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The New York Times Says Christianity is Declining and I Say 'Amen!'
Charting Course ^ | 5/13/15 | Steve Berman

Posted on 05/13/2015 6:16:01 AM PDT by lifeofgrace

 

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The New York Times declared that Christianity in America is declining and I say “Amen to that!”

Actually, the article’s title is “Big Drop in Share of Americans Calling Themselves Christian” and that’s why I’m happy it’s true.  The Times piece is based on a Pew Research Center survey, which shows that people are abandoning the moniker of Christian religious identity in favor of post-modern nihilism.

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The biggest declines are in Mainline Protestant and Catholic denominations.  If you’re a Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian (PCUSA), Episcopal, Congregationalist, or Disciple of Christ, you’re becoming a rarer commodity.  And that’s a good thing.

I personally have nothing against those denominations, but Scripture records that Jesus does.

Matthew 13:34-30:

Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”
If you’re not a Christian—and Nate Cohn, who covers polling and demographics for the Times certainly isn’t—you may not get the difference between denominations.  I know I didn’t.  I grew up Jewish and didn’t know a Presbyterian from a Pentecostal, or a Calvinist from a Congregationalist.  They were all the same to me:  Jesus on a cross, “Onward Christian Soldiers,” eating dry crackers and drinking wine, and strange traditions like Easter Sunday ham and Christmas trees.

Many Christians growing up in an increasingly Godless world know Christianity the same way I did:  a bunch of strange traditions their parents did, and they also did, without meaning or effect on their lives.  This brand of Christianity is the one people are born into, and as those parents die, empty traditions get abandoned.

The Pew survey results are entirely predictable, and actually very refreshing.  Whole denominations complete with clergy, laity, buildings, parking lots, and piles of cash don’t do a whole lot of good for the kingdom of heaven Jesus described.  God doesn’t need any of that.

Imagine entire congregations filled with unbelievers worshiping a God they don't know.  The unbelieving worship leader leads the unbelieving choir in meaningless hymns while the unbelieving congregation sits reverently. After the unbelieving pastor delivers an uninspired sermon and a pointless doxology offering empty praise to the God they don’t know, everyone rushes out with pasted fake smiles and a weak handshake for the pastor.

There are lots of churches like this all over America, and thankfully, that number is declining, as the Times notes.  Thank God for that, because it’s a colossal waste of time and energy for these useless organizations, who harm the cause of Christ, to exist.

The Evangelical Protestant (Baptists, Pentecostals and others) denominations are not in decline, and in fact have added to their raw numbers.  Churches from countries where Christian persecution is the norm are taking root in America.

There is no greater example than the Redeemed Christian Church of God. This ambitious Nigerian denomination has established its North American headquarters in Texas, and its goal is nothing less than becoming the next major global religion.

The Redeemed Christian Church of God has learned it's a lot easier to start churches in Nigeria than it is in America. First, there are not enough trained, qualified ministers. Then there's the expense of getting an American congregation to tithe enough to pay church expenses.

Finally, Nigerians at home seem closer to God. Life is harder there; people pray over everything from a hospital stay to a traffic jam. Fadele says Africans in America are more comfortable.

"What do I need God for?" Fadele characterizes their attitude. "I wake up in the morning, the radio is already broadcasting to me how my stock is doing. Is it going up or down? The road is good. When I get inside my house, the heater is working. My children are well educated, they are doing well. What do I need God for?"

Bingo.

Those in the congregation of the unbelieving host of Christ don’t need God, and they’re leaving the trappings of religion in droves.  But what non-Christians in media, education and government can’t understand is that Christianity isn’t the church.

Christians are better off persecuted.  In fact, Christ demands it, and the entire Christian experience is designed to be persecuted.  Jesus said in John 15:18, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.”  John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

A church that has no troubles, goes along with the culture in every way, and ignores God does not overcome.  And therefore it dies or is gathered to be burned.

I would rather live in an America where the Christian church burns hot, even if surveys show it’s become a tiny minority, losing 90% of its current identity, than have a majority of unbelieving “Christians.” Those who call themselves Christian without surrender to Jesus Christ are not doing themselves or anyone else any favors.

Let the church in America decline and fall and I’ll say “Amen!”  Let the wheat be separated from the tares, let the goats be separated from the sheep.

