Identifying
‘Cause’ is always challenging. There is seldom a single causal factor when
dealing with an organism as complex as the church. The following are factors
that have contributed significantly to the precipitous decline of the American
Church.
Formal
research has provided focus on this matter. The Pew Research Group, Hartford
Seminary, and the Francis Schaeffer Leadership Institute have provided some
very reliable data on this important question.
#1
– Leadership Incompetence. The number one cause of decline is Incompetent
Leadership. This includes both pastors and ‘lay leaders’. This is not a popular
perspective but it is absolutely true. Consider the following findings from the
Schaeffer Institute on Pastoral Leadership. This data is from interviews conducted
with over 1,000 pastors.
81%
of the pastors said there was no regular discipleship program or effective
effort of mentoring their people.
75%
of the pastors surveyed felt they were unqualified and/or poorly trained by
their seminaries to lead and manage the church or to counsel others.
Seminary
teaches a man to study the Bible. It does not teach a man to lead or to develop
other qualified leaders. It also does not teach him to effectively lead
Organizational Change which occupies a large component of a pastor’s time and
ministry endeavors after he completes his formal education.
#2
– Corrupt Doctrine. There are multiple commands in the New Testament concerning
the importance of Sound Doctrine. Sound Doctrine is literally ‘healthy
doctrine’. Corrupt doctrine results in dysfunctional ministry practices. A
large compliment of the American Church has abandoned the Authority of
Scripture and the church is impoverished by this loss.
#3
– Congregational Apathy – Apathy is knowledge without action. Some church
members can answer all your questions, cross all the ‘T’s’ and dot the ‘I’s’.
But, they do not engage what I refer to as Applied Theology. Their life style
and failure to live in obedience to God’s word denies what they claim to
believe. The Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20) contains a single command – Make
Disciples. Research has shown that a majority of professing believers NEVER
share the gospel with anyone in an entire year. The church is not a mere
preaching station. The church gathered is for preaching, teaching, equipping,
and fellowship. The church scattered is to press the message of redemption from
sin in the marketplace on a daily basis by all members. This leads to the next
factor.
#4
– Biblical Literacy. People who do not know their Bible will not challenge an
unbeliever. They know that if they are challenged to defend their faith they
will fail so they remain silent. R.C. Sproul recently completed a comprehensive
study of what those who claim to be Christians believe (The State of Theology). A review of this instrument
reveals just how unorthodox and corrupt the theology of professed believers has
become.
#5
– Unregenerate Members – A foundational aspect of church membership for
centuries has been regenerate members. The validation of regeneration is
transformation. When there is no transformation in a person’s life that is
exhibit ‘A’ that they have not been truly saved, made alive in Christ. The
requirements for church membership have been watered down. This has been
exacerbated by the quest for numbers. The proper metric to evaluate ministry
effectiveness is transformed lives not mere numbers.
#6
– Demographic Age – The average age of our nation is 36-38. The average age of
the American Church is 60+. The average age of a healthy church is 38-43. The
New Testament requires a robust inter-generational ministry. The elder are to
teach the younger. This requires not only formal instruction but also modeling,
living the life of an obedient disciple. The stunning loss of young people in
the American Church validates this issue as a major cause of the church’s
decline.
#7
– Absence of Purpose – If you ask 20 people in a given church to write a one
paragraph description of the purpose of their church you may well get 25
different statements. The purpose of every church is to make disciples fully
formed in the image of Christ in character and conduct. When the church returns
to this noble purpose the decline will cease.
