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Beginning with the periods of blessings and discipline described in the OT, God’s grace on humanity has displayed a cyclical pattern. There are periods of blessings and growth, decline, spiritual drought, and finally persecution. This has also been true from the resurrection to the present. Jesus started the gospel of Christianity in the Middle East, and it spread from there. Peter's letters are to churches that were in the current day Turkey, as were the seven churches in Revelation. Very few Christians remain in these areas today. Over the centuries the "center of Christianity" moved to northern Africa and then to Rome. Then Europe became a Christian stronghold for centuries and the cradle of the Protestant movement. Some contend God sent the Black plague, killing almost 33% of the European population from 1347-1350, in response to the split papacy in 1305 and the subsequent corrupt period known as the church's Babylonian captivity.27 The church did not turn around quickly. In 1409, the council of Pisa rejected the French and Roman Pope and elected a new Roman Bishop. Each of the three popes excommunicated the followers of the other two popes.27 How does God feel about denominational battles?
Isa 9:21 Manasseh devours Ephraim, and Ephraim devours Manasseh; together they are against Judah. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still.
Currently the percentage of church going Christians in European countries are in single digits, some are approaching zero. The US was predominately a Christian nation for 250 years; now <10% go to church on a regular basis.
Mat 23:37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!
Christianity is on the rise in parts of Africa, Asia, and South America. Why does the church grow dramatically for generations then decline during others? Atheism and other religions rise to fill the void. Some pastors contend Islam flourishes when the faith of God's people decline. That is consistent with Israel and surrounding nations in the OT. It seems the church grows when God's people share Christianity in its basic gospel form. It grows by the thousands every day just like described in Acts. However, Christianity frequently declines in these areas after long periods. In some places it ceases to exist. Why does this happen? What is the difference between the growing church in the mission areas of the world and the dying church in the established areas? Several things come to mind. Most places where the church is growing are far less affluent. They do not have all the distractions we do. They frequently face persecution; I have always heard the church grows under persecution. The areas where the church is well established seem to develop several problems. Complacency, getting caught up in doing religion, arguing about theology, and denominational squabbles are common challenges.
There is a natural cycle in human endeavors - initiation > vitality > complacency > decay > failing. We see it in business, sports, government, and religious organizations. Dr. Elmer L. Towns described a similar cycle for denominations - sect > institution > denomination > deterioration. Sadly, the spread of the gospel to many areas progressed as follows:
1. proclaimed to those who had not heard
2. they enthusiastically accept the good news
3. later generations intellectually assume these beliefs while individual religious fiefdoms form
4. succeeding generations neglect or rebel against God's teaching
5. atheism or other religions fill the void
We should not see this in the church of the living God; He has no grandchildren. There are businesses that have flourished for many centuries. What is the difference? How can we turn this trend around? It is similar to an athletic coach emphasizing the importance of being solid on the basics and fundamentals? Christianity is growing where people focus on emulating Jesus - meet people's needs and share the gospel. How do we get back to the basics?