At first, it was very upsetting…..but after awhile I saw what was happening. The cover of last week’s Newsweek contained an article titled, “The Decline and Fall of Christian America.” As a matter of fact, the title of this article is featured in bold red letters on a black background and jumps out when you look at it. (I should have known that one of the national magazines would come out at Easter with a story about Jesus or the Church. This time of year, religion sells.)

The article informed readers that over the past two decades, the number of “self-identified Christians” has fallen 10 points. Thewriters interpretation of this data is that Christian America is disappearing and soon will no longer exist.

Between these stats and other reports that get spread around, one might wonder if this isn’t the case but, I don’t think everything is being reported.

I hear that more churches are being closed than opened on a regular basis. I hear of churches struggling with finances; pastors loosing battles with integrity, marriage and morals. There are also reports of apathy, consumerism and a general lack of knowledge of God’s Word and what we believe. But I don’t think the church is close to disappearing. Regrouping, maybe; restructuring, hopefully; but disappearing, not yet.

This past Saturday evening, I watched “Easter with Rick Warren” on Fox News. It was great. It was simply the best Easter message I’ve ever heard. Nothing was watered down. The truth was presented, clearly and distinctly.

Following the broadcast of the church service, Rick Warren was interviewed by Lauren Green, religion correspondent for Fox News. During this interview, Rick mentioned in the past few days that 2000 people went through their “101 Class” which is Saddleback’s introductory class to their church and God. He also said that a few days before Easter, 800 people from that class made professions of faith, joined the church and were baptized in water. It was a five hour water baptismal service.

In addition to what was happening at Saddleback, I noted many pastors on facebook wrote about their Easter services. There were many reports of high attendance but even more importantly there were the reports of folks coming to the altar to receive Christ as their Savior.

Perhaps Christianity won’t have the prominence in the White House it once did or in Congress as it has had in years past. Perhaps the entertainment industry and the News Media really are not catching what is happening, but it really sounds to me as if Christianity is alive and well.

Always in Pursuit!