perspective

I liked this article in Patrol Magazine, responding to a widely-cited column from the weekend's New York Times.  The latter talked of decline - specifically in the American Episcopal church - reflected in falling congregations.  Fitzgerald - editor at Patrol - argues

But the bottom line is, though it may seem self-evident that declining church attendance is evidence of something gone wrong, would we rather see churches that accommodate society’s ills grow? Isn’t it more likely that a faith that asks more than we can naturally give, that compels us to believe in things we can’t see, and calls us to live in ways that are counter to our own self interests, would find itself at odds with the prevailing culture?

And that seems very much in line with what I blogged about  a few months back, motivated by a quote from Rick Warren asserting almost the opposite - that the churches of which Fitzgerald speaks are 'in decline' precisely because they have embraced the prevailing culture. Which perspective makes more sense?