Hamo at Backyard Missionary has written his Australia day post on the situation of Christianity in Australia. His outlook is a bleak one but there is, I think, a lot of truth in the things he writes.
I actually believe the current decline in Australian Christianity will continue for maybe another couple of hundred years. If we are looking like following European trends then Australia is only going to become more secular,and more focused on the material to bring us satisfaction in life. I can see that at least the next 50 years being ones of decline and challenge for us in the church. There will be some who will be faithful, who will take up the challenge of living for Jesus, but I believe it will be a dry, tough time and many will give the game up.
I should say that I would love to be around if God ever did do something miraculous - if there ever was a genuine revival ala the Welsh revival. I’m sure that would be an incredible experience. But in the mean time - in the absence of the miraculous - I believe our job is not to pray God will pull his finger out and bring some pagans into church, but rather for us to get our own butts into gear and live the gospel in the worlds we are a part of.
Honestly I don’t have any other answer than to say ‘be faithful disciples’… I think Peter had it right when Jesus asked him if he wanted to leave. Remember his words? ‘Lord to whom would we go?!’
What does the future hold for Christianity? Larger buildings? Better sound quality? More creative use of lighting? More programs for smaller demographic groups? Will we one day see a pastor for blonde, single females with only one leg and specials programs designed specifically for them? Are we called to be the church and not just to dissect it into pieces!
What I do Know is that we must be faithful to follow Christ with dedication allowing Him to have all our lives regardless of the currents of society that draw us away! We are asked to follow regardless of who else is!
So read the post by Hamo and tell me your response.
Backyard Missionary » Blog Archive » The Future for Christianity in Australia (Synchroblog)
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