The Future Fate of the American Church

By: Brian G. Chilton | February 25, 2019

I recently delivered a message that exhibited the great concern I have for the church in America. The church of the United States is facing a great enemy. The enemy it faces is not Islam. It is not socialism. It isn’t even legislation. The greatest enemy of the church in America is the church itself. I have been rocked with news recently that the Southern Baptist Church has had 700 cases of sexual abuse since 1998 with roughly 380 Southern Baptist church leaders and volunteers who have faced allegations. I understand that many are concerned with false allegations, but many of these cases came before what one would consider the age of fake news.

In another case, a major denomination faces what seems to be a major split over the push to change church doctrine. I won’t get into all the details of this issue as it is still developing as I write this piece. Furthermore, liberal Lutheran pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber, the pastor of Denver’s House for All Sinners and Saints, collected numerous chastity rings and had them melted into a statue of a female body part. Bolz-Weber offered the statue to abortionist advocate Gloria Steinem at the 2019 #MAKERSConference at Monarch Beach Resort.

We ask ourselves, “Why doesn’t God bless our churches? Why are so many young people leaving the church?” The better question is, why should God bless our churches in the midst of such depravity and turmoil? Even with churches that seemingly have better theology, constant infighting and turbulence leave individuals disgruntled and annoyed. If you don’t believe me, look at all the church splits that take place. What is it going to take for the American church to get its act right? I propose three things among what I am sure are many other issues that need to be considered.

1. God-centeredness. The church needs to return to a God-fearing status. I don’t mean by this that the church needs to live in fear each moment for doing something wrong. There is no need to think that God stands by waiting to strike individuals with a bolt from heaven at any indiscretion. However, the church needs to realize that God should be the focus and not ourselves. Many individuals have adopted an entitlement mentality that has gravitated into the church. Some believe that God owes them something. Yet, God owes no one anything. He is the source of life. In him, we find life, our being, and our identity. For the church to become what it needs to be, there should be a focus on becoming more God-centered and less self-centered.
2. Biblical and Theological Literacy. If there is anything I have been trying to hammer down in my writings, it is that the church needs to be better trained biblical and theologically. Yes, I am a theology and Bible nerd. I reality admit that fact. However, many are not receiving the proper training they need in the Bible and theology. It seems that the focus for the past century has been more on emotions and entertainment than on truth and theology.
3. Love and Compassion. Lastly, the church needs to exhibit true love and compassion. True love and compassion do not passively sit by and say, “You’re okay, I’m okay, and we’re all okay.” Rather, true love and compassion willingly help individuals who are hurting and leads them to the truth of the gospel. These traits will not only give to people who are in physical need, but they will also give to people who are in spiritual need.

I do not mean to be a pessimist. Quite honestly, I am normally an annoying optimist who always seeks to see the best in all things. And being optimistic, I do believe that a form of the church will exist until Christ returns. But what will that church look like by that time? Will Christ return to see a strong, vibrant church in the United States or one that is limping and wavering? The good news is that God has brought amazing revivals in the past and he can do it again. Do we truly desire to see another Great Awakening? Are we praying that one would come? Or, are we happy and content with the status quo? Are we willing to change to be usable to Christ or do we want to maintain our lives with no change and no transformation? The answer to the latter is what concerns me the most. Only God knows what the fate of the American church will be in the next 100 years. My prayer is that its future will be good so that future generations will know about Christ, but I readily admit that I have grave concerns.

Brian G. Chilton is the founder of BellatorChristi.com and is the host of The Bellator Christi Podcast. He received his Master of Divinity in Theology from Liberty University (with high distinction); his Bachelor of Science in Religious Studies and Philosophy from Gardner-Webb University (with honors); and received certification in Christian Apologetics from Biola University. Brian is currently enrolled in the Ph.D. program in Theology and Apologetics at Liberty University and is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Evangelical Philosophical Society. Brian has been in the ministry for over 15 years and serves as the Senior Pastor of Westfield Baptist Church in northwestern North Carolina.

© 2019. BellatorChristi.com.