In a study that gives credence to what many evangelical pastors have been saying for years, that America is no longer a Christian nation was made public today. The study from The Program on Public Values at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn. discovered that the number of people in America who claim to be “born again” evangelicals is declining. I have shared here on this blog before that America is becoming a nation filled with various religions. What caught my attention in this study is that the number of Americans who claim no religion has risen to fifteen percent. You might be thinking that this study was biased due to the geographic sampling. That thought really can’t hold up as over 54,000 respondents were surveyed, which is a large sampling.
What does this mean for the evangelical church in America? It means it needs to wake up from thinking that America is a good, ol’ Christian nation and everybody loves Jesus. That is part of the reason that has gotten the state of Christianity to where it is today. Second, the church needs to be looking at any and all methods and strategy to reach those without Christ. Third, followers of Jesus in America needs to become missional in their lives. They need to come to grips that if they are a follower of Jesus, then they are a missionary and must start living the mandate in the scriptures to live as Jesus lived. Unless there is a turn in this regression of Christianity in America, followers of Christ will become a larger minority.
Just a quick note; I don’t like using the term Christian to describe a “born again” follower of Jesus. The term Christian has lost it’s meaning in America, as it can be used loosely as a definition as people see fit. Think about it, a follower of Jesus or Christian, which one sounds like they are active in the faith?