Is Christianity Declining?

Jason Soroski Contributing Writer
Published Oct 03, 2022

Christianity, by some accounts, appears to be in cultural decline. The Christian faith is by far the largest in the United States, with more people claiming adherence to the Gospel of Christ than any other faith. Yet this appears to be changing. According to a new report from the Pew Research Center, the number of Americans claiming Christianity is in decline, and several projections indicate that Christians could become a minority of Americans by the year 2070.

What does this mean for American believers? Is this something we should give heed to? Is it something we can change? Should it concern us that our nation, by and large, appears to be moving away from Christ? While there are important lessons to be taken from this, we can be confident that the Gospel is true, God is powerful to save, the Church has always flourished when in the minority, and the saving truth of Christ is not going anywhere.

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.” - John 6:44

Who Is a Christian?

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” - John 10:27

The first question we have to consider is how many people identify as Christian who, sadly, aren’t really Christian. After all, what is it that makes one a ‘Christian’? Attending a local church on occasion? Celebrating Christmas and generally trying to be a ‘good person?’ Voting the way we think the Bible would suggest? Regrettably, there are many who claim to be believers yet are not walking in faith or listening to his voice.

There are reasons to believe that many of those identified as Christian are not true adherents to the Gospel, to begin with. The Pew report states that “since the 1990s, large numbers of Americans have left Christianity to join the growing ranks of U.S. adults who describe their religious identity as atheist, agnostic or ‘nothing in particular.’” Is it really possible for large groups of people to believe that the Son of God suffered for their sins, was resurrected from death, and then later decide that it never really happened?

Although we are surprised when even high-profile Christian leaders abandon the faith, this resembles the pattern Jesus described in Matthew 13:22, “As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.”

It is not unreasonable to believe that the number of Christians is already much smaller than is being reported. Many of these consist of people who ‘grew up in church,’ but never fully engaged with Scripture, people who have been turned off by ‘cultural Christianity’ instead of Biblical faith, or those who have simply found more comfort in believing worldly philosophies that sound good at the moment.

Jesus labels a true believer as “the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty" (Matthew 13:23). The truth is that Christians are those who hear the voice of Christ and follow him regardless of circumstance. There is no other way to define our faith.

Is America Really a Christian Nation?

“For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” - Matthew 7:14

Many of our nation’s founders were believers, many held values that aligned with faith, and most believed in what the Bible teaches. The first European settlers arrived peacefully, seeking a place to practice their faith freely, and the phrase “In God We Trust” is found printed on our currency and engraved upon the walls of Congress.

There is undoubtedly a Christian influence that has allowed our nation to prosper and develop equalities and freedoms that are yet to be seen in many parts of the world. While Christianity played a large part of forming the values that we have built upon, our nation itself is not somehow ‘Christian’ in the ways that we may often think. No nation is.

Our nation is a mission field as much as any far-flung corner of the earth. The passing of our faith from one generation to the next starts in how we as believers interact with others, how we raise our children, and how each of us as individuals embraces the true calling of Christ to “deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34).

While we are blessed to live in a nation with a lot of Christian people and a culture built on Christian beliefs, we must not mistake the Kingdom of Heaven for the Kingdom of the United States. Though one exists within the other, they are not the same as the Kingdom of Christ reaches across continents, the Word of God is flourishing in places where it is prohibited, and followers of Christ suffer persecution and death to this very day. It is to us to show kindness and mercy to all without assuming that Americans, by default, are Christians.

If the number of Americans claiming Christianity continues to dwindle, what we are likely seeing is more people simply telling the truth that they never were ‘all in’ for Christ; that Sunday church is no longer a mainstream cultural thing to do, and the true church, standing firm in the faith regardless of cultural trends, is emerging from the fog of lukewarm belief. This is a wake-up call for all of us to examine our own faith and determine how we approach our world.

What Does it All Mean?

“I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.” - Acts 20:21

We are not born as Christians into a Christian nation. Each child born to the most devout believers is still a soul in need of salvation. The truth is that Christianity will thrive until the Lord’s return because it is the truth. Jesus says in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”.

Paul states in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

While it is disheartening to see that people are believing things that will not bring them the hope, peace, and joy that is found in Christ, the truth is nothing has really changed. It presents us an opportunity not to despair, not to fear, but to dig deep into our faith: to show love to our neighbors, live outside of our comfort zone, and extend grace to those who are hurting. We must regularly examine what we believe and why. Are we living an American Dream with some Jesus thrown in for good measure, or are we 100% devoted to Christ no matter what may come? Even if all but a handful deny Christ, none of this changes.

This report serves as a reminder that the truth of Christ is true no matter how many believe it and gives us an opportunity not to argue others into belief, not to be wearied by political or social changes, but to pray and live as a witness to share the love of Christ in our nation.

Jason Soroski is a homeschool dad and member of the worship team at matthias lot church in St. Charles, MO. He spends his free time hanging out with his family, exploring new places, and writing about the experiences. Connect on Facebook or at JasonSoroski.net.