A blog post written for Preparing for Amazement Ministries

Has the church in the United States entered into a Post Christian Era much like Europe?

Without a doubt, yes.

This question, however, while important, points us to a greater question.

Is the emergence of a Post Christian Era in the United States good or bad news?

But first, a little more on the Post Christian Era in the United States:

I have had the privilege of studying churches in Europe that managed to thrive in the midst of the decline of the church there. Europe is 20-25 years ahead of the United States in the emergence of the Post Christian Era. They are joined by Oceana (Australia, New Zealand, etc).

All the data, both objective and subjective, points to the reality the United States has entered the Post Christian Era. It is not clear if the Covid-19 pandemic was the tipping point to bring the United States into the Post Christian Era or if the pandemic simply revealed the reality that we are in the Post Christian Era. Either way, many missiologists, scholars, consultants, and evangelists alike see that the Post Christian Era has come to the United States.

Ironically, what most people do not realize is that the passionate attempts to infuse government with religion actually does more harm than good when it comes to slowing the emergence of the Post Christian Era. Churches are in decline. Pastors are leaving ministry in once unimaginable numbers. Seminaries are shrinking, merging, and closing.

American Christians are notorious for doubling down on the culture war when things are not going as they might hope in churches, the government, or culture. My greatest fear is not that we have entered the Post Christian Era, but that Christians might waste what is ultimately the greatest opportunity in the history of the church in the United States.

Is the emergence of a Post Christian Era in the United States good news or bad news?

The answer depends on our response.

The emergence of the Post Christian Era in the United States may be a reality, but it can either be good news or bad news. It can be an opportunity for the Holy Spirit or for the Enemy.

As it turns out, our response to this moment in history really matters.

The church has two choices: embrace this moment and look to how the Holy Spirit might want to use and redeem it, or ignore this moment.

Ignoring this moment comes in two forms. Doubling down on the culture war or sticking our heads in the sand and ignoring the realities that surround us.

Embracing this moment means seeing this season as a great opportunity for revitalization and revival. It is an opportunity to get back to our roots, the roots of the Gospel and the early church from the book of Acts.

Is the emergence of a Post Christian Era in the United States good or bad news?

In this moment, it is both, but whether or not it is good news or bad news in the long run depends on us.

One of the best things that could happen to the church in the United States is for the false, heretical, biblically illiterate cultural and political Christianity to die. Unfortunately, in the process, some local churches might have to die as well.

Every Easter, I ask myself and others the same question. What needs resurrection? What needs resurrection in our lives? What needs resurrection in our culture? What needs resurrection in the church?

For me, the answer to the last question is simple. Our perspective needs resurrection the most in the church in the United States.

We have to get back to the Gospel. We have to get back to our mission, to the movement of Jesus. We must return to our roots as a church, looking to live out the early church from the book of Acts in our context.

The United States has entered the Post Christian Era. In the midst of the challenges that come with this reality are even greater opportunities. Will we, the Church, allow for God to bring resurrection to our perspective and partner with the Holy Spirit for revitalization and revival?

It’s up to us. It’s up to me and to you. We are unquestionably in the most challenging time in the history of the church in the United States, which means that we are also in a season that presents the greatest