Megatrend 16: Proliferation of 23,000 denominations
by Justin D. Long
Statistics (mid-1990)
160 ecclesiastical traditions/families
90 major Christian world confessions
23,500 denominations
21,000 parachurch or service agencies
98,200 major institutions
50 megaministries reaching over 1 million per day
Churches: 50,000 opened, 6,000 closed, 44,000 net each year
In 1990 there were more than 23,000 denominations, a number projected to rise to 32,000 by AD 2000.
There is nothing wrong in the huge number of denominations. God Himself has orchestrated the rise of over 12,000 ethnic groups, so He must love diversity. When you think about it, having this many different "strands" of Christianity should in itself be a "safety" mechanism: we should in humility learn from each other, in charity renew each other, in blessing help each other, and in mission together reach out to the lost. You can compare the church, in some ways, to the Internet: an organism is difficult if not impossible to destroy thanks to its God-inspired diversity, God-blessed growth, and relative independence of each branch.
The multichanneled nature of 4,000+ mission boards and 21,000+ service agencies means that not all the eggs are in one basket. If one should falter or fail, the other thousands will not necessarily be affected. Even the financial scandals of the 1980s and 1990s have not deterred the vast majority of these agencies.
Unfortunately, denominations as a whole do not talk much to each other, let alone help each other out. In times of public crisis Christians come together - take, for instance, the openings in China that have sparked interagency cooperation; the fall of the Soviet Union which sparked CoMission; the church burnings in the United States that have brought together national associations. But these are rarities.
In His prayer in John 17, Jesus prayed three times on the night He was betrayed that his followers might all become fully united "so that the world may believe." Does this mean we should form one single church? Not necessarily. But it does mean that we should extend to each other the grace and charity that has been extended to us.
What does the future hold for these denominations? There are four potential scenarios:
SCENARIO 1: MONODENOMINATIONALISM. This first long-term Scenario sets out a situation in which reunification comes about, in reaction to growing world ridicule and heavy pressures from political regimes. It envisages all the major denominations finally agreeing in the next centure to begin an immediate, loose, de facto reunion of the churches, thus forming one single denomination. Despite this, on this scenario Christianity declines in numbers as a global religion, and there is widespread nominalism, schisms, ethnic churches, and apostasy. Meanwhile, the world remains unevangelized. (This is short-term Millenial Scenario 1.)
Even though the major denominations might come together--indeed, some already are--it is more likely the independent churches (such as those affiliated with the Pentecostal/charismatic renewal) will remain independent and will resist any attempt to form a single global Christian church.
SCENARIO 2: NONDENOMINATIONALISM. A second possible alternative future, long-term Scenario 2, envisages the vast mass of ordinary Christian believers finally losing patience with the scandal of denominational fragmentation. The laity breaks ties with centralized structures, abandon denominational headquarters, and organize themselves in 5 loose, decentralized lay megaclusters. Spontaneous Christianity becomes the norm. The world meanwhile has become fully evangelized for the first time in history.20
SCENARIO 3: POSTDENOMINATIONALISM. A third possible future, long-term Scenario 3, envisages Christianity dominated by huge dynamic masses of Third-World charismatic youths who reject all ties with Christian history, traditions, denominations and Western Christianity. Ten vast unorganized ethnolinguistic racial megaclusters emerge, forming rival bodies from the Church of the Megarich to the Church of the Absolutely Poor. Global Christianity continues its explosive advance around the world, but in the total absence of coordination or planning large populations still remain unevangelized.
SCENARIO 4: MARTYRDOM. A fourth possible future, long-term Scenario 4, depicts Christianity as a whole being extinguished. Rather than continuing its missionary expansion (Scenario 3) or gradually losing its hold (Scenario 1), global Christianity could be definitively wiped out by hostile deliberate intent. From AD 2000-20250 political opposition and bannings grow, the whole church is forced underground, and is finally liquidated. This is the least likely scenario, unless we actually reach closure and the End comes, in which case there will be widespread persecution and the martyrs will be the final witnesses.
The current trend is mixed. Large denominations are moving toward rapproachment, dialogue and interaction with each other. Independent churches are becoming more independent, for a variety of reasons ranging from fundamentalism to a desire to achieve different goals than the denomination from which they split. Nondenominational movements are springing up everywhere, including cell churches, house churches, and raido churches. We must strive to continue to achieve unity while continue to renew each other in the essentials of our faith.
Suggestions
- Individuals. Break your preconceptions. From time to time visit the churches of other denominations and traditions and learn what they believe and how they are different than yours. Marvel in the rich diversity that God has inspired in the Church.
- Churches. Break the barriers. Reach out to churches of other denominations and find common ground in which you can minister to the lost. I have come to believe that there is little good in railing at the church down the street; reach out in friendship instead. Brothers can disagree, yet can be brothers, and can grow together, share together, renew together, rebuke each other and learn from each other.
- Denominations. Break the barriers&hyph;slowly. Dialogue with each other, learn from each other - but don't be too swift to merge. Mergers, though not always bad, are not always good. They can result in the sacrifice of essential core beliefs for short-term unity.
- Traditions. Every tradition stands in danger of "losing" the younger generation for a multitude of reasons. Some of these reasons are right, and some are wrong. Some of this generation will leave established traditions and denominations for non- and post-denominational churches. Others will be lost entirely. Traditions need to get back in touch with the next generation, learn what their concerns, hopes and fears are, and work hard to impart to this generation a vision for the lost world.
