Weak Trees (musing on the future of Christianity)

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Lynx

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
#1
Aug 13, 2014
24,973
8,194
113
#1
In October, 2019, a storm ripped through west and middle Tennessee and caused a lot of damage, mostly by knocking over a LOT of trees. The rain wasn't all that bad, but the wind was stronger than anything I had ever seen before. ("Strong" in this case is relative - it was amazing for this region but it wouldn't even raise an eyebrow in some places in the USA, much less around the world.) Power in my area was knocked out for more than a week, almost two weeks in some places.

I happened to be driving somewhere right in the middle of the storm. I had a guest that week, seoulsearch actually, and we were going to a restaurant that made good fried catfish because the poor, deprived girl had never tried it before. I didn't have much trouble keeping the vehicle on the road so I didn't get too anxious, but I commented to her that it was amazing to see the power lines vibrating like bass guitar strings. I don't know if she thought I was cool or completely cracked to be calm in that kind of storm... She didn't seem that upset herself, but I figured she had probably seen worse wind where she lived.

Why did the storm cause so much damage? Because there were a lot of weak trees around here.

Why were there so many weak trees? Because we don't usually get strong wind like that. A lot of trees could grow and live without needing to be strong and deeply rooted, because we don't usually get wind that will test them the way that storm blew. But that one time we DID get those winds, we found out which trees were weak.

Here in the USA it has been easy to be a Christian for a few decades now. Christianity has been the trendy thing to be. Lots of churches have popped up to cater to any house brand of Christianity people cared to listen to. Everybody I knew was a Christian of some kind.

Now it's not so popular to be a Christian, and it seems to be getting less popular every day. Many of those churches are shutting down and many people who said they were Christian are rethinking what they believe they are.

The wind is starting to pick up speed. How strong are your roots?
 
Lynx

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
#2
Aug 13, 2014
24,973
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#2
Of course the same can apply to anything that flourishes during easy times.

We talk a lot about tough times, but we don't really know tough. If the economy really tanked, like if things got bad enough that peripheral businesses like pet hair salons had to close down, we would be dismayed. But we never stop to notice our economy has been so good for so long that WE HAVE PET HAIR SALONS! There are multiple places less than half an hour away from me where you can take your dog to get a haircut. We don't really realize how mind bogglingly superfluous that is.

Know why my grandmother never talks about these tough times? Because she has already seen times much tougher than this. She was born in 1932.
 
Lynx

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
#4
Aug 13, 2014
24,973
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#4
Magenta said:
Never heard that before :unsure:
Click to expand...
Well I live in Tennessee...

But even in places other than the buckle of the Bible Belt, Christianity used to be a lot more popular than it currently is. And it looks like it's getting less popular by the month.
 
Magenta

Magenta

Senior Member
#5
Jul 3, 2015
56,150
26,210
113
#5
Lynx said:
Well I live in Tennessee...

But even in places other than the buckle of the Bible Belt, Christianity used to be a lot
more popular than it currently is. And it looks like it's getting less popular by the month.
Click to expand...
In days of yore, it was inconceivable to admit you were a non-believer. You risked your life to do so.
Now? It is a good thing that non-believers no longer have to pretend to be something they are not.
 
G

gb9

Senior Member
#6
Jan 18, 2011
11,768
6,348
113
#6
Lynx said:
Well I live in Tennessee...

But even in places other than the buckle of the Bible Belt, Christianity used to be a lot more popular than it currently is. And it looks like it's getting less popular by the month.
Click to expand...

i am in georgia, and the small country church that i grew up going to ( i do not now, my mother still does) went through a steady decline for a long time, but has had a uptick since going back from covid, so that is a positive thing.

but, it does seem many stories are going the other way...
 
Lynx

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
#7
Aug 13, 2014
24,973
8,194
113
#7
Magenta said:
In days of yore, it was inconceivable to admit you were a non-believer. You risked your life to do so.
Now? It is a good thing that non-believers no longer have to pretend to be something they are not.
Click to expand...
What, during the Crusades? I'm talking about USA history, not world history. Wrong high school class.
 
