[Jan_Sobieski]

2 Thessalonians 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled , neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand . 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

The Bible states that just prior to Christ's return there will be a great "falling away". Christians and Jews around the world will jettison the faith of their fathers. However, since men were made to worship, they will worship someone else. Perhaps a great new world leader that will smack down the ascendant Islamic hoards. This leader will be so persuasive that even many of the Jews will fall for his feigned love. But it is a trap and will usher in a holocaust worse than in the 1940s.

Isaiah 28:15 Because ye have said , We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge * shall pass through , it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: 16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste . 17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. 18 And your covenant with death shall be disannulled , and your agreement with hell shall not stand ; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through , then ye shall be trodden down by it.

[envisio]

hipsters

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

What you say is true. However, do not overlook the degeneracy of mainline churches, marrying Sodomites etc. St, Paul advises “Come out from among them.” Perhaps that is what is happening?

[Vaquero]

Faith requires faith. How does one force that?

[Bryanw92]

>> “The country is becoming less religious as a whole, and it’s happening across the board.”

Not really true. Its just that the not-so-faithful are now free to tell the truth and not face social stigma for not being a Christian. The culture is permitting the “cultural Christian” to walk away and that is refining the church.

This is not a good thing because eventually our numbers will be small enough that the persecutions will begin, but we we warned that this would happen, and it is sign of great things to come.

[Norm Lenhart]

I don’t doubt a declineoverall, but I have to wonder how they count coup here. I know plenty of people that want nothing to do with what organized religion has morphed into yet are still 100% people of faith.

So is there a huge decline or just a huge decline from organizations thanks to megachurch pastors demanding God give them 60 million dollar jets and popes worshiping at the altar of communism?

[SaveFerris]

I’ve got a friend who ardently believes the guy on Drudge who is pushing Jeremiah 50 and Revelation 17 as America.

And apparently, I can do nothing to dissuade him of this heretical nonsense.

[fidelis]

"Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried." - Gilbert K. Chesterton

People aren't rejecting Christianity, they are rejecting everything in Christianity that demands anything of them. That's why so many people are now describing themselves as "spiritual but not religious." That way you don't feel guilty about being godless, but you can still believe and do whatever pleases you-- whatever matches up with your preferred "lifestyle."

[onedoug]

As goes the family, education and morals, so goes religion.

[Rebelbase]

Wholesale blood in the streets and famine will bring many into the fold.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Wolves in sheep’s clothing devouring the young. It is not unusual to send a teen to youth groups in used-to-be solid denominations and have a youth pastor praise and promote doubt over faith and questions over answers. Big surprise! The kid starts doubting and questioning her faith.

Thank the emerging church wolves and doofuses who followed them. Like Mr. Nooma, Rob Bell who now works for Oprah, teaches that everyone goes to heaven and promotes homosexual issues. He was very popular in youth groups 5 to 10 years ago.

Also blame parents who were not paying attention and countering that nonsense. Last blame the kids themselves. Each individual is ultimately to blame personally when they allow themselves to be led astray.

[Incorrigible]

Bump