Featured Is Christianity Dying?

Christianity isn't dying because it's source is VERY ALIVE!!!

At the root of these preposterous (70-80%) numbers is the inclusion of a whole lot of folks who aren't Christians.

Evangelical Christianity continues to flourish because Christ continues to save people and make them into new creations.

PEW's research is meant to be sensationalistic. Anybody who follows Christ knows that Christianity---the practice of following Christ---is not dying.

PEW's problem is that they foolishly believe that 70-80+% of the US population follows Christ.

PEW's research includes the following as Christian:

• Evangelical Protestant
• Mainline Protestant
• Historically Black Protestant
• Catholics
• Mormons
• Orthodox Christians
• Jehovah's Witnesses
• And others

Considering WHO PEW includes in it's list of Christians, it might be a good thing that the "numbers" are decreasing.

 

I think the points are valid. I think the USA is saturated with cultural Christianity.

 

Probably should extend that to the world all over.


God bless.

 

Doesn't that actually support my statement? lol

This is not really new. Charismatics have been a presence across the world for quite a while.

And didn't view the link, by the way, I worry about viruses.


God bless.

 

You don't think cultural Christianity is a world issue, rather than just an American issue?

Thanks for the heads up. It's worst on atheist forums. Those guys don't play fair.


God bless.

 

The true church will never cease to exist

 

Me, too. There is usually common ground, although it may be hard to find.

 

What is the "true church"? How would you define that?

 

Jesus asked a "rhetorical" question:

Luke 18
7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

The question appears to want a "NO" answer.

God has always had His remnant so "yes" and "no". Probably lots of churches filled with tares and a few stalks of wheat here and there.

HankD

 

While I am at odds with a number of Catholic Doctrines, I think you are assuming no Catholic is saved. And I see that as a big mistake.

And we do not limit the impact of cultural Christianity to the Catholic Church, we can include Charismania in that as well. We cannot, because they have error, assume that among them there are no sincere, howbeit erroneous, believers in these groups. Rather than deny they are saved, better to talk with those who wish to know truth and discuss the conflicts we see with their doctrine and measure both our views to the measure of Scripture.


Again, while I did not view the link, it is just a matter of fact that numerous "Christian" groups have become very influential, not just in America, but around the world.


God bless.

 

MartinLuther said it best. A true church is where the Gospel is preached, and by Gospel I mean that Christ died for sinners and it really was a vicarious and substitutionary death with a physical resurrection

I Cor 15:1-6?

 

So, you would exclude from the "true church" all those who do not believe in substitutionary atonement. I guess that leaves me out of the true church, according to you, and also all Eastern Orthodox, many Anabaptists, some Anglicans, and many others.

 

Let me ask then, when does a severely brain damaged person hear the gospel?

 

Bingo.

Christ saves despites man's efforts. In fact...because of them rather often.

Not so sure I agree with that. I have spoken with quite a few Catholics who have a more conservative view than a lot of Evangelicals I have spoken with. They do not worship Mary, they recognize the error of the RCC, yet they are in no way motivated to jump up and go join one of the various Protestant or Evangelical fellowships, and seeing how they are treated usually on the forums, we can't really blame them.

Also, one might also maintain fellowship because of love for those we fellowship. This is what keeps me from finding another fellowship. I am not entirely in agreement with my own Pastor, but that is not enough for me to go elsewhere. He actually presents an Arminian view in regards to salvation, in saying "God votes for you, Satan votes against you, and you cast the deciding vote." I think there is more an attempt to be humorous than anything in the statement, but we cannot deny the Arminian tenor to it.

And the best place for a right thinking Catholic to be is...guess where? That's my view, anyway, lol.

Perhaps, but the primary difference is that just like those who sat under those who sat in Moses' Seat, they stand a much better chance of being exposed to the Word of God than the Buddhist.

We all need to hear the Gospel I on a daily basis. It is just my belief that the Cross of Christ should be the focus of every message from every pulpit every time the doors open.

My mistake, then. I don't view that as cultural Christianity, but that is nominal Christianity.

I would define cultural Christianity as more something that pertains to a specific people, of which Catholicism could be viewed as one, and Charismatics, and we even see different cultures among Baptists.

Another example would be South Koreans: at one point, per capita, South Korea was the "Most Christian Nation on the earth."

This was the result of the missionary work that took place during the War.

Again I would see this as a nominal Christian, rather than cultural Christian.

Agree wholeheartedly.

The primary reason I would give is failure to maintain Doctrinal Purity.

A return to that would help intensely.

It is by my own Pastor, lol. He does not present easy-believism, and I believe we have fellowships all over the world where sincere men of God rightly divide and expound the Word of God. And that is resulting in more men of God rising up to stand in the Gap.

It is just my belief that if fifty well studied and sincere evangelists were united in Forum, Missions we could see a revival in our country.


God bless.