Let the Church composed of believers and followers of Christ fulfill Matthew 16:18, “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”

It’s okay that non-Christians like Nate Cohn don’t understand this.  There really is only one way to understand it, and that’s to accept the Gospel.  To me, it’s a whole lot easier sharing the (actual) Gospel with declared unbelievers than trying to share it with pasty-smile unbeliever Christians in their unbeliever church anyway.


TOPICS: Religion; Society
KEYWORDS: christianity; faithandphilosophy; natecohn; newyork; newyorkcity; newyorkslimes; newyorktimes; popefrancis; romancatholicism; tares
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To: Gamecock

YBPDLN Ping.


21 posted on 05/13/2015 6:56:02 AM PDT by upchuck (The current Federal Government is what the Founding Fathers tried to prevent. WAKE UP!! Amendment V)
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To: lifeofgrace

It’s best to be about the Father’s business.

JOHN 4:35
Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.


22 posted on 05/13/2015 6:58:28 AM PDT by stars & stripes forever ( Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. Psalm 33:12)
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To: lifeofgrace

Who are the true believers... those who’ve confessed their sin and accepted Christ as their savior, those who are persecuted for His name sake? I need no pole to tell me, there just aren’t that many in America... I’d say probably less than 30%.


23 posted on 05/13/2015 7:01:08 AM PDT by dps.inspect (rage against the Obama machine...)
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To: lifeofgrace

Who are the true believers... those who’ve confessed their sin and accepted Christ as their savior, those who are persecuted for His name sake? I need no pole to tell me, there just aren’t that many in America... I’d say probably less than 30%.


24 posted on 05/13/2015 7:01:09 AM PDT by dps.inspect (rage against the Obama machine...)
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To: lifeofgrace

Megachurches that have to have “contemporary” services and “traditional” services to get a crowd make me barf. For these types of “churches,” it’s all about the money.

IMHO, Rock ‘n Roll has no place in a church service, period.


25 posted on 05/13/2015 7:02:17 AM PDT by upchuck (The current Federal Government is what the Founding Fathers tried to prevent. WAKE UP!! Amendment V)
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To: lifeofgrace

He misses an important point. The religious do not need to suffer to find their faith, but they do need contrast between their faith and the faithless.

So the real enemy of the faithful is the relativist.

Socialists, liberals and relativists are very talented in taking over and corrupting organizations, including churches. And while this is a death sentence for non-religious organizations and foundations, it is far less so for those of religious faith, for a simple reason.

It is the faith of the people that makes a religion, not a building or an organization or other assets.

An excellent example of this is the Episcopalian and Church of England schism from Anglicanism. Thoroughly corrupted themselves, they sought to drag down all of Anglicanism with them. But not only has the rest of the Anglican church, mostly in Africa, refused to be corrupted, those people of faith within the Episcopal church and the CofE have finally said “enough” and have left those churches to find an uncorrupted version of their faith.

So in effect, it is a double schism. The Episcopalian church and the CofE have abandoned Anglicanism and the faith, so the faithful have abandoned the Episcopalian religion and the CofE.

So formerly Episcopalian churches in the US are becoming “African Missionary” Anglican churches, in the dioceses of African Bishops and Archbishops, even though they are almost entirely white.

And their timing is excellent, as these wealthy churches are flowing desperately needed money to Africa, to build hundreds of churches for black Muslims who have converted to Christianity.

Money not going to corrupted hierarchies in the US, who are very bitter about it.

Yet variations of this is happening to many Christian denominations in the US. The people of faith are keeping their faith, despite the best efforts of villains to co-opt for evil ends.

Thus though there is not suffering as such, there is abundant contrast between the faithful and the faithless.


26 posted on 05/13/2015 7:07:28 AM PDT by yefragetuwrabrumuy ("Don't compare me to the almighty, compare me to the alternative." -Obama, 09-24-11)
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To: manc
"From where I am there are just as many young kids gong to church as twenty years ago."

I'm glad to hear that. It's the same in my area.

27 posted on 05/13/2015 7:08:09 AM PDT by CatherineofAragon ("This is a Laztatorship. You don't like it, get a day's rations and get out of this office.")
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To: manc

Funny. Our pews are fuller than they’ve ever been. Actually the evil people are witnessing in this country is waking many of them up and they are seeking a higher power because they now understand that there are powers and principalities of af an evil nature that do exist.


