Author: Melissa, RadicallyHis.com
Perhaps you have heard of this debate, if not let me paint a picture of the argument for you. Some claim that Christianity is not only on a decline but that it is on the road to becoming totally extinct, disappearing from the earth to just a trace of a once known religion in the history books. It has been predicted that Christianity will be a thing of the past by 2050, 2070, or perhaps 2100. Census studies and other methods have led to the growing concern that the followers of Jesus are continually shrinking in numbers. This strikes fear in the heart of some while its good riddance for others.
Today I will throw my hat in the ring of opinions on this matter and give you three reasons why Christianity will never go extinct! These reasons, unlike some in the public circle, are strictly based on the unchanging and unfailing Word of God (rather than my own opinion).
1) Christianity will never go extinct because Christ is eternal!
Christ is called the living God for a reason, what other religion can say their god is alive? Other religions worship dead idols, but Christians worship the living and eternal God! When Christ died on the cross for our sins it was a final death. A death that He defeated when He rose from the grave 3 days later. Right now, this very moment, Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven – living and eternal! (Heb 1:3) You may wonder how I can claim that God is eternal. Mortal minds of those who do not have faith struggle to grasp the concept of something being forever because they have not yet excepted the eternity that is written on their hearts. However, eternity is etched on the souls of all who follow Jesus.
I rest on the foundation of Scripture to assert the eternal nature and reign of Christ. All throughout the Bible we see that God is the everlasting God, with no beginning and no end – He always was and always will be. (Is 40:28, Ps 90:20, Heb 13:8, Rev 22:13) How can Christianity become extinct if God is an eternal God? Not only is Christ eternal but His kingdom will never end. (Ps 145:13, Lk 1:33) It its simplest form Christianity is defined by the merriam-webster dictionary as a religion derived from Jesus Christ, based on the Bible as sacred Scripture. Christianity will never die because its foundation is the living and eternal King Jesus!
2) Christianity will never go extinct because Christians live forever!
Christ did not only have victory over death Himself, but He also defeated death for all who would ever call upon the name of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. We find this profound truth in the most well known Scripture, John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” Eternity is not just something that God experiences; it is the beautiful present day reality for every single one of His believers. Sin separates us from God and leads to death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus! (Rom 6:23) Christianity will never become extinct because Christians live forever! (Jn 5:24, 6:40, 6:47, 11:25)
3) Christianity will never go extinct because the Word of God will never fail!
If you’re reading this as a skeptic of the Bible you may consider my words fluff, however, I would like to back up my Scriptural perspective with a few notes on the Bible itself. The Bible, unlike any other book, is living and active (Heb 4:12), its words hold true transformation power for everyone who reads them. Part of our problem with accepting the reliability of Scripture is that we misunderstand the long and deep process that brought the Bible into existence. The Bible is composed of 66 books, written by 40 different authors, in three separate continents, with different cultural and situational context. If that isn’t amazing enough this happened over a 2,000 year span of time, in three different languages. The beauty is that when the Word of God was compiled into one book, as we have it today, it came together as a seamless message from cover to cover. Considering the variations I just described, creating a cohesive message amidst such variation would be an impossible task. It was only possible because the book was not just written by men it was divinely inspired by God. We have more substantial evidence for the Bible than any other book in antiquity and because of the supernatural involvement of God, the Scriptures are truth without error in the original writings. (I could say much more on the topic of Biblical reliability, but I will pause on my apologetics to return to the subject at hand!)
If we accept that the Word of God is true, then we must accept everything that it says. The Bible is clear that God’s Word will never fail, it will never pass away. (Is 40:8, Mt 5:18, 24:35, Lk 21:33, 1 Pt 1:24-25) Because His Word is sure and trustworthy, we can have full confidence that Jesus is eternal, His Kingdom is eternal, His Word is eternal, and His followers have eternal life. How can Christianity possibly become extinct when its foundation is rooted in eternal things and His people have eternal hope secured? This debate may continue, and the numbers of professing Christians may increase or decrease. Regardless of any of this I choose to rest on kingdom-minded truth: King Jesus lives forever, His Kingdom never ends, His Word does not fail, and those who believe have eternal life. I don’t know about you but as far as I am concerned, I am fully convinced that Christianity will never die!
If you are reading this today and are concerned with the state of your life eternally, I want you to know that Jesus is ready and waiting to accept you into His kingdom forever! There is nothing in your past, present, or future that can separate you from His love once you ask Him to be the Lord of your life. There is however only one way to heaven and that is through Jesus. If you are not a follower of Jesus you simply need to cry out to Him, asking forgiveness of your sins. The Bible says, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (ROMANS 10:13).
