I read this post earlier this morning.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-mcswain/why-nobody-wants-to-go-to_b_4086016.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000051

I think there are more shades of gray than what McSwain is putting forth.  I have studied Stetzer over the years (began with some of his writings when I was still in seminary in Kentucky), and I don’t think McSwain has it quite right either.  There is more give and take, more shades of gray and complexity than either McSwain or Stetzer can possibly fit into one particular book or post.

I would agree churches are dying; however, I would not say Church is dying.  It is naturally in a state of transition as socio-cultures, ethnicities, ages… change, merge, blend and transition, and grow.

McSwain quotes the numbers of churches closing – 4000-7000 or 8000-10,000 every year (depending which statistics you look at).  I see many articles noting the closing churches (I don’t sit with a "head in the sand saying, it ain’t so!" view)  But I’d like to see more information in articles like this that indicate new church starts, new church communities, new church ministries…  These ‘new churches’ are not always mainline denomination-ally oriented or founded or launched.  This doesn’t make it any less church growth.

A better balance of information would give greater overall perspective.  Truth is, churches have been born, lived, transitioned, dying, changing, merging, melding… since Acts tells us of the newly forming churches following Pentecost.  I don’t think this is anything new.  How many of the churches Paul launched/started/formed we read about in the New Testament are alive and well today?

Nevertheless, there are some good points in this article – ages of church, trending of ‘stylized’ contemporary, ethnic realities, technology and competition…  some truth in what McSwain is saying and areas for us to pay attention to.

What are your thoughts?