:52 pm
I often think “institution” gets a bad name. I think we would be hard pressed to find a denomination who does not approach their theology “biblically” – tho their interpretation of biblical themes and ideas may differ from denomination to denomination, each one nevertheless draws it from a biblical basis.
Perhaps more importantly, however, is the need to reject the rampant individualism that pervades Western Christian culture. Spiritual formation only takes place in community; as individuals, we are capable of self deception on untold levels. The sanctification of society, furthermore, only takes place in and through a Christian community who lives in ways which challenge and unmask the systems of oppression which manifest societal evil.
The institutions are important; without the Church, there would be no Christianity. What needs to present, however, is accountability for these communities to live in ways faithful to the Christian story.
Jeremy Marshall February 14, 2013 at 5:53 pm
“The cultural influence of western Christianity is dying, but it is only in death that we find resurrection; it is precisely in this cultural shattering of the Christian west that we will come to reclaim the heart of the Christian message, becoming a people who cease to embody the political motif of power and subjugation and instead become the counter-cultural living witness of the New Creation.” Amen. ‘at’s What I been screaming for years…
T. E. Hanna February 14, 2013 at 6:40 pm
Hey Jeremy! Welcome to the blog!
Carol Westphal February 14, 2013 at 7:53 pm
Well said! Thank you.
Chris Elgood February 15, 2013 at 5:31 am
In that part of me which is a Christian believer I applaud your article. But could it be shorter? There is so much stuff on the internet today that I look at a heading and then scroll down to see how long it is. If the length is daunting, I give up.
Andi February 18, 2013 at 3:16 pm
I like your way of thinking.
Have you read, “They Like Jesus But Not The Church” by Dan Kimball?
Your thoughts remind of that book, which I thought was a great book.
T. E. Hanna February 18, 2013 at 9:06 pm
I have not. I’m in the open pages of unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity…and Why It Matters by Dave Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons of the Barna Group, and I will probably be dealing with some of the ideas on here in the near future. It may get put to the side for a bit though, as I have some other books I have to work through for my Exegesis of Genesis class, and I think you’ll be seeing some of my thoughts on them popping up here soon as well.
I’ll be putting “They Like Jesus But Not The Church” on my list though. Thanks for the heads up!
Dave February 18, 2013 at 7:27 pm
Waiting with you, each day, for “life-transforming presence of the Holy Spirit.” Thanks for this post, and thank you for stopping to read “God’s Visible Nation” at bigstoryguide.wordpress.com
Rosemarie Hilton February 22, 2013 at 1:38 pm
Awesome article! You are an excellent writer/author! Bless You
Timothy H. February 22, 2013 at 11:14 pm
I think that this is really true. Quite an interesting read.
Ted Rice February 28, 2013 at 8:47 am
What bothers me is the lack of Christian influence on culture. Christianity didn’t save Rome, but it did heavily influence post-Roman culture. In America, Christianity once influenced American culture, but now the opposite is true. Christians bring modern pagan American cultural values into the church and think of them as Christian values (tolerance of all sorts of sins, worship of the military, worship of capitalism, etc.) However, the same thing is true in Africa. If southern Africa is 50% Christian, where is the Christian influence? AIDS is epidemic, wars and tribal conflicts, genocide, etc. are commonplace.
Christianity anywhere needs to be counter-cultural, to oppose cultural values that are non-Biblical head on and without compromise. This would be unpopular with many who want to be “Christian” yet hold on to their culture and not be thought “odd” or “radical”. The Church would lose membership, but gain quality.
Frank Angus March 8, 2013 at 4:23 am
Sorry, I take a different view. Christianity is the truth, the only truth, and as Christians we should champion that reality. Christ is the only way to eternal life and let’s not delude ourselves otherwise. Politicians who take bibles out of schools are not helping our children and are in fact doing them a disservice. The West was founded on Christianity and now a child could theoretically grow up in North America travel to Italy, see a painting of The Last Supper or The Statue of David and not know what he is looking at. I am surprised so many people with Christian backgrounds accept this. Read your Bibles Matthew 28:19 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, babtizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
T. E. Hanna March 8, 2013 at 10:33 am
I think that’s fair, but I think you’re missing the crux of the argument.
I’m not saying that Christianity should abandon its influence, I’m saying that we HAVE abandoned our influence and traded in the gospel for a watered down form of civic religion that is driven more by politics and privilege than it is by Jesus.
The loss of Christian privilege and cultural power in the West does not mean that we are losing Jesus, it means that we are losing those things that rob our message of its power. When we lose our positions of power and privilege, all we have left is the cross. The cross, I would contend, is where the real power of the faith lies, and it is precisely what Western Christianity has lost.
Frank Angus March 8, 2013 at 11:47 am
Yes, your argument makes a lot of sense when you put it in that light but so much is at stake that we have to bring the cross and the power of the Holy Spirit back into the limelight for the sake of Christians and unbelievers alike. My point is we can’t be passive in the information age which definitely has a political component to it but what is often overlooked is that there is a legal component to it also. There are a lot of anti Christian and even anti religion lobby groups that are using the courts to win battles in “the culture war” and they are quite effective at winning these battles. I don’t think the interpretation of the laws are congruent with the original intent. I think a more aggressive posture would serve Christ more effectively. That being said I always look forward to your posts and I always learn something from you and your readers. It is my intention to start my own blog in the very near future and I would like to think that when I do I will compliment your effort on some level.
Julie Dinsmore April 9, 2013 at 9:47 pm
Somehow in 2008 I woke up. I realized that I had to be a citizen of heaven first and foremost. This was a radical change in thought (being raised in a very religious home and being very patriotic) and I found that while a lot of people agreed with me in principle, when it came to reality, they just are not ready to let go of their political-religious views. It’s been disheartening to see them defend their view of what a Christian church is supposed to look like (and condemn anyone who “does” church different than them) and to say we need to take up arms to defend America instead of looking around them and seeing a world of people who desperately need God as He is – not as we have made Him out to be. I appreciate your article. I pray to be a real Christian in this post-Christian culture.
Thanks for the like and enjoy your writing.
Pastor Sharon April 20, 2013 at 6:08 pm
This a very insightful article that challenges Christians to see themselves in 2Timothy 3:1-5 and make needed changes so that we can indeed come out of secularism and perhaps unintended assimilation while walking to the socially radical and perhaps unacceptable beat of Jesus’ drum.
Pastor G read the article over my shoulder and asked a couple of questions that those who read these comments can ponder:
1. Are you indeed willing to follow Jesus even if it makes you unpopular?
2. Are you willing to give up material blessings and/or wealth while still being faithful to Jesus?
3. Are you willing to separate the polictics of this world from the kingdom of God? Where there’s a conflict, are you willing to stand firm for God and His ways?