Eli1

Eli1

Well-known member
#8
Apr 5, 2022
3,332
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#8
Well, I agree with you that we have it better than our grandparents and I thank God for that everyday.
As far as people leaving churches that’s because they see a lot of anger, fighting and condemnation from some Christians in these churches so they leave. It’s as simple as that. Not to mention literal interpretations of the Bible which contradict reality.
A lot of people are put off by all that and leave never to return or search for some other spiritual avenue in a different religion.
 
A

arthurfleminger

Well-known member
#9
Aug 18, 2021
1,405
771
113
#9
Lynx said:
In October, 2019, a storm ripped through west and middle Tennessee and caused a lot of damage, mostly by knocking over a LOT of trees. The rain wasn't all that bad, but the wind was stronger than anything I had ever seen before. ("Strong" in this case is relative - it was amazing for this region but it wouldn't even raise an eyebrow in some places in the USA, much less around the world.) Power in my area was knocked out for more than a week, almost two weeks in some places.

I happened to be driving somewhere right in the middle of the storm. I had a guest that week, seoulsearch actually, and we were going to a restaurant that made good fried catfish because the poor, deprived girl had never tried it before. I didn't have much trouble keeping the vehicle on the road so I didn't get too anxious, but I commented to her that it was amazing to see the power lines vibrating like bass guitar strings. I don't know if she thought I was cool or completely cracked to be calm in that kind of storm... She didn't seem that upset herself, but I figured she had probably seen worse wind where she lived.

Why did the storm cause so much damage? Because there were a lot of weak trees around here.

Why were there so many weak trees? Because we don't usually get strong wind like that. A lot of trees could grow and live without needing to be strong and deeply rooted, because we don't usually get wind that will test them the way that storm blew. But that one time we DID get those winds, we found out which trees were weak.

Here in the USA it has been easy to be a Christian for a few decades now. Christianity has been the trendy thing to be. Lots of churches have popped up to cater to any house brand of Christianity people cared to listen to. Everybody I knew was a Christian of some kind.

Now it's not so popular to be a Christian, and it seems to be getting less popular every day. Many of those churches are shutting down and many people who said they were Christian are rethinking what they believe they are.

The wind is starting to pick up speed. How strong are your roots?
Click to expand...
You are obviously concerned about the future of Christianity and Christ's Church. Throughout history, Christianity and the Church have had difficult times. Remember that it all started after Jesus ascended and sent out a small group of Apostles/Disciples, into a world filled with wolves, to spread the Gospel message. They had no cell phones or uber rides to help them on their way, and yet they were successful.

Despite the persecutions of Christians in the Roman Coliseum, for the entertainment pleasure of the viewing audience, the followers of Peter and Paul won over Rome to the Christian cause and to Jesus Church.

Throughout history, Christianity and the Church have been under attack in all areas and countries of the world. In fact, it was just a generation ago that Communist Russia and China were vehement persecutors with their atheistic states.
And now, Russia has rebuilt it's Churches, most people in Russia are active Christians. China is a country where Christianity is growing rapidly.

Yes, you are seeing a decline in Christianity in the richest nations of the world, USA/Canada/Europe.....etc. Why? Because we are happy with the secular world, all the material goods that it offers. We have become self sufficient and have no need for God or Christ.

But on continents like Africa, that are struggling materialistically, they are hotbeds for the growth of Christianity. Christianity is thriving there.

I don't think you need to worry about Christianity. After all Jesus promised He'd be with us until the end of time. And He made the same promise to His Church also. He promised that His Word would never pass away, and it surely hasn't, while mighty nations and armies have fallen into the dustbin of history.

But, it is our job/responsibility to be Jesus disciples of today, no matter where we live,, rich or poor, to help spread the Gospel, Christ, and His Church, despite the difficult times and the glamor of what the world has to offer. So, as a Christian, do what you can to promote the Christian cause.
 
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