The state of the American evangelical church and its future. Is its future bright or gloomy?

American internet evangelists are having great success spreading the gospel into foreign lands and having some success in America as well. And biblical Christianity and biblical creationism are having great success spreading their messages via indigenous people in those lands. See: Global creationism  and Interent evangelism is a powerful tool in evangelism

In addition, a 2012 Gallup poll indicated that creationism is growing in the United States. See:  2012 Gallup poll on prevalence of biblical creation belief

But what is the state of the American evangelical church? What is its future?

Is the future of the American evangelical church bright or gloomy? Two well-researched views

Below are two variant well researched predictions via articles and videos.

1.  The Great Evangelical Recession by John S. Dickerson

The Great Evangelical Recession and 6 ways to improve things

Review of the Great Evangelical Recession with the 6 factors listed plus commentary

2. Professor Eric Kaufmann's researched view.  Kaufmann is agnostic that teaches at the Birbeck College, University of London, UK.

The academic paper entitled Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth? Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century argues that the decline of atheism in terms of its global adherents is an established trend that will persist for the foreseeable future and the rate of decline will accelerate and affect the Western World.

See:

 Why are the years 2012 and 2020 key years for Christian creationists and pro-lifers?

Secularism is exhausted and lacks confidence

Religious immigrants highly resistant to secularization will dramatically alter the religious landscape

Which view will prevail? Is there truth to both views? Will the American evangelicalism adapt to new conditions and prosper? 

I think there is some truth to both views, namely the views of Eric Kaufmann and  John S. Dickerson.

My guess is the even though the American church holds 4/5 of Christendom's wealth that a day of reckoning is coming to the American church due to the 16 trillion dollars of federal government debt and the heavy debt loads of state/local governments. American prosperity is not sustainable under the current economic model.

A severe economic downturn could humble the American church and focus the church on getting back to the basics of the gospel and have more reliance on the wisdom of Scripture. Right now, the American church is similar to the Corinthian church in Paul's day. In addition, perhaps more internet evangelism will be focused on the United States.

What does American and world history teach us about an American church and great economic adversity? Let's take a look.

Will American biblical creation churches do well in economic hard times? 

During the Great Depression in America churches which emphasized holiness grew and so did pentecostal Christianity (I realize there can be considerable overlap as many pentecostal church also emphasize holiness).

Both of these types of protestantism tend to support creationism. In Latin America, where many people are of modest means, evangelical Christianity is growing very fast. But it is also doing well in Brazil which is an upcoming country in terms of economic performance.    

Biblical creation belief grows in economic hard times plus can do well in prosperous countries.

See also:  

Does atheism thrive on economic prosperity? Does religion prosper when people are desperate and ignorant?

Social unrest in Europe altering its religious landscape

The rich Swiss and Americans are a slap in the face to Darwinists. Yodele he who! God bless America!

The rich swiss continue to slap evolutionists across the face. Ouch! That must hurt!

Evolution indoctrinating public schools in America will face budget cuts and university indoctrination could decline as well.  More vouchers, private religious schools and charter schools

Evolutionists, start thinking the unthinkable

Pop goes the higher education Darwinism indoctrination

Since evolutionary propagation occurs mostly in schools, this could have a devastating effect on Darwinism.

How adaptable are American evangelicals and Americans? 

Pride causes people to be less adaptable. Wealth often breeds pride. Yet, Americans are an optimistic people and there are many people with a strong work ethic. In addition, there is the "Yankee ingenuity/adaptability" issue. And America has bounced back from adversity in the past. In Russia, although there was a revival in spiritual things after the collapse of the Soviet Union, I am guessing that many men chose the vodka solution and tried to drink themselves into oblivion.  

Consider this:

One of the most compelling arguments Dalos advances for the implosion of the Soviet Union is the role played by alcohol. Between 1936 and 1970, alcohol production rose by 157%. By 1975, it increased by 214%, and by 1976 it reached 327%. The state alcohol monopoly may have been pulling in 20 billion rubles yearly during the 1970s, and 40 billion in the 1980s, but the cost to the economy of lowered production due to alcohol-related causes, not least sickness, was far, far higher. 

My guess is that Americans are more optimistic and less fatalistic and a renewal of America is possible. 

But this will not be enough to for the American church to prosper under very hard economic conditions. It will require the grace of God and reliance on God.  Revivals have occurred in American history and it could certainly happen again.  Time will tell. 

Why our Question Evolution! group has aggressive plans for America

Our Question Evolution! group has aggressive plans for North America  

Creating a creationist majority in America

The Question Evolution! Campaign is growing in America
 
Creation.com reaches another milestone in America

Higher and higher web traffic for Creation.com

The Great Evangelical Recession book trailer video, author John S Dickerson




Decline of atheism videos


Eric Kaufmann: Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth? from Australian Broadcasting Corporation on FORA.tv

Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?



Eric Kaufmann - Demography and religion/secularism



Creation Ministries International website resources

Creation vs. evolution answers

Question Evolution! Campaign

15 questions for evolutionists

Responses to the 15 Questions: part 1 - Questions 1-3

Responses to the 15 Questions: part 2 - Questions 4–8

Responses to the 15 Questions: part 2 - Questions 9-15

Refuting evolution

Atheism, agnosticism and humanism: Godless religions

Evidence for Christianity

Creation Ministries International Question Evolution! Videos

• Question Evolution! campaign - Introduction

• 15 Questions for Evolutionists -- General objections

• 15 Questions for Evolutionists -- Question 1

• 15 Questions for Evolutionists -- Question 2

• 15 Questions for Evolutionists - Question 3

• 15 Questions for Evolutionists - Question 4

• 15 Questions for Evolutionists - Question 5

• 15 Questions for Evolutionists - Question 6

• 15 Questions for Evolutionists - Question 7

• 15 Questions for Evolutionists - Question 8

• 15 Questions for Evolutionists - Question 9

• 15 Questions for Evolutionists - Question 10

• 15 Questions for Evolutionists - Question 11

• 15 Questions for Evolutionists - Question 12

• 15 Questions for Evolutionists - Question 13

• 15 Questions for Evolutionists - Question 14

• 15 Questions for Evolutionists - Question 15

 Photo credits:

1.  Birkbeck College, University of London, source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Birkbeck_College,_University_of_London.jpg

Description	English: Birkbeck College, University of London
Date	22 November 2008
Source	http://www.flickr.com/photos/londonmatt/3052347793
Author	Matt From London

License: This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.