The State of Modern Christianity
- 12.15.09
- Culture, Missional Living
- 7 Comments
Rick Warren draws our attention to some interesting – and profound – facts about modern Christianity. Here’s what he says…
The last 50 years has seen the greatest redistribution of a religion ever in the history of the world. For instance, in 1900, 71% of all, ‘Christians’ lived in Europe; by 2000, it had declined to just 28% who claimed to Christians. Far fewer go to church. Conversely, in 1900, only 10% of all people in Africa (10 million) were Christians vs. over 50% (360 million) today. That is a complete turnaround on a continent that’s never, ever been seen or done in history.
I may surprise some when I say that there are by far more Christians in China than in America. There are more Presbyterians in Ghana than in Scotland, where they were founded by John Knox. There are more Baptists in the India state of Nagaland than in the American South. There are more Anglicans in Kenya or Uganda or Rwanda or Nigeria than in England. There are 2 million Anglicans in England compared to 17 million in Nigeria. Last Sunday, more Christians went to church in China than all of Europe combined. That is a fundamental shift.
If you want to know the future of Christianity, it is the developing world. It’s Africa, Latin America and Asia.
(Pew Forum Weekly 11/20/09)
An excerpt from your blog is repeated verbatim at:
http://oakbeat.com/2009/12/the-state-of-modern-christianity-7/
I see no link from that excerpt to your blog, nor credit, although a look at the posting times suggests that the work is clearly yours.
Mike,
Would that data suggest we have plenty of work to do, right here at home in America? Interesting read.
Wow. That’s an inspiring call to mission in our own home towns. Thank you.
I totally agree, we have a “Reaching out to our Community” policy at our home church here in Aberdeen, Scotland.
[...] 16, 2009 in musings I came across some really interesting statistics on Mike Potter’s blog about the state of Christianity in the developed world. He’s quoting Rick Warren and [...]
Lack of Missional passion, vision & capacity will sound the death bell for local congregations in the West. We have got to start thinking OUT of the box …that is OUTSIDE of the congragtion….
My question would be if the Christianity planted in these developing countries is just a transplant of the broken institutional system we have in the west? It seems that, in many cases, it is and therefore faces the same demise. Case in point: Rwanda. Championed as the poster child for Christian missions effectiveness. The country became “Christian” and then promptly engaged in one of the greatest human atrocities known in modern times. “Christian” hacking “Christian” with machetes.
We must get back to true discipleship that counts the cost and follows Jesus at his word without compromise standing for justice, peace, and love (even of our enemies)
So, if all of you are suggesting that we need to evangelize our own backyard with the same diluted “jesus is my personal assistant” “Christianity” that we have in our churches now, I strongly disagree. I rather not spread this broken message anywhere.