Are we seeing the end of institutional Christianity in America?
by David Virtue, Virtueonline:
Institutional Christianity is in deep trouble in America; pollsters and some commentators say it is dying.
A trifecta of issues is playing out that could set back gospel proclamation for two generations or more.
Firstly, liberal Protestantism is in free fall. Influential with Mainline Protestant churches in the early 20th century, proponents believed the changes it would bring would be the future of the Christian church. Its greatest and most influential manifestation was the Christian Social Gospel, whose most influential spokesman was the American Baptist Walter Rauschenbusch. From Rauschenbusch to John Shelby Spong the gospel was slowly denuded of its supernatural scriptural power resulting in emptying churches and dying denominations. People were left spiritually hungry and voted with their feet and walked away. In the words of John Milton, the people look up and are not being fed.
The Roman Catholic Church faces a critical moment in its history not seen since the Reformation. It is a Borgia pope moment with hundreds of priests sexually abusing thousands of mostly young men. The tip of the homosexual iceberg was revealed in Pennsylvania recently. Forty-nine other state attorneys general could open investigations on priestly sexual abuse, effectively bankrupting the Church with lawsuits. At a deeper level, disillusionment with the Church by millions of laity will not only stifle evangelization efforts by the Church, but see millions of Catholics turn away in disgust at the cover ups and the cynical use of ecclesial power by men who allegedly speak for God. The rot apparently goes right to the top of the Church.
Thirdly, there is the alliance of leading evangelicals with president Donald Trump in a manner that the country has not seen since George W. Bush’s entry into Iraq. Evangelical protestants and frequent churchgoers were the most supportive of the Iraq War. Trump has fired up evangelicals so much so that they see him as a king Cyrus figure saving America from liberals, progressives and socialists aimed at undermining the constitution, that would have created a Supreme Court subverting religious freedom. It should be noted that the present movement is led by Jerry Falwell, Jr. President of Liberty University. It was his father who led the Moral Majority movement in the 70s that empowered evangelicals to become politically involved, something that evangelicals had mostly eschewed up till that time. It was formed as a political action group to further a conservative agenda, including the allowance of prayer in schools and strict laws against abortion. The movement died in the 80s.
This new alliance has created a unique moment in American history.
Read also: Bishop Curry’s ‘Love’ Language Doesn’t Halt Episcopal Decline by Jeff Walton, Anglican Ink
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