Christian Apologetics Society: Churches of Christ Decline to 1980 Level

Scripture Memorization

Isaiah 55:11
So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it

Gen 1:3
Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light

Matthew 26:26
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body."

Malachi 1:11
My name will be great among the nations, from the rising to the setting of the sun. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to my name, because my name will be great among the nations," says the LORD Almighty.

John 20:23
If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.

James 5:16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

James 2:14
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

Luke 20:38
For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him.

Rev 21:27
Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

1 Cor 3:15
If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Psalm 51:5
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.

John 3:5
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Titus 3:5
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

1 Timothy 3:15
but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

Acts 22:16
And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Churches of Christ Decline to 1980 Level

Churches of Christ have declined to just below 1980 levels according to the 2009 edition of Churches of Christ in the United States.

2009
Churches: 12,629
Members: 1,224,404
Adherents: 1,578,281

1980
Churches: 12,762
Members: 1,240,820
Adherents: 1,601,661

One of the more novel explanations is the immigration of millions of Hispanics — most of them Roman Catholics. (Pew identifies millions of unchurched Americans and its all the incoming Catholics that kept the Churches of Christ from growing. Yeah, its the Catholics fault.)

Closer to the truth is "birth rates have fallen as members have become more affluent." How about birth rates have fallen due to abortions and artificial contraception? That would be even closer. Actions have consequences.

Related Posts:
Methodists Decline in England
Australian Baptists Decline
Orthodox Church in America Increasing

Source: Church in America marked by decline

Labels: Church of Christ, Demographics, Statistics