A Godless Europe and A Tidal Wave of Christianity

CBN News ^ | July 29th, 2004 | Dale Hurd

[missyme]

September 11th focused a lot of attention on the growth of Islam. What most pundits and scholars have missed is the incredible growth of Christianity, and where it's growing.

Today more Presbyterians worship in the African nation of Ghana than in Scotland. And more Anglicans worship in Nigeria than in Britain. We like to think of ourselves as the Christian West.

But there is growing evidence that the center of Christendom has moved.

Africans are running to accept Jesus Christ. It is a scene playing out all across the developing world. It may sound like an exaggeration, but it's not: Christianity is sweeping across the southern hemisphere and Asia like a tidal wave.

"The scale of Christian growth is almost unimaginable," said Dr. Philip Jenkins, distinguished professor of History and Religious Studies at Penn State University.

Jenkins shocked and probably panicked some of America's political and media elite with his acclaimed book, The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity. Jenkins argues the greatest movement of the past century was not communism or capitalism. Do the math and the winner is spirit-filled Christianity, or what he terms in his study as "Pentecostalism."

"The modern Pentecostal movement begins at the start of the 20th century," Jenkins said. "So say this begins with a few hundred, a few thousand people… today you're dealing with several hundred million people, and the best projections are by 2040’s or 2050’s, you could be dealing with a billion Pentecostals worldwide.

By that stage there will be more Pentecostals than Hindus. There are already more Pentecostals than Buddhists."

Jenkins says in just 20 years, two-thirds of all Christians will live in Africa, Latin America or Asia.

"Back in 1900, there were about 10 million Christians in Africa, representing about 10 percent of the population. Today there are 360 million, representing just under half the population. That is one of the most important changes in religious history, and I think most of us didn't notice it," he said.

A lot of people still haven't noticed it. When scandal or controversy hits an American church, the U.S. news media tends to treat it like a worldwide crisis for that denomination. But it is not a crisis for those churches in the developing world. Most of them are not gripped by debates over homosexuality or abortion — that is a problem for European and American liberals — they believe the Bible.

"The Bible is alive in Africa and Asia and Latin America," Jenkins said. "Overwhelmingly, the kind of Christianity is one which is very Bible-centered, which takes the Bible very seriously, takes authority very seriously, both the Old and the New Testament, in a way which I don't think western Christianity has done probably since the Enlightenment."

But the growth of Christianity threatens Islam, and Christians are being slaughtered in places like Nigeria and Indonesia. Jenkins thinks the conflict will intensify in nations where the two faiths compete. And he debunks the notion that Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. Christianity is growing faster.

"If you look at the 25 most populous countries in the world in the mid-21st century, 20 of those are going to be divided to a greater or lesser extent between Christianity and Islam," Jenkins said.

Then there is China. There are about 80 million Christians in China, according to former Time Magazine Correspondent David Aikman, who predicts China will be a Christianized nation in 20 to 30 years. He does not predict a Christian majority, but a China that is 25 to 30 percent Christian. Enough, he says, to change society and government.

"If you have a Christianized China, the leadership of China would reflect a Christian worldview to some degree," Aikman said. "A China that's Christianized would not be a threat to the United States."

And Aikman says the Chinese church leaders have a burden to take the gospel the rest of the way across the globe, to the Muslims.

"It's part of a sense that they call ‘back to Jerusalem,’" Aikman said. "They believe that just as the gospel originally came out of Jerusalem and went to the West and to North America and Europe and came to China, now the Chinese need to bring it back to Jerusalem, not in the sense of evangelizing the Jewish, but in the sense of completing the circle so that the gospel message is available to everybody in the world."

Imagine Chinese reaching the Muslims, Koreans evangelizing Indians, Africans taking the gospel back to a largely godless Europe.

African Matthew Ashimolowo is the pastor of the fastest growing church in England. "God is sending people who used to receive missionaries to now be missionaries around the world," Ashimolowo said.

Kenyan Bishop Gilbert Dya has one of the largest churches in London. "I am in this country, believing that God sent me here in Great Britain to make a voice on His behalf to let them know that they need to repent and come back to God," he said.

The developing world is not only a growing base for world missions, Jenkins says it is becoming the center of Christendom…again.

"Jesus said His church would last until the end of time. He never used the word, ‘Europe.’ Christianity is returning, I think, to its roots. It is a religion that originated in the Middle East and in Africa. Perhaps it went away for a while, but now it's back," Jenkins said.

[malakhi]

"A China that's Christianized would not be a threat to the United States."

Just like France was no threat to England?

[Campion]

I'm currently reading "A Woman Rides the Beast". I will say it is well worth the read. It is thorough, well researched and on the mark..

It's garbage. The only reason you like it is that your mind was already made up to agree with the author's thesis before you started, and you don't examine his arguments critically.

[Havoc]

LOL. Good of you to pop in my mind and tell everyone what I'm thinking Campion. I particularly support the work because I have bothered to critically pick it apart and have yet to find an error. I'm only about 6 chapters in though, in defense. But the guy is dead on the money. I'm sure you're only upset because the truth hurts.

[theophilusscribe]

Amen and amen, Brother!

