The American Church Is Dying—And Maybe It Should

The decline of the American church is no longer a subtle trend; it is a glaring reality. Over the past few decades, the church has seen exactly what countless evangelists, pastors, and seminary professors have been warning us about for years; a significant drop in attendance, influence, and cultural relevance. I was a 19 year old college student when I accepted my first ministry position at a church when I began hearing the warnings.  They’re no longer warnings. 

In fact, a recent study from the Barna Group reveals that nearly one in three Christians have dropped out of church completely since the beginning of the 21st century. This trend has been dubbed “The Great DeChurching” by authors Jim Davis and Michael Graham, who argue that many people are leaving the church because they no longer find its message relevant or transformative.  Of course there is honest, legit questions as to the legitimacy of the faiths of those that are walking away from the gathered church and God’s primary form of discipleship, but the fact still remains, what once was is now no longer.

But rather than bemoan the loss, maybe it’s time we ask a provocative question: Should we let the American church die?

Before you dismiss that as controversial or even heretical, allow me to clarify. I’m not talking about the true Church, the big ‘C’ Church—the body of believers that spans across time and space, redeemed by the blood of Christ and promised an eternal future. No, I’m referring to the artificial churches that have grown prevalent in American culture—churches that have diluted the gospel to fit cultural trends, that prioritize comfort over conviction, and that have created a consumer-driven model of faith. I’m also talking about the churches that have clung to tradition and comfort far too long while acting paralyzed towards true evangelism, discipleship, and outreach.  These “churches” may be on their way out, and perhaps that’s exactly what needs to happen.

Cultural Compromise: A Message That Fits, But Doesn’t Transform

The decline of the American church can be traced back, in part, to the cultural compromises it has made. As society has become increasingly secular, the church has responded in a variety of ways, many of which have involved watering down its message in order to fit more comfortably with the surrounding culture. This compromise comes in several forms: moral relativism, where biblical truth is exchanged for more palatable ideas of right and wrong; political activism, where the gospel is subordinated to political agendas; social issues, where churches focus more on temporal concerns than on eternal matters, and spiritual apathy, where the church is more concerned about the feelings and opinions of the long established members than removing oneself from their own bubble to share Christ with the world.

In The Great DeChurching, Davis and Graham highlight that a staggering 41% of Americans who once attended church regularly now describe themselves as religiously unaffiliated. Much of this shift can be attributed to the church's desire to "fit in" with modern culture, often at the expense of standing firm on biblical truth. This desire to be relevant has led many churches to prioritize social causes or cultural trends—things that are often at odds with the radical, countercultural message of the gospel.

For example, churches that make a habit of endorsing every new social cause without critical engagement with Scripture risk diluting the effectiveness of the gospel message. When the church's message becomes more about meeting temporal needs and less about proclaiming the gospel of salvation through Christ alone, it loses its distinctive voice in a world that desperately needs the clarity and power of truth.  And when those churches that stick with proclaiming the gospel, but only in the confines of their own sanctuaries, cease to grow, they die.

Comfort vs. Conviction: Shallow Faith in the Face of a Changing Culture

Perhaps one of the most significant shifts in the church’s approach has been its focus on comfort rather than conviction. The church has often catered to people’s preferences for a comfortable, “user-friendly” faith, one that doesn’t require much in the way of personal sacrifice or radical transformation.

In his book The Great DeChurching, Davis argues that many churches today have become more like businesses than communities of faith. They focus on building “attractional” models—offering entertainment, comfort, and a sense of belonging. These churches have embraced consumerism, which often means providing an experience rather than fostering true spiritual growth. According to a Pew Research report, 60% of Americans who identify as Christian say they only attend church a few times a year, with many citing personal comfort as the reason they don’t engage more deeply with the church. This “church-shopping” mentality has resulted in shallow faith and a lack of true discipleship.

A biblical worldview calls Christians to something far more radical—to love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30) and to live out their faith in every area of life. True discipleship, as modeled in Scripture, requires a willingness to take up one’s cross and follow Christ (Luke 9:23). This includes embracing uncomfortable truths, making hard choices, and engaging with the world as salt and light. The comfortable church, on the other hand, does not challenge its members to think biblically about politics, relationships, or culture. It offers a faith that is easy to consume but hard to live out, and that’s why it struggles to withstand the pressures of a post-Christian society.

A Shift in Focus: Discipleship and Gospel-Centered Communities

Instead of lamenting the death of the church as we know it, we must see this moment as an invitation for the church to refocus on its core mission: to make disciples, preach the gospel, and live out the kingdom of God. This may mean that large, comfortable, culturally-relevant churches may shrink or disappear, but it could also mean the rise of true gospel-centered communities—smaller, more intimate gatherings of believers who are passionate about making disciples, living with conviction, and spreading the message of salvation to a lost world.

According to a LifeWay Research survey, 69% of Christians agree that their faith is personal, but only 31% say their faith is transformational—this points to a significant gap in the church’s ability to disciple effectively. It’s clear that many churches have shifted from an emphasis on personal transformation and biblical teaching to a focus on entertainment, comfort, and attracting attendees.

A revitalized church would put discipleship front and center. This isn’t just about attending church services or participating in programs; it’s about growing in the knowledge of God’s Word and learning how to apply it to every aspect of life. True discipleship equips believers to engage with culture in a way that reflects God’s truth, offering a biblical worldview that impacts work, relationships, politics, and every corner of society.

Biblical Church Revitalization: A Movement Fueled by Depth and Mission

If the American church is to experience revitalization, it must shed its attachment to attendance numbers, programs, and tradition. Instead, the church must rediscover its mission to equip believers for the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:12) and focus on making disciples who live and think biblically. A revitalized church will emphasize depth of faith over breadth of attendance, genuine community over superficial connections, and active mission over passive observation.

This shift will likely result in smaller, more intentional church communities. Churches will move away from being “mega” organizations centered around programs and events to more intimate, gospel-centered groups that focus on equipping and sending out disciples. While this may not result in large attendance numbers, it will lead to a healthier church—one that is firmly rooted in Scripture and led by the Spirit.

Invitation to Be the Remnant: Embracing a Counter-Cultural Church

The decline of the American church may be seen as a purification process. As the artificial, consumer-driven models and the always-inner-focused models of church fall away, the true, faithful church will emerge—smaller, less influential, but more authentic. It will be a remnant church, focused on discipleship, living out a biblical worldview, and spreading the gospel.

While the church may no longer hold the cultural influence it once had, it will be more counter-cultural, standing firm on the truths of Scripture, and more equipped to make a real difference in a world that is increasingly hostile to biblical values. Just as in the early church, this remnant will be empowered by the Holy Spirit to carry out the mission of God, regardless of the cultural or political pressures they face.

Let the Church Die, So the True Church Can Live

The decline of the American church isn’t the end—it’s the beginning of something better. As the artificial church dies, the true Church will thrive. This is not a call for apathy or abandonment, but a call for renewal and refinement. Let’s embrace the opportunity to return to the mission that Jesus gave us: to make disciples, to preach the gospel, and to live out a biblical worldview in a world that desperately needs the light of truth.

If you want to dive deeper into the cultural shifts impacting the church and the future of discipleship, I recommend checking out The Great DeChurching. Davis and Graham provide valuable insights and practical wisdom for navigating this time of transformation.

The true Church will never die. And maybe, just maybe, the church we know needs to die—so the true Church can rise again.

But an alternative view: Revitalization. Let’s take a look at that next.