For perhaps the first time in U.S. history, White Christians make up less than 50 percent of the population. However, the group still maintains control of a massive portion of the nation’s economy.
The change in demographics has been largely fueled by immigration, legal and undocumented, and the growing secularism of Left-leaning citizens. Just 40 years ago, approximately 80 percent of Americans were both White and Christian.
That number has fallen to an all-time low of 43 percent according to a recent study conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute. The Washington-based organization also concluded that only 70 percent of Americans now identify as Christian.
The largest declines appear to have occurred in Presbyterians and Lutherans among others. Evangelical denominations were previously thought to be immune to congregation loss. But the rise in Church-led acceptance of anti-Scripture issues such as gay marriage and abortion has left many disillusioned with organized Christianity.
About 25 percent now consider themselves unaffiliated. While White numbers have dropped, the influx of the Latino population has swelled the ranks of traditional Catholics in the United States.
Why Christian Numbers Matter
The growing divide between the country’s two major political parties reflect the very real and alarming threat that America could move toward Godlessness. Democrats have been making a hard shift Left for more than a decade and that voting bloc tends to be driven by atheists and agnostics.
The makeup of the current Democratic Party includes only 29 percent White Christians, while 40 percent report no religious affiliation whatsoever. Simply put, they are atheists seeking to unseat people of Faith.
The last election saw Pres. Donald Trump carry 80 percent of White evangelical voters based in large part on his promise to protect Christian liberties and appoint U.S. Supreme Court justices that adhere to important principles. White Christian voters helped secure the president’s so-called upset victory and have been rewarded with conservative Neil Gorsuch on the Supreme Court and a leader that defends Christian rights.
Dollars and Faith
In terms of maintaining the fundamental teachings of Jesus Christ in society, Christians control a significant portion of American wealth and that translates to political contributions. A recent Georgetown University study arrived at three figures that demonstrate the full force and economic power of religious Americans.
Considering the total revenues of faith-based organizations, the study pinned them at $378 annually. If the market value of the religious organization’s total assets and income streams is tallied, American groups are worth more than $1.2 trillion. That tops social media giants Google and Facebook combined.
But the most important number that defends America as a fundamentally Faith-based country is the total household incomes. That number comes in at a staggering $4.8 trillion.
Among the 70 percent of American Christians, Catholics are far and away the top earners. Episcopalians and Protestants are close behind in households that earn more than $100,000 per year. And, the Evangelical Lutheran Church In America, United Methodist Church and Presbyterian Church all post significant yearly income.
Jehovah’s Witness and historically African-American churches earn the least among Christians, according to Pews Research. But what does all this income and wealth really mean for people of Faith? The Georgetown study drew several conclusions.
Importance of the Christian Economy
“Religion is a highly significant sector of the American economy” because it “provides purpose-driven institutional and economic contributions to health, education, social cohesion, social services, media, food and business itself,” the study states. “Perhaps most significantly, religion helps set Americans free to do good by harnessing the power of millions of volunteers from nearly 345,000 diverse congregations present in every corner of the country’s urban and rural landscape.”
Another important aspect of a strong White Christian economy is the use of political contributions. That’s because more African-Americans and Latinos tend to vote Democrat based on identity politics and other issues, despite their significant Christian Faith. But that party promotes atheist policies and legislation that flies in the face of Christ’s teachings. Gay marriage and abortion are issues the secular Left continues to attempt to expand. That is in keeping with their faithless following.
The defense of Christian values in America therefore falls to White Christians that support God-loving candidates, who are predominately Republican. Although the numbers of Christians that feel connected to a church has declined, economic strength and numbers are necessary to keep America Christian.
~ Christian Patriot Daily
