I recently had a class with Ed Stetzer. It was awesome! One of the things Ed has been writing about is the rise of the "nones" (article in USA Today). When polls are taken that ask people to identify their religion, more and more people are marking the "none" box. While many take this to mean that the number of Christians in America is declining, Stetzer points out that there is more to it than that.
What is actually happening is that cultural Christianity is declining. Christianity's cultural prominence is lessening. Those who used to claim Christianity because it was culturally acceptable, even culturally beneficial, are no longer doing so. It's not that true, committed Christians are in decline; it's that nominal Christians who used to claim Christianity for it's cultural benefits are no longer doing so.
While many Christians hear the news that Christianity is losing its cultural and political force in this country and bemoan the situation, I think this is actually a positive thing in many ways. Let me explain. As the number of those for whom Christianity means nothing yet still claim the name decreases, it will become increasingly clear what a true follower of Jesus looks like. The confusion caused by "name only" Christians whose lives go unchanged will decrease: either they will be convicted of their hypocrisy and give their lives fully to Jesus or they will, as the surveys are discovering, stop identifying themselves as Christians.
We are called to be the light of the world. As the blurry lines between those who belong to Jesus and those who don't become more clear, the light will shine brighter. As nominal and cultural Christianity wanes, authentic Christianity can only become healthier and stronger as a result.
As the world grows darker, the church stands in starker contrast as the city of light on the hill. :)
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