Writing in The World in 2013, The Economist's international editor Edward Lucas predicts: "The greatest trouble for Christians is in the places that feature in the Bible: 2013 will be one of the worst years ever for Christians in the Middle East. The exodus of Christians from Palestine and Iraq will slow—but only because so many have already left. Instead, Christians will be fleeing Syria and Egypt. Do not expect the Muslim Brotherhood rulers of Egypt to mourn their going. For an Islamist party, there are few votes in religious tolerance" ("Christianity at Bay").

The Anglican Church in Britain remains deeply divided over issues such as women bishops and same-sex marriage. Lucas further stated: "There will be more splintering in 2013. Anglicans in Africa will go their own way, in partnership with like-minded conservatives from America. They are appalled by the theological liberalism of the [Archbishop] Williams era, especially on issues of sexual morality. So too are the parishes in Britain that hew to Bible-centred Christianity, rather than the diluted and trendy version beloved by the church leadership."

It appears that even in America secularism will remain on the rise in 2013, and atheists will emerge from the closet in greater numbers than before. Americans with no religious identity have already risen to nearly 20 percent of adults ("Meet the 'Nones': An Emerging Force" and "Protestants Lose Majority Status in U.S."—both by Cathy Grossman, USA Today, Oct. 9, 2012).

If you would like to know more about the genuine Christianity of Christ, read the online Bible study aid The Church Jesus Built. (Sources: Daily Mail, The Economist, Financial Times, The Jewish Chronicle, The New York Times, The Sunday Telegraph, The Tablet, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The World in 2013.)