De-Churching Christianity

At present, throughout every Christian denomination in the U.S.A., there is a steadily spreading condition that may be the clearest symptom of the malady undoing institutional Christianity. It is the de- churching of Christians. In their religious belief, moral practice, public worship, personal piety, and—most significantly—in the theological language by which the very meaning of Christianity is carried to new centuries and new peoples, Christians are drawing away from their religious traditions and from any real connection with, or effective guidance by, the churchly institutions that originally nourished them.

More and more Christians no longer know where they come from religiously. They have no “roots” in a historical church—nor do they give it any thought. They are losing one validating characteristic of genuine Christianity: an unbroken historical connection, from generation to generation, with the apostles of Jesus and, therefore, with the Jesus of history.

MM

About the Author

Malachi B. Martin

At present, throughout every Christian denomination in the U.S.A., there is a steadily spreading condition that may be the clearest symptom of the malady undoing institutional Christianity. It is the de- churching of Christians. In their religious belief, moral practice, public worship, personal piety, and—most significantly—in the theological language by which the very meaning of Christianity is carried to new centuries and new peoples, Christians are drawing away from their religious traditions and from any real connection with, or effective guidance by, the churchly institutions that originally nourished them.

More and more Christians no longer know where they come from religiously. They have no “roots” in a historical church—nor do they give it any thought. They are losing one validating characteristic of genuine Christianity: an unbroken historical connection, from generation to generation, with the apostles of Jesus and, therefore, with the Jesus of history.