Good news! The church is growing!

The latest annual statistics from the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary indicate that there are fewer atheists around the world today (147 million) than in 1970 (165 million) and the report expects the number to continue to decline into 2050.

Almost 2.56 billion people will identify as a Christian by the middle of this year. By 2050, that number is expected to reach 3.33 billion. The two fastest growing Christian groups around the world are evangelicals and charismatics. In 1900, less than 1 million people around the world identified as Pentecostal or charismatic Christians. By 2050, that is expected to number 1 billion.

This year, 93 million copies of God’s word will be printed, up from 54 million in 2000 and 5 million in 1900.

The numbers are real, of course. But they don’t tell the entire story.

The sad part – for us in North America, at least – is that virtually all of the growth is taking place in Asia, Africa and South America. Christianity in the global North (Europe and North America) is growing at a yearly rate of about 0.13 per cent compared to 1.79 per cent in the global South (Africa, Asia, Latin America, Oceania). Africa, at 2.77 per cent, leads the way.

The growth areas include some of the planet’s poorest and most-repressive nations.

As I’ve stated in this space in recent months, the world is undergoing an upheaval not seen since the 1960s. We are disobedient, distrustful, disoriented, diseased, disrupted, and divided – everywhere we go, it seems, including the church.

At our annual Renewal Day last Saturday, speaker Rev. Dr. Stephen Farris – dean emeritus of St. Andrew’s Hall, former professor of preaching and 140th moderator of General Assembly – reminded us of the first church fight, described in Acts 6:1-6, in which the Greek believers complained that their widows were not getting a fair share of the food compared to the Hebrews. The result was the creation of the office of Deacon. It was a new structure and pattern that met the needs of both parties. Among the deacons was Stephen the Martyr, whose preaching was so powerful that it resulted in his arrest and death by stoning. Among the approving witnesses to his death was Saul, soon to be named Paul. Put it together: a food fight led to a chain of events which resulted in the emergence of the man whose letters make up most of the New Testament — among other things.

What does this have to do with the rapid decline of the Christian faith in the West and North and the rise in the East and South? The common message is that the church grows in places of turmoil and thrives in spite of uncertainty.

In the West, there is less tolerance for the church and its narrow gate. We are rightly concerned. But consider that much of the global East and South (where Christianity is thriving) groans under much worse conditions. It’s in those places that the church is most alive. I do not believe that’s a coincidence.

Rather than fear the rise of woke culture in the global West and North, perhaps we should let it happen for the sole purpose of standing our ground. Rather than create safe spaces or even depart from The Presbyterian Church in Canada, perhaps we simply need to dare to speak the truth. (Nothing against those who are actively planning to leave – it just might not be for everyone.)

Let’s refuse to watch our words for fear of offending anyone. Stand our ground. Accept whatever verbal attacks or measures come our way. Accept it with joy, that we might be worthy of enduring persecution. Human hands can and will try to suppress the Word. But the Holy Spirit is stronger.