Is The World Getting Worse?

In addition to all this, smallpox, malaria, and other diseases have either been eradicated or greatly diminished. Terminal diseases are still wrecking havoc around the world, but health conditions are significantly better than anytime in history. The earth is unquestionably a healthier place in the Twenty-First Century. 

Spread of Christianity 

People keep talking about how things are becoming worse and worse, but they are greatly mistaken. Which brings me to the underlying point of this article. The earth is constantly improving because the gospel of Jesus Christ is taking root in every corner of the globe. The Kingdom of God is advancing and things are truly reflecting the Lord’s great kindness and love.

Many aren’t ready to accept this, but the number of those who claim to be Christians around the world has nearly quadrupled in the last century, from about 600 million in 1910 to more than 2.3 billion as of 2011, representing roughly 33% of the world population. So, approximately one in three people around the globe now identify with Christianity

Evaluating the vast numerical and statistical data that is currently being tabulated, Roman Catholic researcher George Weigel recounted the following: 

“There will be, by mid-2011, 2,306,609,000 Christians of all kinds in the world, representing 33 percent of world population…As of mid-2011, there will be an average of 80,000 new Christians per day.” ^[11]

To the surprise of many, Christian conversions have been outpacing the growth that is taking place through the violent expansion of Islam. The bulk of Muslim growth is taking place through multiple childbirths, or bloodshed. Meanwhile, Christianity’s growth is being fueled with healing, deliverance, and interpersonal engagement.

Surprisingly, the vast majority of Church growth is currently taking place in difficult environments that have been historically opposed to the gospel. Locales in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and even the Middle East are now experiencing unprecedented advancement. Ironically, this kind of expansion has defined Christianity from the very beginning.

Let’s consider some of the encouraging statistics about what’s happening around the world. I must admit that I become incredibly excited when I hear these accounts.

Africa 

What has been transpiring throughout the continent of Africa has been utterly amazing. Africa is increasingly becoming a “Christian land.”  Reflecting on the reality of Christianity’s unparalleled growth over the last century, Catholic researcher George Weigel declared,

“Africa has been the most stunning area of Christian growth over the past century. There were 8.7 million African Christians in 1900 (primarily in Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Africa); there are 475 million African Christians today, and their numbers are projected to reach 670 million by 2025. Another astonishing growth spurt, measured typologically, has been among Pentecostals and charismatics: 981,000 in 1900; 612,472,000 in 2011, with an average of 37,000 new adherents every day – the fastest growth in two millennia of Christian history.”^[12]

Weigel’s observations are backed up by the research of the Pew Research Forum. Their data also points to the amazing changes that have been transpiring in Africa. They report that,

“The share of the population that is Christian in sub-Saharan Africa climbed from 9 percent in 1910 to 63 percent in 2010, or from 8.5 million to 516 million during that time.”^[13] 

In less than one century, Christianity has moved from margins to the center of sub-Saharan Africa life.

There are evidences all over the continent of these monumental shifts. For example, missionaries Heidi and Roland Baker, with 2,700 church plants, have made a significant impact in the nation of Mozambique. The province they operate in was 99% Muslim before their arrival, but a little over ten years later those figures are remarkably different. Kelly Head writes,

“The Bakers are now based full-time in Pemba, Mozambique, in an area where Heidi says was once called a ‘graveyard to missionaries.’ But recently the government announced publicly that it’s no longer a Muslim providence; now it’s a Christian providence.”^[14]

The continent of Africa has been utterly transformed by the goodness and grace of the gospel.