America's Only Hope!: Part 2
Brad Reiches
Oct 23 2006 12:28AM
Brad Reiches
Oct 23 2006 12:28AM
Monday, October 23, 2006
GodThoughtsWired!
The following series of messages is based on George Barna's most recent research on the American Church: "The State of the Church: 2006, A Report from George Barna." All statistical data has been taken from this 62 page report, available to the public at www.barna.com.
"America's Only Hope..."
THE RE-INTRODUCTION OF BIBLICAL CHRISTIANITY
INTO THE AMERICAN CHURCH
Part 2
Satan's greatest "scheme" is to get people to belief that he doesn't exist;
that he's not real; that he exists only in the imagination of horror-film makers.
-see www.injesus.com, GodThoughtsWired!, archives, September 11, 2006
that he's not real; that he exists only in the imagination of horror-film makers.
-see www.injesus.com, GodThoughtsWired!, archives, September 11, 2006
To further understand the disasterous implications of this particular statistic, contextually, these statistical proportions are equivalent to those among atheists and agnostics. Meaning, the basic beliefs of the vast majority of modern day, self-proclaimed Christians, as it applies to the devil, are just about the same as unbelievers.
-58% of these self-defined Christians do not believe that Jesus lived a sinless life. This, or course, is one of the more blatant examples of the modern day Jesus as someone completely different from the Jesus of the Bible. "He made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf..." (2 Corinthians 5:21).
"For we do not have a high priest (Jesus) who cannot sympathize
with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all
things as we are, yet without sin."
Hebrews 4:15, (bold mine)
with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all
things as we are, yet without sin."
Hebrews 4:15, (bold mine)
-31% of these self-defined Christians agree that "success in this life is determined ONLY by your obedience to God." Thus, fully 69% of today's self-defined Christians view success as something outside the rhealm of their relationship to God. The compartmentalization of religion with today's self-defined Christians is no different than with those of other belief systems. The relational with Jesus so paramount to biblical Christianity is virtually non-existent in today's version (see Matthew 7:23; John 17:3).
-8% of these self-defined Christians return 10% of their money back to God, otherwise known as "tithing." The number one topic of Jesus' commentaries in the New Testament had something to do with money, wealth, and/or personal resources because He knew that money is a grand reflection of our hearts. "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (see Matthew 6:19-21). When asked, Jesus summed up biblical Christianity as loving the Lord your God with all of your heart and mind and strength and soul" (see Mark 12:29-31). He further cationed that nobody can serve both God and money (see Matthew 6:24). Perhaps one of the greatest examples of the "strong delusion" that has infiltrated modern "faith" is the sincere belief that you can...serve God and money.
-8% of these self-defined Christians return 10% of their money back to God, otherwise known as "tithing." The number one topic of Jesus' commentaries in the New Testament had something to do with money, wealth, and/or personal resources because He knew that money is a grand reflection of our hearts. "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (see Matthew 6:19-21). When asked, Jesus summed up biblical Christianity as loving the Lord your God with all of your heart and mind and strength and soul" (see Mark 12:29-31). He further cationed that nobody can serve both God and money (see Matthew 6:24). Perhaps one of the greatest examples of the "strong delusion" that has infiltrated modern "faith" is the sincere belief that you can...serve God and money.
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