This is no time to panic or exaggerate the situation. As I said in Lost and Found, in the midst of a hysterical panic about 94 percent of evangelical young adults leaving church, “Crises sell books, but usually don’t fix problems.” (And, it is nowhere near 94 percent.)
Yes, we need a serious dose of what I wrote in Christianity Today a few years ago: Curing Christian Stats Abuse.
Facts are our friends, and the facts do point to a cultural change. And, in the midst of that cultural change, we do see that America looks more like a mission field. However, what we need is a mobilized—rather than demoralized—mission force.
Bad stats and hyperbole do just that—demoralize God’s people.
Today, we need a mobilized mission force in the midst of this mission field. So, it’s time to work for the sake of the gospel, and to live for the cause of the gospel, not run around proclaiming the sky is falling.