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George Barna identifies biggest threats facing the Church: 'We've reached a time of Christian invisibility'
The Christian Post ^ | May 21, 2024 | Leah MarieAnn Klett, Assistant Editor

Posted on 05/23/2024 9:05:27 AM PDT by fwdude

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — George Barna, a leading expert in church and worldview trends, has weighed in on some of the biggest issues facing the Church — including the steady decrease in a biblical worldview and dwindling concern for spiritual formation — at a time of "Christian invisibility in our culture."

....

“People have become more selfish, churches have become less influential, pastors have become less Bible-centric,” Barna, who now serves as the director of research at the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University, said.

(Excerpt) Read more at christianpost.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: barna; christianity; church; homosexualagenda
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To: Tench_Coxe

I’ve seen that image before. Where is it located? I seem to remember Robert Schuller’s old church, which had a “laughing Jesus” statue on the grounds.


21 posted on 05/23/2024 9:34:14 AM PDT by fwdude ( )
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To: fwdude
Buddy Christ
22 posted on 05/23/2024 9:37:49 AM PDT by Tench_Coxe (The woke were surprised by the reaction to the Bud Light fiasco. May there be many more surprises)
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To: Nextrush

Prayer.

Either classic prayers from the past, or as the Holy Spirit tells you.

Did you know, that as part of Vatican 2, the prayers in the Mass, to deliver us from fornication, were removed?

Right before the free love movement kicked off, too.


23 posted on 05/23/2024 9:39:14 AM PDT by grey_whiskers ( The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: fwdude

Christianity will not “find its way” until it cleans out Satan’s followers in its clergies.


24 posted on 05/23/2024 9:44:27 AM PDT by SaxxonWoods (Are you ready for Black Lives MAGA? It's coming.)
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To: MeganC
The “What Would Jesus Do?” meme was wholly destructive and useful for the unbelieving pretenders. "What would Jesus do?" "Exactly what I'm doing!" It's a rubber stamp statement to justify behavior, and condemn others who don't approve of unbiblical behaviors. Remember, the American Idol runner-up and avowed homosexual Clay Aiken always wears a "WWJD" wrist band.

The truth is that not even His disciples knew what Jesus was going to do from one moment to the next. So how in the world can WE know?

25 posted on 05/23/2024 9:45:31 AM PDT by fwdude ( )
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To: fwdude

“The “What Would Jesus Do?” meme was wholly destructive and useful for the unbelieving pretenders.”

“What would Jesus do” has nothing to do with what Jesus might do. It has to do with what some people want to do.


26 posted on 05/23/2024 9:48:04 AM PDT by SaxxonWoods (Are you ready for Black Lives MAGA? It's coming.)
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To: fwdude

“ at a time of “Christian invisibility in our culture.”

That’s because so many churches have become part of the culture rot they’re now irrelevant and untrustworthy


27 posted on 05/23/2024 9:49:02 AM PDT by NWFree (Sigma male 🤪)
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To: fwdude

yep.


28 posted on 05/23/2024 9:50:25 AM PDT by sauropod ("This is a time when people reveal themselves for who they are." James O'Keefe Ne supra crepidam)
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To: SaveFerris

Your best life now.


29 posted on 05/23/2024 9:51:43 AM PDT by sauropod ("This is a time when people reveal themselves for who they are." James O'Keefe Ne supra crepidam)
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To: fwdude

The threat is from within. Satan has infiltrated.


30 posted on 05/23/2024 10:03:49 AM PDT by JimRed (TERM LIMITS, NOW! Finish the damned WALL! TRUTH is the new HATE SPEECH!)
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To: fwdude

Well said and I cannot add to your wisdom here.


31 posted on 05/23/2024 10:26:18 AM PDT by MeganC (Ruzzians aren't people. )
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To: sauropod

Yeah


32 posted on 05/23/2024 10:40:56 AM PDT by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the Days of Lot; They did Eat, They Drank, They Bought, They Sold ......)
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To: fwdude; lightman; Navy Patriot

Orthodox Christian Priests are still totally Christian!

