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Belonging and believing

Christianity across the globe

A picture of a globe

Worldwide Christian growth

We live in a world that is often dominated by bad news. Never has there been a time when we could get live pictures around the world and into our homes so quickly. Global warming and global recession are all things that seem beyond our control. Wars in the Middle East, terrorism at home and abroad. Where in all this evil and chaos that surround us lies the purpose of God?

While the population of the world increases year on year at a staggering rate, the growth of Christianity is also proceeding at a staggering rate year on year. With about 50,000 Christians being baptised every week in Africa alone, Christianity is and remains the most popular religion in the world. The graph shows there are over 2 Billion Christians in the world today.

Yet people who become Christians do not do it because it is popular. The gospel message has never been popular, after all look what they did to Jesus because of what he said. No the appeal of Christianity is so strong, that many are willing to suffer great hardships, because of their love for the Lord Jesus Christ. In understanding this you can see how the glory of God grows every day.

Worldwide growth of Christianity

Source: Religious trends 5 Brieley 2005 Table 1.2.1

Downloadable chart: "Worldwide growth of Christianity"

The focus of the Church moves to the Southern Hemisphere

This chart illustrates one fact that many Christians in the first world forget, that they are no longer the dominant factor in worldwide Christianity. The focus of Christianity moved South some time ago and it is not comming back. From the graph changeover took place in about 1987 or about 22 years ago. This mirrors the increasing importance of the third world economies like China and India. Churches in the Northern hemisphere must adjust. It is increasingly true that third world countries will send missionary's to countries like the UK.

Christians in First and Third world countries

Source: Religious trends 5 Brieley 2005 Table 1.2.1

Downloadable chart: "Christians in First and Third world countries"

The cause of this change is the dramattic increase in the population in many countries in the Sothern Hemisphere. Its not that the Church in the First World suddenly shrank, but that one of the factors that caused the Church in the Third World grow is its population growth.

Christian growth by continent

This chart show the way that the third world is becoming the future of Christianity. In 1970 Christianity in Europe was about 40% of of the worldwide church, by 2030 it will be down to 20%. While Europe is where Christianity achieved growth in the first two millenia, through Roman empire then the Reformation, today Western Europe has become very secular and Christianity is in decline. North America has not succumbed to secularisation in quite the same way. Although the intellectual elite are secularised, the battle is still going on for other social groups.

Worldwide Christianity by Continent

Source: Religious trends 5 Brieley 2005 Table 1.2.1

Downloadable chart: "Worldwide Christianity by Continent"

In recent times worldwide spirituality has seen more not less interest in the spiritual, with a steep rise not only in Christianity but Islam. Collectively the worldwide Church is the largest organisation on earth with branches in every part of the world. And it has shown remarkable resurgence in Eastern Europe and China where communism has fallen or is in its twilight years.

Denominations

This chart shows how the various Christian denominations have and are expected to grow in the future. Overall every denomination shows growth, although the picture varies, with some showing more growth than others. It is a very optamistic picture that confounds seclar theory's of the immanent demise of god.

Denominations in the world

Source: Religious trends 5 Brieley 2005 Table 1.2.2

Downloadable chart: "Denominations in the world"

The newer denominations like the Pentecostal show how the faith has the ability to re-invent itself in ways that are well adapted to changes in culture. Christianity is not a fixed target for those who oppose it. Reformation and revival continue hand in hand as they are lead by the Holy Spirit.


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