Christianity is losing more followers who were raised in the faith than any other major world religion, according to a recent Pew Research Center study.
It found nearly three in 10 American adults no longer identify with their original faith tradition.
Most of that movement is not lateral, such as Catholic to Protestant or Buddhist to Christian, but disaffiliation — people leaving Christianity for no religion at all.
The one group gaining across country after country is the religiously unaffiliated — the so-called nones.
Pew found that among younger adults, especially in the US and Western Europe, the rate of leaving is accelerating.
AN ALTERNATIVE WAY TO MEASURE THE STATE OF CHRISTIANITY
The Back to the Bible ministry has just released a similar report on the ‘State of Christianity in America.’
It is based on the ministry’s SALT Index survey.
The SALT Index which stands for Scripture Absorption and Life Transformation, is a research-based framework that measures spiritual growth across key dimensions such as Scripture engagement, obedience, Christ-like character, and relational impact.
This is in stark contrast to measuring ministry success on visibility metrics such as attendance, salvation decisions, reach, and content distribution.
“CHRISTIAN BELIEF IS INCREASINGLY SYMBOLIC, NOT BEHAVIOURAL”
Back to the Bible concluded that Christianity in America is not disappearing, but belief is increasingly symbolic rather than behavioural.
Its study discovered that while a majority of Americans (61%) still identify as Christian, far fewer practice their faith or exhibit measurable life changes.
Even though Bible sales hit 20-year-highs in the past two years, the SALT Index found that only half of those identifying as Christian read their Bible on a weekly basis.
Further, only 14.3% say they mentor or disciple other people toward Christianity.
Notably, the same percentage (13.8%) of non-believers say they try to influence others to their personal worldviews.
“RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE HAS BEEN EVALUATED BY THE WRONG METRICS FOR TOO LONG”
Back to the Bible’s CEO Arnie Cole says religious influence has been evaluated by the wrong metrics for too long.
“We are not seeing a theological collapse or even a cultural rejection of Christianity,” he says.
“But our research shows that spending half a century measuring activity, rather than transformation, has not produced fruitful Christians.”
“We have churches and ministries that have been overestimating their real-world impact, and that has a societal effect that goes beyond the Christian faith.”
“When any belief system lacks formative depth, ethical consistency erodes.”
“PEOPLE ARE NOT REJECTING HOLINESS, BUT THEY’RE STRUGGLING TO LIVE WITH IT”
Mr. Cole says the Church has succeeded in evangelistic exposure, but failed to measure whether belief produced disciples.
“The findings of this survey is not an indictment. It is an invitation,” he asserted.
“The data reveals widespread humility and hunger among Christians, not rebellion.”
“People are not rejecting holiness; they are struggling to live it without the proper formation.”
“MEASURING THE WRONG INDICATORS PAINTS A FALSE PICTURE OF PROGRESS”
According to Arnie Cole, most research studies for the past few decades have relied on church affiliation and attendance, decisions and conversions, and religious activities such as volunteer hours, church programs, and other external numbers.
He said those predictable identity metrics don’t tell the whole story.
As one example of how the SALT Index goes into more depth than typical surveys, it showed 72% of people believe Jesus died for humanity’s sins, but only 33% trust Christ’s grace alone for salvation.
“Measuring the wrong indicators — crowds, activities, superficial decisions — can paint a false picture of progress,” explained Mr. Cole.
“Jesus prioritised fruit that lasts — lives truly changed and disciples who grow and reproduce.”
“iF LIVES AREN’T VISIBLY CHANGING, WE’RE NOT SUCCEEDING”
The SALT Index makes it clear: If lives aren’t visibly changing, we’re not truly succeeding – no matter how high the headcount.”
“The metrics we have been relying on for all these years have reported arbitrary successes, while truly changed lives and formational beliefs have been eroding underneath.”
“This is not about blame. It is about stewardship.”
“We cannot disciple what we refuse to measure.”
“If we want different outcomes, we must change the scorecard, and the SALT Index sets a new precedent to do just that.”
SEVEN STEPS FOR CHURCHES: 1: CHANGE THE SCORECARD
Arnie Cole recommends seven steps for churches to take in coming years.
First, change the scorecard.
Stop measuring decisions, attendance and impressions as if they are outcomes.
Start measuring scripture absorption, observable life change and reproducible discipleship.
2: ADDRESS MORAL STRIVING WITH GRACE
Second, address moral striving with grace, explicitly and pastorally.
A fifth of Americans think they are going to heaven because they tried to be good.
They are not hostile to grace.
Most have never had it cleanly distinguished from moral effort.
Teach the difference between respect for Jesus and trust in Jesus, in plain, non-insider language.
3: BUILD SCRIPTURE ENGAGEMENT AS A HABIT
Third, build scripture engagement as a scaffolded habit.
Prayer is happening. Bible reading mostly is not.
Do not assume Biblical literacy.
Build stepwise pathways from prayer into scripture, with short reading plans, prayer-to-scripture transitions and accessible micro-teaching that meets people where they are.
4: PAIR EVERY PIECE OF MEDIA WITH A RELATIONAL PATHWAY
Fourth, pair every piece of media with a rapid relational pathway.
Attention is not transformation. Content without community leaves the central deficit untouched.
Every campaign, every podcast and every digital touchpoint should funnel toward conversation, mentorship, or a local group within days, not months.
5: MENTORSHIP AS AN INTENTIONAL, INTERGENERATIONAL PRACTICE
Fifth, recover mentorship as an intentional, intergenerational practice.
Arnie Cole says this is the most urgent research finding.
Closing that transmission gap is the highest-leverage move available to the American church.
6: RE-ENGAGE OLDER MEN
Sixth, re-engage older men.
They are the most spiritually exposed group, with the highest nihilism, the highest persistent uncertainty, the lowest church involvement and the lowest scripture engagement.
Programming will not reach them.
Patient, honest, presence-based pastoral relationship will.
7: EQUIP DISCERNMENT FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Seventh, equip discernment for the Artificial Intelligence age.
AI Jesus is already in the room, especially in the private, late-night moments of midlife men carrying questions they can’t bring to a small group.
Teach scripture-based discernment as a pre-commitment, not as post-hoc damage control.
CONCLUSION: LEGACY MEASURED BY KIND OF DISCIPLES WE LEAVE
“None of this is fast, and none of it is flashy,” Arnie Cole concludes.
“But the legacy of the church we leave behind won’t be measured by how loud our metrics were.”
“It’ll be measured by what kind of disciples we left for the generation coming up behind us.”
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