By Matthew Monfore, April 6th, 2021
The poll reveals what others may be noticing or wondering: “Our church has mainly older people and few members. Will it die when we are gone?” Though the poll is simply a “poll” it seems to reflect what others may be noticing.
My generation (I am 26 years old and considered to be a “millenial”) is a lost generation, trapped by government education, debt, and churches that have failed to hold high the banner of the true gospel of Jesus Christ- OR they NEVER had the Biblical message in the first place…
While Christianity has greatly influenced Western civilization (which includes Christianized Europe and its colonies, like the USA for example), the millenials and their parents (Baby Boomers) have benefited from the principles and blessings of Christianity (think technology, production and economy; fair health; just laws…you know, things that naked indigenous people don’t have) while never KNOWING Christ in the first place…and now the fruits (blessings) of the Reformation (around 1500 AD) and subsequent spiritual awakenings in the English-speaking world are becoming curses on a sin-drunk culture…
“Religion News Service” article, “Fewer Americans belong to houses of worship” in “Rapid City Journal” Friday, April 2, 2021 tells of America’s religious condition (the following is a summary by me):
- Gallup has kept track of church membership since 1937. 73% of people belonged to a house of worship (which would include church, synagogue, or mosque) at that time.
- House of worship membership stayed at about 70% from 1937 until 1999. By late 2000’s it was around 60%.
- Now, Gallup states membership is less than half of Ameria’s population 47%
- 21% of Americans are classified as “Nones” – no religious affiliation.
- Most Americans believe in “God”.
- Comparing data from the 2008-2010 time frame with the 2018-2020 time frame, the decreases by age group are as follows:
Traditionalists (born before 1945)- 73% to 66%
Baby Boomers (born from 1945-1964)- 63% to 58%
Generation X (born from 1965 to 1979) – 57% to 50%
Millenials (born from 1980 to 1995)- 51% to 36%
The poll includes people of other faiths and what others would probably consider non-orthodox or non-evangelical Christians. Also, I concede that “church membership” may not be tabulated among certain groups, but this may give people some idea of the culture we are living in.
I can’t help think of America, millenials especially, and think of John 4:35, “Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest” and Matthew 9:37-38: “…The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; pray the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.”
There are people who desperately need Jesus. If you are a Christian, there are people just like you were before you met Jesus (hurting, sinful, lost, sad, without God, without hope and true love, without knowledge of God’s eternal judgment in Hell), who need the gospel.
If you are not a Christian, I invite you to become one: jesusiskingmission.com/true-christianity-copy/
If you aren’t a millenial, and you criticize us because you are an older member of the planet, remember, we are YOUR offspring…”For as in Adam all die…” (1 Corinthians 15:22).