If you don’t like your current church and/or pastor, visit an Orthodox Church! We welcome catechumens and converts who are seeking a true Christian Church and a real Christian life!


33 posted on 05/23/2024 10:45:10 AM PDT by Honorary Serb (Kosovo is Serbia! Free Srpska! Abolish ICTY!)
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To: Honorary Serb; fwdude; lightman; Navy Patriot

Men usually lead the way in families seeking to convert because they understandably find un-feminized Christianity very appealing.

No feminized “inclusive language”: God is Father Son and Holy Spirit.

No feminized clergy. Only men serve as Priests and Deacons.

No rainbow flags. Marriage requires one man and one woman.

I could go on and on...


34 posted on 05/23/2024 11:38:23 AM PDT by lightman (I am a binary Trinitarian. Deal with it!)
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To: fwdude

right. that’s because Barna handles mathematics, inferential statistics and baysian probability honestly. of course he’s a true believer, and on point when he says most churches today measure things that have no importance to Christ (i.e., #programs, attendance, offering, buildings, etc.), and he has determined (correctly in my experience) that professing Christians can’t even define what a disciple of Jesus is or is supposed to be doing. that is, ‘...one who would follow Me must pick up his cross daily and follow Me.’ in other words, continue to trust and obey Jesus in everything you do.

in Matt 28:18,19,20

‘...all authority is given to Me under heaven and on earth. Go, therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them all things I have commanded you...

that is teach the Gospel, the Word, the Way starting with with Jerusalem and then to the world. ‘teach,’ starting with yourself, your children, your family and friends, your local church and then, however you can, whatever your gift, out to your nation, and then to the nations if that is your calling. that is called the Great Commission and it is Truth.

carrying your ‘cross’ every day is in no way going to be easy. so you are deluded if you think you’re going to avoid suffering as a true believer, you will be tested in every way, ‘for to whomsoever much is given, much more is required.’ if you can/will do that, however, Jesus says He’ll be with you, always. the consolation is that we have an Advocate before the Father, and that if/when we fail, we will not be utterly cast down, but He will uphold us with is righteous right hand.


35 posted on 05/23/2024 12:20:59 PM PDT by dadfly
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To: fwdude

While existing data captured church attendance and Bible sales, Barna identified a need for insights into what people believe, why they believe it, and how these beliefs translate into actions.


A haunting from the Truth Project was, “Do we really believe what we say we believe?”

Still haunts.


36 posted on 05/23/2024 12:27:02 PM PDT by PeterPrinciple (Thinking Caps are no longer being issued but there must be a warehouse full of them somewhere.)
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To: fwdude

we’ve reached a time of Christian invisibility in our culture. What I’m seeing now is that we’re getting to this place where the typical American … will not have anyone in their circle of influence who has a biblical worldview. You’re not going to be influenced with God’s truth.


Everyone knows what the Bible says without reading it.......................


37 posted on 05/23/2024 12:32:16 PM PDT by PeterPrinciple (Thinking Caps are no longer being issued but there must be a warehouse full of them somewhere.)
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To: fwdude

we’ve reached a time of Christian invisibility in our culture. What I’m seeing now is that we’re getting to this place where the typical American … will not have anyone in their circle of influence who has a biblical worldview. You’re not going to be influenced with God’s truth.


Everyone knows what the Bible says without reading it.......................


38 posted on 05/23/2024 12:32:17 PM PDT by PeterPrinciple (Thinking Caps are no longer being issued but there must be a warehouse full of them somewhere.)
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To: SaxxonWoods

I once asked a pastor if what his church did to not help my family in a time of need was what Jesus would do. I haven’t heard from him since.


39 posted on 05/23/2024 4:22:10 PM PDT by yawningotter
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To: fwdude

Glancing at headline, I thought it said George Burns.


40 posted on 05/23/2024 6:39:56 PM PDT by NetAddicted (MAGA2024)
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