Modern Christianity: Global Growth, Challenges, and Future Trends
The Modern Church: Navigating New Challenges (1789-Present)
Part 12 of 12 in the Church History Series
In 1859, Charles Darwin published "Origin of Species." In 1917, the Russian Revolution launched aggressive atheism. In 1945, atomic bombs revealed humanity's capacity for self-destruction. In 2020, a pandemic closed church doors worldwide. The modern era has challenged Christianity like never before—yet the church has shown remarkable resilience, explosive growth in unexpected places, and creative adaptation. As we conclude our journey through church history, we discover that reports of Christianity's death have been greatly exaggerated.
The Challenge of Modernism
The 19th century brought unprecedented challenges to traditional faith:
Science and Faith
- Darwin's Evolution (1859): Challenged literal Genesis interpretation
- Geology: Earth's age contradicted young-earth assumptions
- Biblical Criticism: German scholars questioned Scripture's authorship and historicity
- Psychology: Freud explained religion as neurosis
Social Changes
- Industrialization: Urbanization disrupted traditional communities
- Marx's Communism: Religion as "opium of the people"
- Philosophical shifts: Nietzsche's "God is dead"
- Two World Wars: Shattered optimistic progressivism
Liberal Christianity's Response
Many Protestant leaders attempted to reconcile Christianity with modern thought. Liberal theology emphasized:
- Bible as human record of religious experience, not divine revelation
- Jesus as moral teacher, not divine savior
- Sin as ignorance, not rebellion
- Kingdom of God achievable through human progress
- Social Gospel addressing poverty and injustice
Friedrich Schleiermacher (1768-1834) redefined religion as "feeling of absolute dependence" rather than doctrine or ethics. This subjective turn influenced Protestant theology profoundly.
Evangelical Responses
Conservative Christians responded to modernism in various ways:
Fundamentalism
The Fundamentals (1910-1915), a series of booklets, defended traditional doctrines:
- Biblical inerrancy
- Virgin birth
- Substitutionary atonement
- Physical resurrection
- Literal second coming
The Scopes "Monkey Trial" (1925) publicly humiliated fundamentalists, driving many into cultural isolation.
Neo-Evangelicalism
By the 1940s, leaders like Carl F.H. Henry and Billy Graham sought cultural engagement while maintaining orthodox beliefs. They founded:
- Fuller Seminary (1947)
- Christianity Today magazine (1956)
- National Association of Evangelicals (1942)
Pentecostalism
The Azusa Street Revival (1906-1915) launched a movement emphasizing:
- Speaking in tongues
- Divine healing
- Prophecy and miracles
- Personal experience over theology
Pentecostalism became the fastest-growing Christian movement, especially in the Global South.
The Missionary Century
The 19th century saw unprecedented missionary expansion:
William Carey (1761-1834): Father of Modern Missions
A cobbler turned linguist, Carey spent 41 years in India:
- Translated Bible into Bengali, Sanskrit, and other languages
- Founded schools and colleges
- Fought against sati (widow burning)
- Established the "Serampore Trio" mission model
His pamphlet "An Enquiry" (1792) challenged Christians: "Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God."
Other Notable Missionaries:
- Adoniram Judson (Burma): 40 years translating and church planting
- Hudson Taylor (China): China Inland Mission, indigenous principles
- David Livingstone (Africa): Explorer-missionary opening the continent
- Amy Carmichael (India): Rescued temple girls
👩 Women in Missions
By 1900, women comprised 60% of American missionaries. Denied leadership at home, they found freedom abroad to preach, teach, and lead. Mission fields became laboratories for women's ministry long before home churches accepted it.
Vatican Councils and Catholic Development
The Roman Catholic Church responded to modernity through two major councils:
Vatican I (1869-1870)
- Defined papal infallibility when speaking ex cathedra
- Condemned rationalism and modernism
- Strengthened papal authority against democratic trends
- Led to Old Catholic schism under Johann von Döllinger
Vatican II (1962-1965)
Pope John XXIII's "aggiornamento" (updating) brought revolutionary changes:
- Mass in vernacular languages
- Increased lay participation
- Ecumenical openness
- Religious freedom affirmed
- Jews absolved of deicide charge
Yet Vatican II maintained core Catholic doctrines while modernizing practice.
Christianity's Worldwide Shift
The 20th century's biggest story: Christianity's center moving south and east.
