To the extent our US culture as expressed through our entertainment, public education institutions, and laws does not sufficiently convey that Americans are walking away from our Judeo-Christian moral heritage in general and Christianity in particular, polling data from 2010 now confirms it: Christianity in the USA is rapidly loosing force as a social influence. Barna recently published a summary of its surveys on Christianity in the USA in 2010. Specifically, Barna announced that its research reveals six “megathemes” demonstrating how the religious environment in the USA is “morphing into something new.” In summary, a majority of Americans are Biblically illiterate and ignorant of the most basic Christian truths. Not surprisingly then, faith does not rank high on the list of our priorities. For teenagers, faith ranks on average as a lower priority than travel. Knowing God and eternal security are not at the top of our “to do” lists. Perhaps as a result of this relative ignorance and lack of concern, Christians are increasingly silent regarding Christ and reluctant to share their faith, invite unbelievers to church, or otherwise proselytize. The church in the USA increasingly does not take a stand on matters pertaining to Biblical truth and righteousness. For example, few churches today dare to defend the institution of marriage, either in addressing divorce from within its pews or by defending the institution of marriage in our larger culture and laws. Again, as if we need polls to see this, the influence of Christianity on individuals and on our culture is largely invisible in today’s USA. Barna provides more information and analysis in this excellent article – see here.
We should pray for our country, for the church in the USA, and for our own courage to share the Good News, by our actions and equally importantly – by actually opening our mouths and telling what Christ has done and the difference he makes. At the end, our “culture” consists of the beliefs and attitudes of our people — people for whom Christ died.
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
Romans 10:14-15
Sapphire Sky 