n e w c h u r c h l i f e : j u ly / au g u s t 2 0 1 6
Estimates during the Middle Ages are also difficult but the Jewish
Encyclopedia cites one estimate in 1170 CE at about 1 million. Estimates
from the late 19th century forward are more widely available and indicate
that Jewish populations grew steadily from an estimated 8 million in 1880 to
nearly 17 million in 1939. This was followed by a shockingly abrupt decline
of approximately 6 million Jews during the Holocaust, after which Jewish
population again grew and is currently estimated as approximately 14 million.
However, when considering these populations, it should be noted that the
term Jewish is a hybrid between a religion, race and nation. Still, it seems safe
to conclude that Judaism has grown significantly from the time of the Jewish
Church’s Last Judgment and is exhibiting a steady growth trend in absolute
numbers but probably declining as a percent of total world population.
From this historical perspective we would not expect the Christian Church
to decline abruptly but that it is likely to maintain or even grow in numbers.
However, this merely speaks to its population, not to the spiritual health or
pedigree of the Church.
Christian Church Growth and Decline
Since its birth in the area of the “Holy Land” the Christian Church has also
spread throughout the entire earth. From its initial birth in Judea it spread
throughout Europe, into other parts of Africa such as Ethiopia and into
Western Asia. It also spread to the “New World” along with the explorers
influencing newly established colonies and later countries such as the United
States.
Attempts were also made to evangelize China, Japan and India but, while
there was some initial success, Christianity failed to have a lasting majority
position. Throughout its history the Christian Church has frequently come
into conflict with Islam, which has often checked the advance of Christianity
and at times pushed its boundaries backwards. Even today Christianity and
Islam continue to be in conflict, particularly in the Middle East.
During most of its history the Christian Church has seen its greatest
strength in Europe, Western Asia, and more recently the United States, Canada
and Australia. However, more recently there has been a declining trend in
membership in some of these traditional regions but an explosion of growth
in South America and Africa.
In his book The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity,
Philip Jenkins presents a convincing analysis which shows that Christianity is
on the increase in many parts of the world due to a number of factors. These
high growth regions include Africa, Latin America and Asia, which he refers
to as the “South.”
The growth of Christianity in these regions results from both rapid
354