Reputable
polling and research organizations such as Barna, PEW and Lifeway
confirm that the total number of baptisms continues to decline in the United
States, extending a trend that dates back to the late 1900's.
An analysis of the statistics for Southern Baptist churches shows
that the decline is even worse than it appears. Of the approximately
250,000 baptisms among SBC churches in 2017, about 100,000 were re-baptisms of those
who were baptized in a Baptist church as a child. And the largest age group for
the remaining baptisms was children under the age of 10. If the number of
baptisms of adult non-family members is the best indicator of a church that
is faithfully carrying out the Great Commission to Go into the World and Make Disciples, then very few churches are healthy. Most churches bury
more people each year than they baptize. We are not reaching the lost world,
and in fact, are not even reaching a majority of our own children.
Since the 1970's, we have experienced the
Conservative Resurgence, the Great Commission emphasis and Church Renewal
Journey. But, surveys show that approximately 300,000 churches of
the 350,000 churches in America are not growing.
Thom Rainer, in a recent blog, predicted that 100,000 of the
350,000 churches in the U.S. will close their doors in the next few years.
Another 100,000 will merge with other churches and 100,000 will
revitalize within their existing church membership.
The question
"Why aren't there more baptisms?" is an honest one, and several books have been written during
the last 20 years to answer the question. A commission to study the reason for
declining baptisms was appointed at the 2016 annual meeting of the
SBC and made its report this past June. And there are several excellent
consultants that will teach a church how to grow - for a fee.
I think the
answer to "Why?" is much simpler than we think: baptisms
continue to decline because believers, those of us who are disciples, are not
sharing the gospel in our everyday marketplace. The only plan found in the
Bible for advancing the Kingdom of God is for existing disciples to make new
disciples by sharing the gospel with unbelievers in their everyday marketplace - wherever God has placed us.
The second question: "Why aren't disciples sharing the
gospel?" We give many excuses, but I think the answer again is simple: we have lost our (first) love for God. Because we
have lost our love for Him, we don't fear Him; because we have lost our fear
for Him, we don't need Him; because we don't need Him there is no need to
obey Him.
We will never grow the church (advance the kingdom of God)
until we love God with all our heart mind and soul. When we love God, we will
obey Him. When we obey Him, we will share the gospel. When we share the gospel,
those who have been convicted by the Holy Spirit will be saved. When people are saved, they will be baptized and join (or plant) a church.
