The Louisville Courier Journal, published an informative article last week on religious trends in America.  Religion editor Peter Smith reported on the findings of a recent survey* that classified 28% of Americans as religious conservatives, 38% as moderates and 19% as progressives, or liberals.  The rest (15%) are nonreligious.

However, the survey revealed the conservative’s edge over liberals is rapidly slipping away.  Among millennials (those under 34 years of age) only 17% could be classified as religious conservatives, 23 % as liberals and 22% nonreligious.

That survey, conducted by The Public Religion Research Institute and the Brookings Institution, confirms our suspicions that evangelical Christianity is rapidly declining while liberal and secular ideas are gaining popularity.

As a follower of Jesus Christ who holds the strong conviction that both Biblical beliefs and personal behavior matter, I would make several observations about the survey results and how the church should respond.

 1. It’s not surprising that the religious beliefs of Americans are becoming more liberal. No culture is static. Moses warned the Israelites just before they entered the Promised Land that their coming prosperity had drawbacks.  ^“If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed. Like the nations the Lord destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed for not obeying the Lord your God.”  (Deuteronomy 8:19-20)

Once people conclude God is impersonal and His word is not to be taken literally, individuals are free to determine truth on their own.  When people do what is right in their own eyes, the culture, with no moral compass, begins to unravel.

Jesus warned that in the last days there would be a falling away of the faith.  (Matt. 24:10) The Apostle Paul predicted that a time would come when men would not put up with sound doctrine but, “They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths” (2 Timothy 4 :4)

2. The concerted effort being made by many evangelical churches to reach millennials isn’t working very effectively.  Over the past two decades a plethora of cutting-edge churches have made dramatic, often controversial, changes in worship and programming in an effort to reach the 20-35 age group. While there has been moderate success in some isolated incidences, overall these efforts have not born much fruit.

3. The 17% of youth who are labeled as conservative are stronger and more committed than the previous generation.  They have to be to withstand the increasing ridicule and persecution they receive.   The Bible says, “Where sin increases grace increases all the more.”

I am repeatedly impressed with the strong dedication and willingness  to sacrifice on the part of today’s committed young Christians.  For example, three young couples from Southeast Christian have recently felt called to 3^rd world countries, seeking to bring Christ to cultures that are 99% Muslim.  These millenniels are risking their lives and have sacrificed almost everything to advance the gospel of the Lord Jesus.

The Courier Journal article reported, “Religious conservatives are far more likely to say religion is the most important thing in their lives, while progressives are more likely to say it’s important but not the most important”.

4.  The Lord has always performed His most impressive miracles with a remnant of dedicated followers.  Gideon pared down his army from 32,000 to 300 and then defeated the mighty Midianite military.  Jesus trimmed his followers from over 5000 to twelve and with that handful of trained, committed men impacted the world.  The pruning of today’s church could, in the long run, be a prelude to spiritual revival.

5. Instead of watering down the message to accommodate the changing views of our culture and bending over backward to convince the world “we’re normal” and the church is a “safe place”, the evangelical church needs to stand firm in the truth and present an appealing contrast to the world.  People are more likely to respond to a challenge than a watered down message.

Regardless of how people respond, even if the percentages continue to decline, we have an obligation to present the gospel the way it was handed down to us.  God isn’t in the popularity business.  Truth isn’t determined by majority vote but by the risen Christ who is the same, yesterday, today and forever”.

The Apostle John wrote, “See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us—even eternal life. (1 John 2:24-25)

*The Public Religion Research Institute and the Brookings Institution conducted a survey concerning the religious views of Americans.

Here are some of the questions the survey asked to determine spiritual convictions:

• Is God personal or impersonal?

• Is the Bible or other holy book to be interpreted literally or not?

• Should your religion preserve traditional beliefs and practices or adapt them to the times?

• Should gay marriage be legal?

• Should abortion be legal?

• Should minimum wage be increased?

• Should Obamacare be retained?

• Should the rich pay more taxes?

According to those who conducted the survey, If you chose the second option in the first three questions and answered yes to the last five questions, you’re a “progressive”.  If you chose the opposite, you’re a conservative.