World news and commentary: May 2025

Decline in church attendance slows

At the end of February, the Pew Research Center’s Religious Landscape Study 2023–24 edition was released.¹ Previous studies were released in 2007 and 2014. The COVID pandemic upset the seven-year cycle, so the center decided to wait for things to return to normal.

The latest study revealed a continuing decline in the religious observance of those living in the United States, but that decline appears to have leveled off. Between 2007 and 2014, the number of US adults identifying as Christian went from 78 percent to 71 percent. The 2023–24 study has that number at 62 percent. That number has been relatively stable since 2019, oscillating between 60 percent and 64 percent. This means that religious observance in the United States seems to have flattened out over the last five years. The percentage of US adults who have no religious affiliation, aka “the Nones,” appears to have plateaued as well.

What to make of this data is hard to say. Some say it’s a temporary pause before further decline. Others think the church is poised for a comeback in the US. What we do know for sure is this: Jesus promised that the gates of hell will not prevail against his church, and in fact, Jesus will build his church (Matthew 16:18). The death of the visible church is sometimes exaggerated in our discussions. The truth tends to be more complicated. Nevertheless, we can each do our part to work while it is day (John 9:4) and put the rest in God’s hands.

A big anniversary

This year, Christian churches around the world are observing the 1,700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed. A global conference of evangelicals will take place in Istanbul in October. African leaders are gathering in October too, noting especially that the Council of Nicaea healed factions and doctrinal infighting among Christians. These leaders hope a similar gathering of church leaders in Egypt will lead to new ways of thinking about faith unbound by colonial legacies and “will inspire unity in diversity.”² The World Council of Churches met in November 2024 in Switzerland under the theme “Towards Nicaea 2025: Exploring the Council’s Ecumenical Significance Today.”

Many of the planned celebrations seem intent to gloss over doctrinal differences or ignore what the Scriptures teach about the triune God and the work of Jesus Christ. The best way to honor this anniversary is with a renewed study of and appreciation for the scriptural truths confessed at Nicaea. (Forward in Christ will be doing just that in its June issue.) To be sure, the Word has the power to heal divisions and bring God’s people together. Happy talk and photo ops, however, typically don’t make much difference.

A surprise in Greenland

Greenland has made the news this year because President Trump has mentioned wanting to acquire the territory for the United States. But did you know that most Greenlanders are Lutherans? According to official statistics, about 57,000 people live in Greenland. Most of them are proudly Inuit, and roughly 91 percent (52,000 people) are also proudly Lutheran. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Greenland, part of the state church of Denmark, has been mostly autonomous since 1993. The first Danish-Norwegian missionary came to the island more than three hundred years ago, and the traditions of the Lutheran church are ingrained in the lives of Greenlanders. Baptisms, confirmations, funerals, and weddings remain important events.

A recent news article highlighted the testimony of a bride in Greenland who is “spiritual, but not religious.” Her husband is an atheist. She said, “Traditions are important to me because they pass on from my grandparents to my parents, and it’s been my way of honoring them.”³ Traditions can be beneficial, but Jesus had something to say about those who honor God with just their lips (see Matthew 15:8).

We might be surprised to learn of the many people attending the 40 Lutheran churches in Greenland every Sunday. We pray for them all and especially thank God for those Lutherans who hear the Word and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.