In recent decades, liberals have increasingly exchanged the historic theological truths of the faith for what sociologist Christian Smith calls “moralistic, therapeutic deism.” Instead of a message of sin and forgiveness through the work of Christ on the cross, they have communicated a therapeutic message of social action and cultural tolerance. Moreover, their identity often has been aligned with a political agenda that distorts the gospel from a message of reconciliation with God through Christ into a message of sexual liberation, environmentalism and an ambiguous call for social justice.
New York Times columnist Ross Douthat recently described the collapse of liberal Christianity in America, pointing to a 23 percent drop in Episcopal attendance over the previous decade as evidence of its demise. While Douthat and others single out the Episcopal Church, the rapid decline is shared by other mainline denominations, including my own, the Presbyterian Church (USA).
This collapse is all the more startling in light of the current global success of Christianity. Historian Philip Jenkins observes that African Christianity is growing at 2.36 percent annually, and the number of Christians on the continent is expected to double in less than 30 years. According to Jenkins, the growth of African Christianity represents the largest quantitative religious change in history.
And this expansion is not limited to Africa. Notre Dame historian Mark Noll writes that on a given Sunday, more Christians attend church in China than in all of “Christian Europe” (and despite that as recently as 1970 there were no legal churches in China). Similarly, Pentecostalism, a charismatic form of Protestantism, is increasing globally at 19 million adherents annually, with the number predicted to be over a billion by 2050. Recent estimates report nearly 18 million Pentecostals in Brazil, and 40 Pentecostal churches opening in Rio de Janeiro weekly.
So as Christianity finds fresh life from Latin America to Asia, why is liberal Christianity in America rapidly dying?
Liberals have answered this question in varied ways. Answers range from a failure to accommodate technological trends to an inability to articulate a clear message and cultivate an authentic identity. Some even suggest capitalism and consumerism are the culprits. However, speaking as someone serving in a liberal denomination, I think the answer is more straightforward.
In recent decades, liberals have increasingly exchanged the historic theological truths of the faith for what sociologist Christian Smith calls “moralistic, therapeutic deism.” Instead of a message of sin and forgiveness through the work of Christ on the cross, they have communicated a therapeutic message of social action and cultural tolerance. Moreover, their identity often has been aligned with a political agenda that distorts the gospel from a message of reconciliation with God through Christ into a message of sexual liberation, environmentalism and an ambiguous call for social justice.
Benjamin Carver is director of discipleship at Johns Island Presbyterian Church in the Charleston, SC area.