Our Chapter in History
Christendom is dying.
What is Christendom? It is a version of Christianity that is institutional, hierarchical, territorial, and central. Christendom began when Emperor Constantine made Christianity a state religion in 325 A.D. Prior to the emperor’s involvement, Christianity had been a movement, largely home-based, subversive, persecuted, mission-oriented, and apparently pacifist. 325 A.D. historically marks the dusk of what we call the historical period of the early church, and the dawn of the institution of Christendom. The church shifted from being a grassroots movement of Christ’s followers to a religious institution.
Of course, throughout history God has always raised up prophets, reformers, and evangelists to do His work — even during very dark times. Francis of Assisi radically broke with tradition and expectations in the early 1200’s to devote himself to serving the poor and the dying. John Wesley was used to spark a revival movement in the 1700’s by forming small group fellowships that met outside of the church walls. And doctrinal reforms were made by such groups as the Anabaptist movement who were the first to revive the forgotten New Testament practice of baptism immersing under water when a person believes. There have always been those who God has used to reform and to renew His body.
The 16th century marks a significant change in church history. In the 1520’s Martin Luther sparked what became known as the Protestant Reformation. Even though it resulted in the division between Catholic and Protestant, it was originally an attempt to reform the church from within. The Protestant Reformation worked to reform a number of doctrines and corruption in the church at that time. However, Protestant churches continued, for the most part, to be institutional, hierarchical, territorial, central and in partnership with the State.
Today, Christendom is dying. While God’s church is actually growing worldwide like never before, Christendom as a dominant religious institution is in decline in the West. In parts of Western Europe — once the center of Christendom — there are people that have never heard the Gospel. The Christian population of England today is less than 5%. According to research findings, during the last 5+ years attendance in traditional churches in the U.S. has been in a free-fall. The number of those not attending church in the U.S. has doubled in one decade. At the same time researcher, George Barna, claims that the current house church movement is the fastest growing expression of church in the U.S. Several missions researchers have learned that literally thousands of new believers become Christians everyday in China, India, the Middle East and other parts of the world. Christ’s church continues to expand at a pace unmatched by any other period in history.
Christendom is dying, and most people are unaware. Pictures of mega churches in the U.S. do not actually reflect the reality being realized by numerous Christian researchers, and these efforts do not seem to be effecting real change as studies on church growth indicate that much of their increase is the result of church shopping rather than outreach.
While many church planting movements are rediscovering the power of God’s Spirit in their midst, the institution of Christendom in the West is increasingly shrinking. And it is probably one of the best things that could happen to the church! It may yet force us to be a missionary people again. It raises the awareness of the need for reform. It forces church to once again be a community of faith and devotion to Christ rather than a service to go to. It calls us to recognize that the Gospel is counter-cultural. God’s people in this society are back where the Lord has always done His best work — on the margins and against the flow. You see, the Kingdom of God is counter-intuitive. In other words, it pushes against our typical ways of thinking. When it redefines our lives, it redefines our reality and restores hope.
Many Christian leaders across the country have suggested that the changes of the 21st century are as significant as those of the 4th and of the 16th centuries. May our prayer be that we have eyes to see and ears to hear what the Lord is doing in our time, and may we respond to His leading with love and with humility and with passion!
What is Christendom? It is a version of Christianity that is institutional, hierarchical, territorial, and central. Christendom began when Emperor Constantine made Christianity a state religion in 325 A.D. Prior to the emperor’s involvement, Christianity had been a movement, largely home-based, subversive, persecuted, mission-oriented, and apparently pacifist. 325 A.D. historically marks the dusk of what we call the historical period of the early church, and the dawn of the institution of Christendom. The church shifted from being a grassroots movement of Christ’s followers to a religious institution.
Of course, throughout history God has always raised up prophets, reformers, and evangelists to do His work — even during very dark times. Francis of Assisi radically broke with tradition and expectations in the early 1200’s to devote himself to serving the poor and the dying. John Wesley was used to spark a revival movement in the 1700’s by forming small group fellowships that met outside of the church walls. And doctrinal reforms were made by such groups as the Anabaptist movement who were the first to revive the forgotten New Testament practice of baptism immersing under water when a person believes. There have always been those who God has used to reform and to renew His body.
The 16th century marks a significant change in church history. In the 1520’s Martin Luther sparked what became known as the Protestant Reformation. Even though it resulted in the division between Catholic and Protestant, it was originally an attempt to reform the church from within. The Protestant Reformation worked to reform a number of doctrines and corruption in the church at that time. However, Protestant churches continued, for the most part, to be institutional, hierarchical, territorial, central and in partnership with the State.
Today, Christendom is dying. While God’s church is actually growing worldwide like never before, Christendom as a dominant religious institution is in decline in the West. In parts of Western Europe — once the center of Christendom — there are people that have never heard the Gospel. The Christian population of England today is less than 5%. According to research findings, during the last 5+ years attendance in traditional churches in the U.S. has been in a free-fall. The number of those not attending church in the U.S. has doubled in one decade. At the same time researcher, George Barna, claims that the current house church movement is the fastest growing expression of church in the U.S. Several missions researchers have learned that literally thousands of new believers become Christians everyday in China, India, the Middle East and other parts of the world. Christ’s church continues to expand at a pace unmatched by any other period in history.
Christendom is dying, and most people are unaware. Pictures of mega churches in the U.S. do not actually reflect the reality being realized by numerous Christian researchers, and these efforts do not seem to be effecting real change as studies on church growth indicate that much of their increase is the result of church shopping rather than outreach.
While many church planting movements are rediscovering the power of God’s Spirit in their midst, the institution of Christendom in the West is increasingly shrinking. And it is probably one of the best things that could happen to the church! It may yet force us to be a missionary people again. It raises the awareness of the need for reform. It forces church to once again be a community of faith and devotion to Christ rather than a service to go to. It calls us to recognize that the Gospel is counter-cultural. God’s people in this society are back where the Lord has always done His best work — on the margins and against the flow. You see, the Kingdom of God is counter-intuitive. In other words, it pushes against our typical ways of thinking. When it redefines our lives, it redefines our reality and restores hope.
Many Christian leaders across the country have suggested that the changes of the 21st century are as significant as those of the 4th and of the 16th centuries. May our prayer be that we have eyes to see and ears to hear what the Lord is doing in our time, and may we respond to His leading with love and with humility and with passion!
posted by Jared | 9:34 AM
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