“If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” – Mark 3:25
The Church in America has become divided between those churches who maintain Biblical authority and those who don’t. It is the result of the acceptance of secular beliefs by many Christian churches in America. Four of the major Protestant denominations have split over this issue in the past 15 years (Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist, and Episcopalian). The one thing that once united all Christians denominations was the adherence to Biblical teaching. But that is no longer true. Instead, there are many progressive and liberal churches today that are actually advocating and affirming sins that are part of our secular culture. This is what I would call Secular Christianity!
So, why have some Christian Churches in America removed Scriptural authority from their theology and doctrine? Why do they now more closely align with our secular culture than the Word of God? I believe that it is due to 4 major reasons which are science, reason, technology, and complacency. I will discuss them in turn.
Science
Belief in the Bible and its truth began to erode with the advent of scientific discovery in the 1500-1600’s. It began with Copernicus discovering that the sun was the center of the universe (1515). Then Johann Kepler discovered that the sun emitted a magnetic force that moved the planets in their courses (1609). Next, Galileo discovered the telescope and proved the acceleration of the planets is constant (1609). These discoveries led to Isaac Newton’s discovery of gravity and the laws of motion in the heavens and the earth (1687). These all resulted in the recognition by man that our world was an orderly system that sustained life. The physical laws of nature made more sense than their previous belief in the supernatural and spiritual creation of our world by God.
Reason
The Age of Reason (1648-1789) followed scientific discovery and that was when mankind began to believe that they could attain knowledge about the earth and the heavens through science and reason. Instead of relying on the Word of God to guide them on this earth, they saw it the other way around, where man could determine by his own reason how to better live life in our world. This was the birth of secularism. This is the belief that humans are better able to determine truth and what is right and wrong by our own reason, not revelation from an unseen God.
Technology
Technology began with the Industrial age (1900’s) and the movement from an agricultural to a manufacturing-based economy and workforce. The mechanization of producing goods enabled rapid economic growth. Man saw that they could develop machines to do what man had to do by hand before on their own. Then the development of the personal computer, internet, and cell phone technologies over the past 50 years enabled people to have quick access to information at their fingertips. It also brought about instant global communication and the ability to see the news as it happens anywhere in the world. Unfortunately, many people thought that technology was from man’s own knowledge and not from God, further eroding the need for God.
Complacency
While this was all taking place in the world around us, the Christian Church became complacent and did not recognize the danger inherent in these developments. While some Christians may have recognized that these advancements were guided by the Hand of God, others attributed them to science and man’s own reason and intellect. Additionally, we began to see many churches adopt a “seeker sensitive” approach to evangelism, using secular motives to draw people to church instead of the truth of the Word of God. As a result, today most Americans (64%) do not believe the Bible is true and accurate in its teachings, and most Christians (58%) do not even read their Bibles anymore, according to a 2025 American Bible Society study. Consequently, with the Church divided on the authority of Scripture, it is effectively unable to speak out with God’s Word against what is happening around us in our culture and nation.
What we’ve seen happen is what many refer to as a “Slippery Slope”, the expression used to describe a slow decline in something over many years that has gone unaddressed until it’s too late. It’s the boiling frog example. If you put a frog into a pot of boiling water, they will jump out right away. But if you put a frog into a pot of tepid water and gradually turn up the heat they will eventually boil to death. I believe that is what is happening within the Christian Church today with the rise of Secular Christianity. We have not stayed true to our faith and Biblical teaching. As a result, Christian influence in our culture and nation has declined and deteriorated.
And while Christians were essentially “asleep at the wheel”, Satan has been “prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). He has succeeded in reducing the influence of the Church in our culture, turning our nation against God and turning many American Christians against God’s Word.
So, what does the Christian Church in America need to do to reclaim its influence in our culture and nation? I believe that there are 3 things the Christian Church must do.
First, the Christian Church needs to call out and rebuke publicly those who are false teachers from within our ranks (1 Timothy 1:3-4). If they will not repent and embrace Biblical teaching, the Church needs to remove them from their pulpits and leadership positions so that the Christian Church is once again only teaching and preaching God’s Word and His Truth. This will set it apart from the culture and enable it to influence our nation towards Godly values and Biblical truth.
Second, the Christian Church must put a greater emphasis on discipleship and Bible reading. This is necessary to prevent Christians from succumbing to “what their itching ears want to hear” (2 Timothy 4:3). This will teach them how to discern true Biblical teaching from false teaching so as not to be led away from the Truth.
Third, the Christian Church needs to find new ways to connect with the current generation and become more effective in evangelizing them (1 Corinthians 9:19-22). The world is different today and the old methods of evangelizing aren’t working. If we desire to grow God’s Kingdom in America and reinstate Godly values and principles, it must be done through all true followers of Christ who will share God’s Word through God’s truth, God’s power, and God’s Spirit!