28 posted on 05/13/2015 7:10:17 AM PDT by jsanders2001
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To: lifeofgrace

Evangelicalism, bible churches, non-denominationals and other churches with strong preaching, music and faith fervor are often one’s last stop on the way out of Christianity. Say what you want about Catholicism and many mainline denominations in decline, they do offer (if one will accept) aspects of faith, reason and tradition that in my estimation holds more prospect for keeping the sincere pilgrim after they have been caught.


29 posted on 05/13/2015 7:12:27 AM PDT by yetidog
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To: SoFloFreeper

Have you seen the commercial for the Methodist church? “Rethink church”, it says...and it pushes social justice.

I looked at their website, and there’s all kinds of content about leftwing causes, about open minds—”no matter who you love”-—but I didn’t see mention of Jesus.


30 posted on 05/13/2015 7:13:00 AM PDT by CatherineofAragon ("This is a Laztatorship. You don't like it, get a day's rations and get out of this office.")
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To: ScottinVA

I agree with the atheist... all religion is human made. Religion is the enemy of God. I pray each day my redemptive loving relationship with Jesus Christ NEVER degenerates into “religion”. If it does then all I have are the rituals... a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. (2 Timothy 3:5). Somehow way back in history Jesus knew all of this... go figure?


31 posted on 05/13/2015 7:22:54 AM PDT by FiddlePig
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To: lifeofgrace

All these reports lump everything into the “Christian” label. There can be no doubt that people are leaving the Methodist organization and the Episcopal organization in droves. These are the same groups who have accepted and promoted homosexuality — and people left.

Moreover, as pointed out by the OP, there are many dead churches. Churches that hold to some form of godliness, but deny it’s power. They are dead.


32 posted on 05/13/2015 7:25:34 AM PDT by Obadiah (This is Bravo-6, we have Zips in the wire! I repeat, Zips in the wire.)
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To: upchuck

Yep, I’ve struggled with the music question for years. Our church does use a fair amount of contemporary music, and its not really rock n roll, but I’m an old timer, and I just can’t sing some of the new songs. They are too sophisticated in terms of melody. You’d have to be a professional singer to get it right. That’s one really good thing about the older music. It was better designed for full participation of the congregation. The new stuff is popularized by some professional recording artist and we get stuck trying to copy that. Doesn’t work real well, and it misses the point of singing as a form of collective worship. Also don’t like songs where you end up repeating the same phrase over and over and over. Drives me nuts. Oh well. The preaching and ministry is sound, so we keep trying to get through the music portion of the service. But I’m never going to be able to sing like those popular singers. Ain’t happening. Just sayin ...

Peace,

SR


33 posted on 05/13/2015 7:35:48 AM PDT by Springfield Reformer (Winston Churchill: No Peace Till Victory!)
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To: lifeofgrace

A lot of truth in this. Jesus knows what is what.

Some Christians are calling this the “great falling away” but I think that falling away happened in the 60’s when liberation theology - in whole or part - replaced the Bible and Jesus in “mainline” churches and seminaries. This is when Christianity got banned from most of American life in voice. Now it is just showing it’s face and admitting it’s murder of Christianity where it was installed.

Liberation Theology gutted the gospel... as the KGB and Western communists/satanists intended for it to do.
What the author says is true about this: It is easier to convert a non-believer to the true gospel than it is to convert one who considers themselves a Christian, but has been saturated and spun into liberation theology which is anti-Christ.


34 posted on 05/13/2015 7:49:48 AM PDT by SaraJohnson
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To: C. Edmund Wright

If you get a chance see post 27, 28


35 posted on 05/13/2015 8:02:46 AM PDT by manc (Marriage =1 man + 1 woman,when they say marriage equality then they should support polygamy)
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To: lifeofgrace

Strip people of all hope and stick them in dirty delapidated housing and listen to their wails.. while a Godless regime allows them to wallow in the filth that their country descends into..

You’re right, Steve.. Good, HuH?


36 posted on 05/13/2015 8:33:25 AM PDT by NormsRevenge (SEMPER FI!! - Monthly Donors Rock!!)
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