P.S. I'm a sister :o)

[missyme]

I have heard that one of the reasons that the United States
is not really foretold in Biblical Prophecy is due to the rapture theory? So if that is the case wouldn't it be logical that most of the pople left on earth would be un-decided believers and the enemies who are intent on destroying Israel?

Although I don't know at this point what I believe in regards to the "Rapture", but I cannot imagine a Super Power like the United States not being mentioned in the final countdown of Armageggdon, unless were not here?

[hopespringseternal]

Well you emphasized the word 'false' but that can't be a good definition of a cult. Every religion thinks every other religion is false. If that were the basis of the definition then Buddhism would be a cult to Christians and vice versa. The rest of the definition is more workable.

Bingo. There are two different things here that should not be confused. Whether a denomination/sect/group is scripturally sound is the first and not so important as the second which is whether the group is culturally Christian.

Just because one group baptizes infants and another doesn't do it does not mark one as a cult. Whether they believe in living in society at large and obeying its laws and customs does.

As much as I abhor some denominations, they are culturally Christian, meaning they believe in obeying the law and being nice to people they disagree with. Mormonism is on the fringes, but they still believe those things to a large extent. JW is a little farther out culturally, but they don't blow up buses either.

David Koresh and his ilk obviously are not culturally Christian at all, that is the proper application of the "cult" appellation.

[missyme]

It's not the same world anymore...

We are a world that is seeing currents events pointing to the countdown for the return of "Messiah"

[Havoc]

There are two returns spoken of in scripture. One is the gathering of the Church. The second is the return with the church to defeat the forces of the world allied against Israel. With the Church taken out of the way, only the Apostates and the enemy will remain here with the Israelites. That will tip the balance and the entire world will stand against Israel because they represent the truth of God by their very existance at this point.

As for the makeup of Christians in America. You might be surprised in the difference between what is Christian and what claims to be. There's a whole lot of money to be made in expecting 10% tithe offering of income and time from your congregants. It's a great basis upon which to infiltrate and hijack a religion from a secular standpoint - and an easy device for the enemy.

Satan has perverted everything that God has touched in order to decieve the world and mislead them. Christianity was being perverted while the apostles yet breathed. Yet some would have us believe that because a belief is old and said to be christian that it is authentically Christian even when scripture says otherwise. Begging reason and Logic are favorite tools in this. But, we are not to rely on our own understanding. We are supposed to be relying on God and God's word. Isaiah stated the same things the apostles said, if they come with any word opposed to what is known, there is no light in them. Paul stated that if even he himself came preaching a gospel other than he first presented, let he himself be accursed.

The devil don't care. And neither do the religions playing at Chrisitianity. The only thing that matters to them is their power and how they can preserve it. All other considerations are secondary or expendable.

[Salvation]

"We will persevere."

[Salvation]

Catholic Discussion Ping!

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[Salvation]

**What is really distressing is that the United States and Europe is embracing Homosexuality like a Beautiful work of art?**

I think you are making a very large swish of the paintbrush here. The Catholic Church has stood faithfully against abortion, euthenasia, homosexuality when it was unpopular to do so.

God will prevail!

[Salvation]

Great quotes on your page!

[Salvation]

And the Catholic Church is alive and well despite all the recent turmoil. Faith in the trenches -- in the pews -- could not be stronger.

[missyme]

So are you saying that many Christians from different denominations will be left behind?

If the rapture does occur the Gathering of GOD's church Will that be people of any practicing faith? that profess Jesus Christ is LORD and SAVIOUR? and and have fully repented for their sins?

I find this very confusing, of who will be left behind? I cannot beleive if there is a time where people are raptured from the earth that the people left behind Un-Beleivers will continue to Un-Believe given the fact that they will see family members, friends, and people in general totally gone vanished...

[Fiddlstix]

Christianity is the only hope for the world, developed or developing. Let's pray it continues to grow!

BTTT

[missyme]

I don't dis-agree with that but what I am saying is that for the most part the USA tries to be politically correct and they don't want to actually come out and say Homosexuality is DEAD on WRONG or ISLAM is not a religion of PEACE we are more concerned about insulting Gays and Muslims than we are concerned about insulting GOD...

[Conspiracy Guy]

Kerry 2004



I want to be the President,
Though all know I can’t lead.
I really want the power though,
It’s really what I need.



I’ll lie and cheat and fabricate,
I’ll flip and flop for sure.
The left’s so dumb they’ll vote for me,
For stupid, there’s no cure.



George Bush lied, I’ll chant and sing,
Though I know it’s not true.
I love America I’ll say,
Another lie for you.



I’ll back the UN’s global push,
No sovereignty for us.
The world rides free at our expense,
We’ll even buy the bus.



Let terror rain down on this land,
We really are to blame.
Oh yes, I fought in Viet Nam,
Four months, then home I came.



Three Purple Hearts for paper cuts,
Like some rite of passage.
You bet my name’s John Kerry,
And I approve this message.



Conspiracy Guy 7/30/2004

[TopQuark]

I hope this provides some insight

Definitely so. Thanks for the informative note, HappyGirl. G-d bless!

[ItsOurTimeNow]

Placemarker BUMP

[TopQuark]

A strange phenomenon is that in America Christianity is associated with the political-right but everywhere else it is seen as firmly to the left,'one-worldy',pro-immigration and anti-nationalistic.

That is an interesting observation that gives something to think about.