Brian Black
This book provides a new and thoroughly researched analysis to the problem of church growth. Both sociological research and biblical evidence show that denominations which uncompromisingly stand for their beliefs grow. Long-term growth accordingly demands strictness and emphasizes theological differences. Evidence of evangelical decline is charted over the last several decades. While much of the book will focus upon the Holiness Movement to exemplify the difficulties faced by modern conservatives, the scope is broadened to include all evangelical groups. Similar factors which caused mainline churches to begin shrinking in the 1960s are causing the decline of evangelical churches today; history is simply repeating itself. The concepts in this book give insight to the problem by placing church growth in a proper sociological and scriptural framework.Along with scientific growth concepts, much of the book applies biblical principles from the New Testament and relates how the mega-church philosophy has not only undermined the foundation of many Christian values, it has also begun causing growth to collapse. The church in America is dying, and unless biblical foundations are restored, the American church will soon crumble into nothing more than a footnote of history.
