Patheos

BuddhistCatholicContemplativeEvangelicalGeneral ChristianHinduJewishLatter-day SaintMuslimNew VisionsProgressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Patheos

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube

Living Out Loud

Decline in Faith? Should Christians Worry?

Last updated on: October 27, 2023 at 9:01 am   by Margaret Y. Buapim

0 Comments

Decline in Faith? Should Christians Worry? 2023-10-27T09:01:29-07:00 Margaret Y. Buapim

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Church Attendance Decline. Should Christians Worry?

Population Photo Courtesy of Microsoft Stock Images

Research shows that there is a decline in church goers. The current gallup poll indicates that only thirty percent of respondents reported attending church, synagogue or temple. In regards to Christianity is this something that Pastors and Christians should worry about?

For centuries there have been those who have tried to discourage faith in Jesus Christ or keep the word of God oppressed. According to God’s word, they have been unable to succeed because of the originator of Christianity. Its growth and preservation is divine. However, a picture of the last days indicates that many will fall away from the faith and that many would center their life on love of self.

God has said that the majority would reject His way. Christians are therefore to focus on the great commission and their own walk with God.  As Peter stated in Acts, “we must obey God rather than men.”

What Jesus Said About The Christian Life?

The Christian life is the narrow way. By far, the more popular road is the broad road where most of mankind find themselves. The majority of human hearts are like the soil mentioned in the parable of Jesus where seed does not grow and fruitage does not develop. It takes an act of God to draw the human heart to Jesus Christ.  It also takes faith and God’s power to remain.

Faith comes from hearing or reading the word of God and acting on it. Granted there may be many factors for why people attended church in the past, but in the end, it is the true remnant that are made a part of the body of Christ: those who put on the new personality and refuse to look back or turn to the left or right. We should also remember Jesus promise that not one given to him by the father will be let go.

So while it may be disheartening to lose our fellow members and to find that the hearts of many have become cold, it is important to remember that God knows those who are to belong to him and trust him to call those who are his own. We should also pray for any needed repentance and return to God while there is time.

Those Who Have Wanted to See Christianity Fail

Many have hoped to see Christianity fail from its inception.  There have been those who hoped to bury the name of Jesus Christ from the apostles age. Hoping it to be a movement like those, mentioned by the pharisee Gamaliel, which prospered and withered, he reasoned that if Christianity sprung from God, it would not be possible to defeat it.  But if it is from men, it would fade away.

However, it is God who makes it grow and has preserved its vital truths for our benefit. Indeed, there is no other name among men with which we can be saved. Just as the apostles did, we do not give up in proclaiming the name of Christ, following his directive, and obeying God rather than men.

Time will continue to tell the veracity of the Christian faith.  It survived the dark ages.  It has survived attempts at oppression. It will survive the present AI, personal spirituality, or atheistic age.  The reason is because God is not a man that He should lie.  And so, the end will come just as he prophesied.

As we hear of those who fall away from the faith, or refuse to listen, we should remember that these too were prophesied in God’s word and instead of becoming discouraged, strengthen our own faith and hope in God’s coming new world.

 

 

General Christian

Contemplative

History and Religion

Inspiration

Church Attendance

Church Decline

End Times Prophecy

About Margaret Y. Buapim

Margaret Y. Buapim is a freelance writer and novelist. Her first novel, Ring Envy, is available wherever books are sold. You can read more about the author here.

Previous Post



October 20, 2023

Have You Discovered the Purpose for Your Life?

Next Post



November 3, 2023 Why Does God Allow Suffering?

Recent Comments

0 | Leave a Comment


Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Inspiration Uncategorized

Select a Month December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 March 2023 February 2023




TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What animal did Balaam's donkey see that Balaam could not?

Select your answer to see how you score.

A lion An angel A storm A snake

Related posts from Living Out Loud

Patheos Portals

Holiday Traditions: A Guide to Understanding Them

Living Out Loud

Patheos Portals

Is Singleness a Sign of Disfavor from God?

Living Out Loud

Patheos Portals

Comfort for the Holidays

Living Out Loud

Patheos Portals

Increasing Our Ability to Give Thanks

Living Out Loud

TRENDING AT PATHEOS Women in Religion

Revelation's Jesus Isn't the Lamb — He's the...

In the first article in this series of three articles, "One Jesus,...

How Paul Turned a Dead Messiah Into Christianity's...

This is a continuation of our investigation into the New Testament theologies...

Christian Nationalism: Political Tool And Biased Reporting

Christian Nationalism - An Artificial Category to Label MAGA Supporters Could "Christian...

There is no Clear Definition for "Christian Nationalism"

In the first article of this series I presented a definition of...

"Play or Pray? Exploring Faith and Choice in...

  September 25, 2017. The date may not stand out to most....

Bizzle Be Better: Critiquing the Christian Rapper Bizzle

Few Christian Hip Hop artists can connect the lyrical poetics of both...

view all Women in Religion blogs

Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Copyright 2008-2026, Patheos. All rights reserved.

Subscription Support Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In

Follow Patheos Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube