Decline of Christianity
The decline of Christianity in the U.S.—especially evangelicalism and seminary enrollment like at Fuller—has deep and layered causes. It’s a convergence of cultural shifts, generational transitions, internal challenges, and broader spiritual disillusionment. Let’s break it down into some key areas:
1. Cultural Shifts & Post-Christian Environment
- Secularization: American culture has moved from being predominantly Christian to more pluralistic and secular. Christianity no longer holds the cultural authority it once did.
- Individualism: The rise of personal autonomy and self-expression runs counter to the call of discipleship and submission to God.
- Mistrust of Institutions: Churches and seminaries are seen as institutions—and Gen Z and Millennials especially are deeply skeptical of institutions due to scandals, politics, and perceived hypocrisy.
2. Political Entanglement of Evangelicalism
- Partisan Identity: Many people associate “evangelical” with a particular political stance (usually conservative/Republican). This alienates younger believers and outsiders who see the gospel as co-opted by political agendas.
- Culture Wars: Some churches became known more for what they oppose than what they love. The public witness of evangelicalism has often become defensive and combative, which feels un-Christlike to many.
3. Moral and Sexual Abuse Scandals
- From the Catholic Church to Southern Baptists, scandals involving cover-ups and abuse have eroded trust.
- Many high-profile evangelical leaders (Ravi Zacharias, Mark Driscoll, etc.) have fallen, making some question the integrity of the movement as a whole.
4. Shallow Discipleship & Deconstruction
- Consumer Christianity: A lot of evangelical churches offered emotional experiences or moralistic teachings, but little theological depth.
- When hard questions came—about suffering, gender, sexuality, or justice—many found they didn’t have answers. This led to deconstruction, and for many, departure.
- Exvangelicals: Entire communities have emerged online where people share their experiences of being harmed or disappointed by evangelicalism and find support in leaving.
5. Demographics & Aging Congregations
- Boomers filled churches and seminaries in the 70s–90s, but younger generations are both smaller and less committed.
- Fewer people want to be pastors. It's a hard, underpaid job, often underappreciated—and with the church in decline, it looks like a sinking ship to many.
6. Seminaries Like Fuller
- Fuller Theological Seminary once attracted a wide range of evangelical students from multiple denominations. But:
- Denominational decline means fewer churches are sending students.
- Shifting identity: Fuller has become more progressive in some eyes, which alienates conservatives, but it's still too evangelical for others. It’s stuck in-between.
- Online theological content: People now turn to podcasts, YouTube, and platforms like The Bible Project or The Gospel Coalition for learning. Seminary isn’t the only path to theological formation anymore.
- Cost: Seminary is expensive, and with church jobs drying up or paying poorly, many can’t justify the cost.
7. Spiritual Disillusionment or New Paths
- Many still seek Jesus, but not the institutional church.
- There's growing interest in ancient practices (contemplative prayer, liturgy, monasticism), and some leave evangelicalism for Orthodoxy or Catholicism, feeling those traditions have deeper roots.
- Others reconstruct outside the church, finding ways to follow Jesus without formal affiliation.
Conclusion
Christianity’s decline in the U.S., especially evangelicalism, is tied to:
- Cultural and generational shifts.
- Political and moral compromise.
- Shallow formation.
- Seminary's loss of relevance in a digital, skeptical age.
But here's the twist: beneath the rubble, there’s still hunger for truth. People want authenticity, beauty, and a faith that speaks to suffering and mystery. The old wineskin is cracking—but maybe that’s to make way for new wine.
Vision Statement:
At Fuller, we envision a renewal of biblical study through the recovery of sensus plenior—the deeper, Christ-centered meaning embedded by the Spirit in every word of Scripture. We believe that the authority of Scripture is restored when Christ is unveiled across all of it, not merely as doctrine, but as the living Word revealed through pattern, symbol, and riddle.
