The greatest threat facing the church today isn’t necessarily a singular, easily definable enemy. Rather, it’s a complex web of interconnected challenges that subtly erode the church’s foundation and hinder its mission. While atheism, secularism, and various other “isms” often take the blame, the true threats may lie deeper, within the cultural currents and societal structures that shape our modern world.
Several potential candidates emerge when considering the magnitude and systemic nature required to pose a significant threat to millions of believers. Capitalism, progressivism, liberalism, secularism, atheism, scientism, legalism, racism, nationalism, imperialism, warmongering, industrialism, environmentalism, utilitarianism, individualism, nihilism, anti-natalism, technophilia, and even thanatophilia (the culture of death) all present challenges to the church’s core values and practices.
However, it’s crucial to distinguish between surface-level challenges and deeper, more insidious threats. Events like famine, plague, poverty, and war, while undoubtedly causing immense suffering, don’t necessarily constitute existential threats to the church. These are trials that have always existed and will continue to exist in a fallen world. The church often rises to meet these challenges, demonstrating resilience and unwavering faith. True threats, on the other hand, undermine the church’s foundation, silencing the gospel before it can be heard or lived out.
True threats operate on a deeper level, eroding the church’s foundations and hindering its ability to fulfill its mission. These threats often manifest as idols—belief systems, values, or practices that capture our hearts and minds, diverting our attention and allegiance away from God. Identifying these idols is crucial to understanding the true nature of the threats facing the church today. Technophilia, individualism, utilitarianism, capitalism, and progressivism stand out as potential contenders for modern-day idols that shape our desires, values, and actions.
These seemingly disparate ideologies may share common roots in broader philosophical frameworks like liberalism and scientism. Liberalism, with its emphasis on individual autonomy and reason, can give rise to both individualism and utilitarianism. Scientism, the belief that science holds the answers to all of life’s questions, can fuel both technophilia and a disregard for spiritual truths. And underpinning many of these ideologies is the pervasive influence of Mammon, the relentless pursuit of wealth and material possessions. The intricate relationships between these various “isms” suggest a complex web of interconnected threats, rather than a single, easily identifiable enemy.
The question of which threat poses the greatest danger to the church remains open for debate. However, by examining the underlying ideologies and cultural forces that shape our world, we can begin to identify the true nature of the challenges facing the church today. Focusing on external threats is essential, but internal divisions within the church also pose a significant challenge to its unity and credibility. Addressing both internal and external threats is paramount for the church to thrive in the modern age.
