There is much talk about the state of Christianity in America, and what, if any, future we Christians have here. While it is impossible to predict the future of America or American Christianity, it is good to think about things that could happen, and think about what our response should be. Let’s now look at five possible scenarios that we could be facing in the future.
1. Revival & spiritual awakening
Of all of the scenarios, this one is the most appealing to me (and I would assume, most Christians). Though we cannot produce a national revival, God certainly can, and He has done so in the past. It would be a wonderful thing if God were to pour out His Spirit on our land and bring multitudes upon multitudes of people to faith. As God changed people’s hearts, their families would be changed and so would our churches. As the churches taught people the biblical role of the civil government, they would elect godly leaders. We then would once again be a city on a hill, an example for others to follow as we followed Christ.
If God were to do this, what would be our role? Our role would be to proclaim the gospel and then teach those converts to apply the Bible to all of life and society. Even though it would be God doing the work, it would also involve us working really hard as well.
2. The total destruction of the United States, and every Christian within its borders
This option is the least pleasant. In history, there have been places where Christianity has been successfully driven out. In places like France, it has yet to return. And, of course, there have been many nations that have called themselves Christian nations, that are no longer in existence. God can also wipe out His own people from a certain area. Though we can and should pray that God doesn’t do this, God has done it before and we cannot demand that He spare us. If this is what God has in store for us, there is not much that we can do. That’s why this option is the least pleasant one.
3. God destroys the U.S., but sends American Christians to other nations
We have also seen in history where God has driven His people from their homeland and into other parts of the world. Some Americans are already talking of moving to other countries (with Costa Rica and New Zealand being popular destinations). But often this talk of fleeing is done with the wrong motives. Many want flee to a nation that they deem to be more stable than the U.S., in order to preserve their wealth and comfortable life from a future economic crisis.
The Christian’s motivation for fleeing should be different. Though fleeing could be a good option, it should not be done simply to preserve our comfort. If we choose to flee, it should be for the purpose of finding a nation that will allow us more freedom to worship God and disciple the nations.
Here in the U.S., we still have some things going for us. To my knowledge, we have more Creation ministries and Christian/Home schools here than anywhere else. We still have a lot of financial resources, and a very rich heritage. If God were to send persecution and drive us to other countries, these resources could be used by God to disciple those nations that we flee to. Of course, I’m not saying that God needs us (He doesn’t), but He may choose to use us in that way.
4. Secession
Back when the U.S. was being founded, men like Patrick Henry foresaw trouble in the future. Way back in the 1780s, Henry saw that a war between the States was coming, and there has been talk of secession from that time until now. Ungodly empires like ours tend to break apart, so seeing the U.S. split into smaller nations isn’t as farfetched as it may seem.
Should Christians want to see this happen? That all depends. If our primary motives are to preserve our prosperity and freedom, then no, we should not. But if our primary motive is to have a nation that once again honors the King of kings (which will result in prosperity and freedom), then secession could be a viable option. The problem is that, as of now, I don’t know of any part of the country that has a majority of people who would have this as their primary motive. So, as of now, there isn’t an area of the U.S. that could be considered “christianized” enough to become a Christian nation. Of course God could still break up our nation, but it would be hard to be enthusiastic about that if we simply broke into smaller ungodly nations that would soon be judged by God.
5. A tear-down that leads to a rebuilding
I believe that neither America nor American Christianity can continue to survive in their present state for much longer. When a society is built on the ideas of humans rather than on the word of God, that society may thrive for a time, but in the long run, it will fall apart. That is what we are seeing now, and I expect things to continue to unravel.
Is that bad news? Only for those who love humanistic societies more than biblical ones. While any “unraveling” would be painful for us Christians as well, it could also be a grand opportunity. When humanistic societies are uprooted, it clears the way for biblical ones to grow. If this is what God has planned for us, it would be good to start rebuilding all of life and society now. This is what God told His people to do in Jeremiah 29:4-7.
Israel had turned their back on God, so He destroyed them and sent them into captivity. While they were in captivity, He told them to start rebuilding. They were to rebuild Israelite society (and their families) even before God brought them back to the land of Israel. This serves as a good example for us. If God is going to restore our nation to its Christian roots, He may choose to break us down first. As of now, that is what seems to be happening. Again, if this is what God has in store for us, it would be good to start rebuilding a biblical society now. This rebuilding will need to happen from the bottom up. We first need to rebuild families, churches and local communities, before we can expect national change.
There are, of course, a million more possible scenarios that could play out here. What do you think will happen to American Christianity? What do you think needs to be done? Are you doing something, or are you only complaining about the state of things? If you are wondering what to do, we’d be glad to give you some ideas. You can get in touch with us through the “contact us” page on our web site: 5thkingdomministries.com/contact/