1. During the last forty years, every form of immorality has witnessed an unprecedented explosion.

   Practices such as adultery, divorce, incest, premarital sex, homosexuality, suicide and abortion have risen at an astounding rate. Divorce rates are by far the highest in the so-called bible belt. There is now a tenfold increase in numbers of couples living together outside of wedlock! In major cities, illegitimacy rate shave exploded anywhere from five hundred to more than one thousand percent. Such rapid moral and family disintegration is among the most extreme in human history. Few nations have ever changed so radically in such a short period of time. (And in so-called "Christian" America.)

2. Since 1960 nearly every category of crime has risen by the alarming ratio of four to five hundred percent.

   Most senior adults easily remember a time when few people locked their doors. Yet, today society lives barricaded behind steel bars and security systems. Again, this rapid rate of crime growth is rare in human history. Though recently some crime has shown a slight decrease, society remains at catastrophic levels of criminal activity. Perhaps most alarming is the huge explosion of violent crime among children and youth.

3. An unprecedented combination of cultural forces exert strong anti-Christian influence on societal attitudes.

   Powerful entertainment and music industries shamelessly promote a constant message that is anti-moral, anti-Bible and anti-Christ. Many public and higher education systems have evolved into powerful forces against God and the biblical foundations of our nation. History books have been "revised" to eliminate nearly all references to the Christianfoundations of our country. Never have so many forces "combined" to alter the moral mindset of a society.

   For most of today's children, their primary exposure to Jesus is the blatant anti-Christian bias from Hollywood, music industries, news media and secularized education. Perversion and immorality are highly exalted and "normalized" while Christians are constantly depicted as "intolerant bigots." (If we think it is difficult to evangelize Americans now, wait until today's indoctrinated youth reach adulthood!)

4. During the 1990's, we have witnessed an alarming rise in hostility against Christians and biblical values.

   Fifteen years ago few comedians would even mildly joke about the church, yet today open blasphemy is the constant theme of actors, comedians and talk show hosts. Today Christians are just about the only group that can be slandered with impunity. In "Christian" America, we are rapidly reaching the place where it must be said, "There is no fear of God in the land." Never has there been an American generation so hostile to the teachings of God's Word. At an alarming rate, modern Christians are being demonized by secular society. People who in any way take biblical morality seriously are now called the "radical" right.

5. Laws presently proposed could eventually make it a federal crime to espouse the biblical view of homosexuality. (Such laws already exist in canada.)

   Highly organized homosexual groups stand poised to use such laws to sue churches and potentially jail ministers.

   Other proposed laws, if passed, would totally reverse the biblical definition of marriage in America. At present, some states are incredibly close to passing such a law. Increasing numbers of communities move ever closer to outlawing door to door evangelism. Whether or not we realize it, American Christians are moving close to significant forms of legal opression.

6. During the last twenty years, America has experienced a massive explosion of cults and false religions.

   Astrology, psychics and Satanism are growing at unprecedented rates. Religions such as Islam and New Age cults are growing at phenomenal rates. By contrast, it is estimated that each year three to four thousand American churches close their doors for the last time. At resent, the percentage growth of cults and false religions far outpace the growth of the nation's churches.

7. Despite history's biggest expansion of evangelistic programs and strategies, domestic baptism numbers for Southern Baptists have been essentially flat-lined for nearly fifty years. (In spite of the fact that our national population has exploded!)

   These statistics actually mean "baptism ratios" have been in a serious fifty year decline. It is significant that this ratio decline has occurred during history's biggest increase of evangelistic programs, promotion and personnel. Despite a plethora of new programs and strategies, over seventy percent of our churches are either plateaued or declining! The same or worse statistics are true of most evangelical denominations. These facts strongly suggest that the primary answer cannot be merely a better program of strategy.

8. Most years, well over fourteen thousand Southern Baptist churches baptize three or less, with seven to eight thousand actually baptizing no one!

   Overt the last twenty years, thousands of our churches have declined so severely that they now barely cling to existence. Unless God intervenes in an awesome way, many thousands of these churches are projected to close within ten years. Furthermore, present church starts do not keep up with the population increase or with projected church closures.

SBC handout