“should we all give up and assume 20 minutes from now it will be more secular?”
Why do you assume that since the trend of the world is downward it should be a cause of pessimism? God already told us it would happen but He also said look up your redemption is at hand. He said (John 9:4)”I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” and so must we inspite of what is going on around us.
He tells us we will have trials and tribulations here but to be of good cheer since He has already overcome them, but we still labor. It is alright to be realistic about the downward direction, however we are confident of the final victory and are engaged in doing our Father’s work now.
Jhn 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
And the more the word of God is preached, the more Christ's light shines which enables men to know the truth.
Christ said not to hide that light under a bushel. Why did He tell us this, if the world is in a "downward trend?"
It's kind of funny that a Presbyterian is preaching revival to a Baptist. 8~) I must be reading too much Spurgeon.
You know, for a moment pretend Calvin was among us today. Do you think he would apprehend a "downward trend" from those days of papal persecution or would he be happily amazed at the number of Christians and the spread of God's word to all parts of the earth?