This rule-based hermeneutic provides answers to the difficult questions left unresolved by Greek frameworks applied to Hebrew texts. It teaches students to hear God propositionally, in ways that are verifiable, reproducible, and filled with reverent wonder.
We seek to equip a new generation—not merely with theological knowledge—but with eyes to see Christ in all of Scripture, and hearts set ablaze by the same unveiling He gave on the road to Emmaus. Through this, Fuller will once again lead in forming scholars, pastors, and prophets who do not just study the Word—but encounter the Word made flesh.
Proposal for the Establishment of a Chair in Hermeneutics of Sensus Plenior
The Chair of Christocentric Hermeneutics: Sensus Plenior and the Revelation of Scripture
Purpose and Rationale
In an era marked by spiritual deconstruction, declining seminary enrollment, and the fragmentation of biblical authority, there is an urgent need to return to a hermeneutic that restores both the unity of Scripture and its power to transform. This proposal recommends the establishment of a Chair in Hermeneutics at Fuller Seminary that will lead in the development and instruction of a rule-based, Christ-centered method of interpretation grounded in the sensus plenior.
This hermeneutic affirms the historical-literal reading of Scripture but goes further, recognizing the Spirit-breathed depth beneath the surface—a depth that unveils Christ in every passage, as He taught His disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:27). It provides a coherent framework that is intellectually rigorous, spiritually vibrant, and deeply rooted in the Hebrew narrative structure of the Bible, rather than imposing foreign categories derived from Greek rationalism.
This approach offers Fuller a way to reclaim its prophetic role in shaping how the Church hears God today—clearly, propositionally, and reproducibly.
Core Objectives of the Chair
- To Develop and Teach a Rule-Based Hermeneutic of Sensus Plenior, equipping students with systematic methods to uncover Christ in all of Scripture through symbols, patterns, word formations, and literary structure.
- To Restore the Functional Authority of Scripture, showing how the unified voice of Christ speaks through every passage—not only doctrinally but prophetically, narratively, and experientially.
- To Train a New Generation of Theologians, Pastors, and Scholars who can answer the deep spiritual and theological questions of our age with clarity, coherence, and reverence.
- To Serve as a Center of Research and Publication, exploring how this hermeneutic resolves longstanding theological tensions, reclaims biblical typology, and restores confidence in the unity of the Old and New Testaments.
- To Engage Globally, building bridges with Jewish and Messianic traditions by honoring the Hebrew literary roots of Scripture and fostering deeper understanding between Jewish and Christian readers of the Bible.
Curriculum Focus
Courses and research under this Chair may include:
- Foundations of Sensus Plenior Hermeneutics
- Christ in the Torah, Writings, and Prophets
- Hebrew Structures and Symbolic Logic in Biblical Interpretation
- The Cross and Resurrection as the Lens of All Scripture
- From Riddle to Revelation: A Pattern-Based Approach
- Hearing God in Scripture: Verifiable and Reproducible Revelation
Strategic Outcomes for Fuller Seminary
- Revitalization of Enrollment: A clear, compelling vision that speaks to hungry hearts and skeptical minds alike—offering both depth and spiritual vitality.
- Thought Leadership: Fuller can re-emerge as a center for the next wave of biblical interpretation that bridges traditional orthodoxy and contemporary relevance.
- Global Impact: By recovering a distinctly Hebraic view of Scripture centered in Christ, Fuller becomes a hub for international scholars seeking a faithful and vibrant hermeneutic.
- Interdisciplinary Integration: The hermeneutic has applications in preaching, counseling, theology, worship, and even interfaith dialogue.
Conclusion
The establishment of a Chair in Christocentric Hermeneutics rooted in sensus plenior is not merely an academic proposal—it is a spiritual reawakening. It responds to the questions of our time by recovering the methods of the first-century Church and the voice of the resurrected Christ in all of Scripture.
This Chair will serve as both anchor and catalyst, holding fast to the Word while opening new doors for Fuller’s next generation of leaders.
