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A threat

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by agedman, Oct 11, 2013.

  1. agedman

    agedman Well-Known Member
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    What do you consider a serious threat to the faith?

    By "the faith" I mean all that encompasses the believer: The church. The Scriptures. The security of hope. The promise. The walk. ...

    In meeting this morning, I was somewhat alarmed at some who expressed anger, wrung hands, were dismayed... about the threats made to the faith. Daily, believers are martyred, and in the US it seems believers are expressing a certain level of anxiety and even doubt.

    What do you consider a truly serious threat that would derail the faith?
     
  2. thisnumbersdisconnected

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    True believers' faith cannot, will not, be derailed, by anyone or anything. However, the focus of even strong believers, and the ability of the body of Christ in the U.S., to function could easily be shaken by persecution of the type and nature seen in Micronesia, Africa, the Sudan, and any Islamic fundamentalist country you care to name.

    Americans are not prepared to suffer. We've had too good for too long, and we have taken to calling simply prejudice and name calling as "persecution." It's not. Not even close. When they start bolting the doors to our churches, when they start closing down the Christian publishing houses, when the forbid the music on the airways, and when the arrest our pastors for hate speech, that will be persecution.

    Are we ready? No. And we won't be ready for it when it comes, because our commitment to Bible study, prayer, service in the church, insisting on sound biblical preaching, and taking up works that amount to outreach are beyond us and our "busy" schedules. We utterly fail to understand that what is happening in all those other countries can happen here, and it will happen here. And we aren't strong enough to stand as a church against it.

    We better start "wait" training now, so we can be ready then.
     
  3. Zaac

    Zaac Well-Known Member

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    I believe that the lack of love---love of the One Who is love and love for others out of the overflow of that love---will be the undoing of this world.

    It's on full display. As the church becomes more and more unloving---consumed with what we want with no concern of holiness, calling our acts of wickedness Godly---the world becomes more wicked

    12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,. Matt. 24:12

    The AntiChrist comes onto the scene after the restraining force, the Holy Spirit, moves out of the way. I think it's no coincidence that after the Church is raptured, removing all those with the Holy Spirit indwelled, the Anti-Christ comes onto the scene.

    The same thing is taking place right now in the restraining of wickedness. The Holy Spirit in Christians keeps wickedness from taking over. But when WE are the ones unrepentantly being wicked and calling it okay, then the Holy Spirit doesn't restrain the wickedness in the world as it works through us. But does not work through wickedness.

    Unless the church returns to her first love, expect an increase in wickedness and the love of more to continue to grow cold.
     
    #3 Zaac, Oct 11, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 11, 2013
  4. Gina B

    Gina B Active Member

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    I think the threats in the United States are more insipid than those in other nations.

    They've come more gradually and not clothed in violence and beatings in the last years.

    The threats have come in the form of political correctness, allowing the government to enter in and redefine family, morals, and take over all aspects of education. Churches now work hand in hand with outreach agencies of government programs such as social services.

    Not a lack of love, per se, but people who don't understand that true love isn't accepting anything and everything. That true love can and must at times mean telling people they are wrong and on the path to destruction.

    All those things crawling in the walls, eating away, weakening the strongholds until the whole thing buckles and starts to collapse.

    Who needs to come in and persecute a nation when the people are already destroying themselves?
     
  5. Zaac

    Zaac Well-Known Member

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    But I would put forth that all that has happened because the church hasn't preached the Gospel. We've become consumed with issues and proving to folks why we're right on issues while showing little if any concern about their eternities.

    we've turned from our first love and everybody is doing what they think they should to save and transform the country back when the country is transforming because of US.
     
  6. saturneptune

    saturneptune New Member

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    In addition to not being ready faith wise, we need to be ready on a physical way also. As you said, we have had it too good too long. We have not had war in our borders in 150 years. In a nation wide disaster, how many Americans do you think have survival skills and common sense? How many on this board?
     
  7. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    My concern with American Christianity is NOT that we will gface persecution such as jailing, oss of jobs, forced to recant or fie, but that many will be spiritually weakened/following false doctrines/heresies, as do see a dividing line coming between professing Christians, who will be into gay marriages, other religions acceptable also, and thsoe who are still holding to sound doctrines!

    the church here in America been watered down and made weak due to accepting cultural/social views, and by forsaking soundsdoctrine for "doctrines of demons!"
     
  8. thisnumbersdisconnected

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    I believe the church, like Israel, has a remnant within it. I believe God knew those claiming to be faithful but buying into worldly concepts of right and wrong would appear in the end times (Jesus says as much, as well as His apostles, many times), just as Israel had many claiming to be faithful but who actually fell away.

    Such among Israel were not part of the chosen nation, and such among today's believers are not true believers. Just as Israel watered down God, so do many who adopt the Christian moniker but are far from it. It isn't a matter of them turning from faith. They never had it to begin with. They aren't of the church -- Holy Spirit-indwelled saved believers -- and never have been, but they are of the world, and will face His judgment unless they repent and truly believe.
     
  9. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    That is why so important to be heeding the scriptures and being led by the Holy Spirit, for Jesus himself warned that deception would be so going on right before His returning that "If possible, even the very elect would be deceived!"

    11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

    12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness
    2 thes 2:11-12 Kjv

    NO true believer saved by God, and sealed by the Spirit will fall to that, but does speak volumes that the Lord warned us about end times!
     
    #9 Yeshua1, Oct 12, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 12, 2013
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