I know the Pew Research Center’s report notes that the U. S. Christian population is 78%. That would be 243,360,000 people.
I know 38% of the general population (That would be 118,560,000 people.) accept the label “Evangelical”–with Barna adding that 27% of those (That would be 32,011,200 people.) that do are not born again. So, 118,560,000 less Barna’s 32,011,200 leaves 86,548,800 U. S. Evangelical Christians– or 28% of the U. S. population.
The numbers must be wrong.
With all that is happening in the U. S. public square over religious liberty matters against Christians, how can there be 243,000,000 people in the United States who are Christians? How can 28% of the U. S. population be comprised of evangelicals? Religious liberty matters aside, what population that large would allow such treatment to their own?
What if the voices standing against the way of Jesus numbered 243,000,000, or even 28% of the population? Would they remain silent and unresponsive to verbal abuse, threats, discrimination, and double standards by a minority group trying to take away public rights?
Public actions have revealed the private beliefs of one of the world’s largest “Christian” populations. And those public actions do not reveal a Kingdom Ethic lived by 78% or even 28% of the population.
Maybe the U. S. is more of a mission field than we have believed it to be.
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Last week on Strike the Match, pastor and author, Jonathan Dodson was my guest. Check out our conversation and subscribe at iTunes or through RSS.
This is good information. When we deduct the marginal believers (or those who simply don’t care) from the 28%, we are likely cutting that number in half. I believe many among this end number are concerned and praying and even speaking out and positively impacting the culture in some ways with whatever platform they have. Yet in some ways become little more than voices in the wind due to no unified structure with which to unify what has now likely become 14-15% of the total population. How does one unify these voices to adequately reflect the “Kingdom viewpoint?” I don’t know. Just a few thoughts.
Thanks, Jim, for sharing.
I live in minister in China where the supposedly booming numbers of Christians also don’t add up to the impact that is being had on the society as a whole. Increasingly it feels like the situation in America is not that much different than the one here. People’s supposed private convictions (checking a “born again” box on a survey) are not matching their public convictions. Government fear tactics and chances of being socially ostracized are often behind this. I am moving back to the States in 6 days after a decade here. I pray that my experience here will help me to better encourage and lead Christians back in the U.S. who are struggling with similar things. Come, Lord Jesus, come!
Thanks for sharing, Josh. I am certain you will have much to share and contribute when you move. Thank you for all of your Kingdom labors in China!