September 7, 2014
Steve Sabz
Christ the King monument in Swiebodzin, Poland (Photo by MirekKijewski)
Some claim that the number of believers in the world will decrease with the passing of time. One particular Bible passage they often cite is found in the Gospel of Matthew:
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Jesus Christ to His disciples in Matthew 7:13-14 (circa 50 A.D.)
During the time that Jesus spoke the words in the aforementioned passage, the Roman Empire-governed world was immersed in paganism. Even the Jews in Jesus' day had fallen into apostasy (Matthew 16:4, 17:17). However, as the day of His crucifixion neared, Christ disclosed a more optimistic outlook for the future that would result from His resurrection:
Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.
Jesus Christ to the crowd at the Passover festival in John 12:31-32 (circa late-60's A.D.)
In the Sheep and the Goats depiction of the final judgement, Jesus altogether omits numerical descriptors like "many" or "few" when He states:
Then they [the cursed] will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.
Jesus Christ to His disciples in Matthew 25:46 (circa 50 A.D.)
The Bible records an increase in the number of professing Christians in the world since the day of Pentecost (Acts 16:5). Today, Christians represent the largest religious group in the world. Moreover, analysts project an increase in the number of professing Christians in the future.
To suggest that the number of Christians will decline and/or exhaust their influence in the world diminishes Christ's power over Satan (John 10:30) and the work of the Holy Spirit (John 16:7-11), and nullifies the historical record of the New Testament. It also ignores current statistics and research. Recall Jesus' proclamation:
I [Jesus] will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
Jesus Christ to His disciple Peter in Matthew 16:18 (circa 50 A.D.)
Thus, believers today can be just as, and even more so, optimistic about the future of Christianity as Jesus Christ was before His resurrection approximately two-thousand years ago.
CITE:
Sabz, S. (2014, September 7). Is Christianity in decline? Retrieved from https://scienceandbibleresearch.com/christianity-in-decline.html
Steve Sabz
Steve Sabz is the author and founder of Science and Bible Research. He is a professional educator with a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Physiology from William Paterson University, where he also completed graduate level courses in Human Physiology and Endocrinology. Steve has been studying theology since 2015 and has successfully completed seminary level courses in Textual Criticism, Biblical Hermeneutics, Eschatology, Puritan Theology, Ancient Church History, Soteriology, Biblical Theology, Prolegomena, and Biblical Greek from Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Dallas Theological Seminary. Steve is also the author of Evolution's Complexity Problem: See How Evolution Falls Apart At Its Beginning and End Time Rewind: An Exploration In Bible Prophecy And The Fate Of The World.
