Why are so many churches dying?

Why are so many churches dying?

Northwest Baptist Church was founded in 1955 in Chicago’s Jefferson Park neighborhood. In its heyday, it was vibrant—300 people in weekly attendance, faithful pastors, thriving ministries, and a clear gospel witness. Christ was honored. Lives were changed.

But over time, the church began to decline. The neighborhood changed, but the church didn’t. Ministry became outdated, worship felt frozen in time, young families left, outreach efforts dwindled, and by the mid-2010s, fewer than 20 people remained. They couldn’t afford a full-time pastor, and the once-beautiful building became a financial burden. In 2018, the church closed its doors for good.

When interviewed, one member confessed, “We just ran out of people. And we didn’t know how to reach the new people in our neighborhood.”

Sadly, this story isn’t unique. It’s the reality of thousands of churches across the U.S. The names change, but the outcomes are strikingly similar. The question is: why? Why do so many churches miss the writing on the wall?

To answer that, we need to zoom out and look at the cultural context churches now face. In 2022, Aaron Renn wrote an insightful article titled “The Three Worlds of Evangelicalism.” He describes how the cultural posture toward Christianity has shifted over the decades:

Positive World (1964–1994): Christianity was viewed positively. Churchgoers were respected, even advantaged in public life.

Neutral World (1994–2014): Christianity became seen as one option among many. It was private, tolerated, but no longer influential.

Negative World (2014–present): Now, Christian beliefs are viewed as morally problematic. The culture no longer respects Christianity—it resists it.

Many churches are culturally disoriented. They’re operating like it’s still the Positive World. But the world has changed, and they haven’t. Outreach isn’t assumed anymore. Church attendance isn’t expected. Pastors aren’t automatically respected.

Like the sons of Issachar (1 Chron. 12:32), churches must understand the times. We live in a world where the church must think more like the early church—exiles in Babylon, not citizens of Christendom.

This isn’t a reason to despair. It’s a call to recalibrate.

We need churches that proclaim the gospel boldly and clearly. We must train disciples to live faithfully in a world that does not love what they believe. And we must do ministry with excellence, authenticity, depth, and conviction.

The world doesn’t need churches stuck in the past. It needs churches that are holy, truthful, and alive.

The truth is, many churches are dying simply because they don’t understand the times. Until we see clearly, we won’t act boldly.