AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS: Biblical Scholar & Author Matthew McWhorter
Warns of a Spiritual Crisis Beneath the Surface
Media Contact: CJ Wheeler - 858-472-4285 - cjradionews@gmail.com

In a nation once considered the heartland of Christianity, the American church is facing a sobering reality: declining attendance, shrinking influence, and growing disillusionment. According to Pew Research, only 62% of Americans now identify as Christian, down from 71% in 2014. Meanwhile, Gallup reports that less than half of Americans say religion is important in their daily lives—a 17-point drop in just a decade.
But for Biblical scholar and author Matthew McWhorter, these numbers are just the surface of a much deeper issue.
“I think we should explore the possibility that the American Church is on the decline because people don’t feel like they’re getting the full truth there. All the Truth and Teaching of the real Jesus, as preached by the Apostles, and found in the true Bible,” McWhorter says. “Ultimately, people are hungry for the full Truth, but too often, they’re being given only fragments carefully curated to fit what they already want to hear. That is a race to the bottom that ultimately leads one away from Christianity.”
In his new book, Canon Crossfire, McWhorter traces the roots of this crisis to what he calls a “theological drift”—a slow but steady departure from proving the authority of God's Word to those who initially refuse to accept its commands, in favor of pieces selected to fit one's personal preferences. Such an approach is superficially successful in the short term but loses out in the long term.

THE RISE OF THE WOKE NETFLIX CHURCH
Modern day culture has created the rise of Deconstructionism, where no one is inconvenienced, you are entertained, and you walk away full of self. This is a movement where individuals dissect the bible, discard authentic Scriptural teaching they find uncomfortable, and rebuild a belief system that aligns with personal preferences.
“We live in the Netflix Generation,” McWhorter explains. “People pick and choose what they want to follow, are never judged or corrected, and are so hopped up on social media dopamine that a true church service seems boring, out of touch, and overly confining. This is a true falling away from the basis of all actual Biblical standards and practices.”

AMERICA'S FUTURE?
The data seems to support his concerns. Where the full Christian message has been lost, other religions have risen to fill in the gap. A recent study from Trinity College and Pew Research found that Wiccans and Pagans now outnumber Presbyterians in the U.S., with over 1.3 million identifying as such—compared to 1.2 million members of the Presbyterian Church USA.
Meanwhile, Islam is the fastest-growing religion in America, fueled by both birth rates and conversions. From 2020 to 2025, the Muslim population in the U.S. grew from approximately 3.85 million to 4.5 million—an increase of about 17%. This growth reflects steady demographic expansion driven by immigration, birth rates, and youth retention. Additionally, Islam is the fastest growing religion worldwide.

WE NEED BIBLICAL TRUTH IN OUR CHURCHES
McWhorter believes the church must respond not with gimmicks or compromise, but with a return to its roots: the fullness of the Scriptures.
“This is the latest iteration of people stealing the gospels and using them for their own benefit,” he says. “It’s been happening since the beginning of time. We simply must be biblically rooted in the full actual teaching of Christ and the Apostles. It is the full Christian message that wins in the end, not a fragmentary part of it.”
Canon Crossfire offers a bold call to action; reclaim the authority of all of authentic Scripture, restore gospel clarity, and reawaken the church’s mission in a culture that’s rapidly losing its spiritual compass.
As the American church stands at a crossroads, McWhorter’s message is clear: truth still matters—and it’s time to return to it.
AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS
Matthew McWhorter
From Courtroom to Conversion: A Lawyer’s Journey from Skeptic to Believer
Matthew McWhorter is a retired corporate attorney whose life was radically transformed by a near-death experience, a box of Bibles, and the relentless grace of God. Once an atheist and legal skeptic, McWhorter faced a medical crisis that brought him to the edge of eternity. In recovery, one thought haunted him: “I’ve never read the books I was named after.” That question launched a journey that would change everything.
What began as a skeptical, courtroom-style investigation into the foundations of Christianity became a full-blown conversion. McWhorter didn’t come to faith through emotion—he came through evidence. Applying his legal training to the question of biblical canon, he uncovered a provocative truth: the same standards Protestants use to defend the New Testament also affirm the so-called Catholic “Apocrypha.”
His debut book, Canon Crossfire: Does the Protestant Bible Blow Up the Case for Christianity? is a bold, meticulously researched exploration of the biblical canon. McWhorter doesn’t argue for inspiration—he argues for consistency. And he challenges readers to consider whether rejecting the Apocrypha might actually weaken the very case for Christ’s resurrection.
Today, Matthew McWhorter is a passionate advocate for biblical literacy, spiritual courage, and intellectual honesty. He speaks to truth-seekers, skeptics, and believers alike—especially those wrestling with the reliability of Scripture in a post-Christian culture. His message is clear: we are losing the American Church not because the world is too dark, but because the Church has dimmed its own light.
All proceeds from his writing are donated. This is not marketing—it’s mission.
Learn more at www.CanonCrossFire.com