I just returned from Europe, where people were standing in line to get into the great churches. Of course the attraction is the architecture and history of cathedrals such as Notre Dame in Paris, and Westminster Abbey in London. Audio guides in dozens of languages guide thousands of tourists through these iconic structures of Western Christianity each day. The beauty of gilded altars, intricately carved ceilings and choir seats, and the tombs of significant people continue to draw people to these churches, while the draw to Christian worship has nearly disappeared for most Europeans.

A minister in London offered a prayer for peace while I was touring Westminster Abbey. Most tourists kept their audio guides glued to their ears and ignored him.

One bright spot among the relics of Christianity was high atop the narrow, winding streets of Mont St. Michel, France, where an old abbey now harbors not only the history of God’s presence there, but a new Christian community as well. I witnessed a worship service in progress there this month that hearkened back to the monastic roots of this ancient place. It may have even reached further back to the roots of a Christian faith based in the idea that God is available to everyone. People dressed in simple robes sang together and offered communion to onlookers.

Photos were prohibited, as was talking. So the sacredness of the moment in worship was more preserved here. Maybe that was all. But there may be more.

Christian influence everywhere

In places where history and tradition surround people constantly, Christianity is also everywhere. It hangs in museums, where art is informed by biblical sagas. It shapes the silhouettes of towns dominated by cathedrals. It shuts shops and businesses on Sundays. Beyond the historical, the question is whether Christian faith impacts the present and future of Europeans today. And beyond Europe, the other important question for American church leaders is whether Christian faith impacts the present and future of Americans today.

We can bemoan the death of Christian culture in our own country and look to prognostications based on the decline of churches in Europe as predictors for the decline of churches in the United States. But ultimately what may be more helpful is to look even further to the glimmers of resurgence in Christianity in Europe. And, among the new monastic groups, immigrant populations, and elsewhere in small home Bible studies. All can provide an instructive look at how evangelism will change for the US as well in the next 10 to 20 years.

Here’s a couple quick suggestions from Lifeway researcher Ed Stetzer, who just finished a tour of Marseille, France, and Rome, Italy ministries:

1. Decide on a particular population focus within the whole.
2. Communicate the gospel in a culturally appropriate way.

What’s interesting in these two ideas is their ultimate usability in any context. A local church in Europe or the U.S. would also do well to focus on a particular population from among the larger community around them. And a local U.S. church would be wise to consider how they are communicating the gospel to a 21st Century American culture, in their particular locale.