The Numbers Tell the Story
1900: 82% of Christians in Europe/North America
2020: 68% of Christians in Africa/Asia/Latin America
Explosive Growth:
- Africa: 10 million (1900) → 650 million (2020)
- Asia: 20 million (1900) → 400 million (2020)
- Latin America: 60 million (1900) → 640 million (2020)
Characteristics of Global South Christianity:
- Supernatural worldview accepting miracles
- Community-oriented vs. individualistic
- Oral culture emphasizing story over proposition
- Holistic gospel addressing poverty and oppression
- Indigenous leadership and contextualization
Contemporary Movements and Trends
Ecumenical Movement
Seeking visible unity:
- World Council of Churches (1948)
- Bilateral dialogues between denominations
- Local ministerial associations
- Tension between unity and truth
Charismatic Renewal
Pentecostal practices entering mainline churches:
- Catholic Charismatic Renewal (1967)
- Episcopal/Anglican renewal
- Third Wave in evangelical churches
- Worship style transformation
Liberation Theology
Latin American movement emphasizing:
- God's preference for the poor
- Structural sin requiring systemic change
- Praxis over theory
- Base communities studying Scripture
Post-Denominationalism
- Megachurches minimizing denominational identity
- Nondenominational fastest growing segment
- Networks replacing hierarchies
- Brand loyalty declining
Current Challenges and Opportunities
Challenges:
- Secularization: Europe's empty churches, America's "nones" rising
- Sexual Revolution: LGBTQ+ issues dividing denominations
- Scandals: Abuse cover-ups destroying credibility
- Technology: Social media fragmenting community
- Pluralism: Truth claims seem arrogant
- Persecution: 360 million Christians facing high persecution levels
Opportunities:
- Digital evangelism: Gospel access unprecedented
- Bible translation: Scripture in 3,000+ languages
- Global connections: International partnerships flourishing
- Spiritual hunger: Secular materialism leaving emptiness
- Creative expressions: New forms reaching new generations
- Unity movements: Denominations collaborating more
Lessons from Two Millennia
As we conclude our journey through church history, what have we learned?
- God keeps His promises. Jesus said He would build His church, and the gates of hades haven't prevailed. Through persecution, corruption, division, and challenge, the church endures.
- Patterns repeat. Cycles of decline and renewal, institutionalization and reform, cultural accommodation and prophetic resistance mark every era. History doesn't repeat, but it rhymes.
- Context shapes expression. The gospel remains constant, but its cultural clothing changes. Roman hierarchies, Germanic warrior ethics, American democracy—all influenced Christianity's forms.
- Power corrupts. Whenever the church gains temporal power, spiritual vitality suffers. The suffering church often shows more Christlikeness than the triumphant church.
- Truth matters. Theological battles weren't academic exercises but fights for the gospel's essence. Wrong teaching about Christ's nature or salvation's means has eternal consequences.
- Unity requires effort. Division comes easily; unity demands intentional work. Yet Jesus prayed for oneness, making visible unity a gospel imperative.
- Renewal comes from margins. Monks fleeing corrupt cities, frontier revivalists, Global South believers—God often works from peripheries toward centers.
Looking Forward: The Future of the Church
What might future church historians write about our era?
Likely Trends:
- Continued Global South growth while West declines
- Technology reshaping community and worship
- Increased persecution in secular and religious contexts
- New theological challenges from AI and bioethics
- Environmental concerns shaping mission
- House churches and small communities rising
Eternal Constants:
- God's faithfulness to His people
- Scripture's enduring authority
- Spirit's work in renewal
- Gospel's transforming power
- Hope of Christ's return
Our Place in the Story
Church history isn't just about the past—it's about us. We're part of this ongoing narrative, connected to believers across centuries and continents. The cloud of witnesses cheers us on.
We face challenges, but so did they. We see corruption and division, but so did they. We long for renewal, and so did they. And the God who sustained them sustains us.
History teaches humility—we're not the first to face these issues. It teaches hope—God has preserved His church through worse. It teaches responsibility—future generations will judge our faithfulness.
Most importantly, history points beyond itself. The church's story is really Christ's story—His body continuing His mission until He returns. We're not writing the final chapter. The best is yet to come.
Final Reflection Questions
- Which era of church history most inspires you? Which most troubles you? Why?
- What patterns from church history do you see repeating in contemporary Christianity?
- How can understanding our history help us navigate current challenges faithfully?
- What do you hope future Christians will say about our generation's faithfulness?
Thank you for joining this journey through 2,000 years of church history. May we learn from the past, live faithfully in the present, and hope confidently in God's future. The story continues—and you're part of it.