I’ve been compiling some statistics re the state of the church in this country for a book I’m helping to write. I know you can make numbers prove anything, but is there a general trend? The question I’m trying to answer is this: Is the church in the West in crisis?
Here are some I found:
- Of the self-identified Christians in the United States, 64% say they have confessed their sins to God and asked for his forgiveness, but only 3% say they have surrendered control of their life to God, submitted themselves to his will, and devoted themselves to loving and serving God and other people.
- Less than one-half of one percent of adults aged 18 to 23 has a biblical worldview, compared to about 9% older adults. These figures can be doubled amongst “born-again” Christians. (A Biblical worldview is defined by believing in absolute moral truth, the accuracy of Biblical principles, the reality of Satan, God as creator and salvation through faith in Jesus.)
- In the average year, half of all churches do not add one member per year through conversion growth.
While many churches are thriving, many more are struggling.
So what do you think? Are we in crisis?
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