In U.S., Decline of Christianity Continues at Rapid Pace

[Shoostie]

In U.S., Decline of Christianity Continues at Rapid Pace. Christians when asked about their religion, down 12 percentage points over the past decade.

What are American churches doing to combat this, other than doubling down on unchristian and self-defeating crazy, warmongering, sodomy, etc.?

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

I have moved away from modern religion to a deeper relationship with God first, I am not big on Church INC. So I don’t put faith in modern religion and I don’t want to belong to churches with political agendas. However my spiritual life has increased a ton.

 

[church mouse guy]

Many are leaving after their first high school science class because they are taught that Genesis is not true. They esteem science more than the word of God. We now know from science that biological evolution is not true no matter how many tens of billions of years that science assigns to history. And Darwin did postulate deep time to allow for biological evolution. Deep time was a Greek pagan idea borrowed from Hinduism in India, which for them was a religious concept not a scientific concept. The idea was dug up by the Enlightenment in Europe a couple of hundred years ago and was spread by atheists posing as Christians or atheists saying that they were Deists. Christians accepted the idea after Darwin published in 1859 and it was one hundred years before the Church woke up to the destruction to the foundation of Genesis.

 

[Baptist Believer]

What are American churches doing to combat this...?

I can't speak for anyone else, but our church is focused on disciple-making, rejecting the "culture war" and it's idolatrous focus on political power, and loving our community in words and actions. We are growing as a congregation, and drawing in people from all kinds of backgrounds.

Many are leaving after their first high school science class because they are taught that Genesis is not true.

I'm sure that's happened somewhere, but I never heard anyone claim in public school or public college that "Genesis is not true." And I talk to teens all the time about "tough questions" as I am connected with our youth and college ministries, and no one has claimed they were taught that Genesis was "not true."

I do get questions about how to interpret Genesis 1-11, and we have fruitful discussions about what the scripture actually says and how it was likely understood prior to the Enlightenment era, but no one complains they were taught that the Bible was not true. Granted, I might hear about it tomorrow, but that would be more of an exception, rather than the rule.

However I did hear all kinds of stuff from Christians growing up - and today - that one has to believe a certain few beliefs about Genesis (sometimes, only one interpretation is acceptable!) or they "don't believe the Bible." Usually those few "acceptable" beliefs are not based on a careful reading of the text, so it is clear that those who make those claims are not terribly familiar with the biblical text itself, or have contorted it to match a preconceived agenda.

(And no, I don't have the time to argue about evolution. It is a waste of time. I now only talk about it if someone has a sincere question, since then they are probably open to biblically and rationally evaluating their beliefs and whatever I present to them.)

 

[church mouse guy]

I can't speak for anyone else, but our church is focused on disciple-making, rejecting the "culture war" and it's idolatrous focus on political power, and loving our community in words and actions. We are growing as a congregation, and drawing in people from all kinds of backgrounds.


I'm sure that's happened somewhere, but I never heard anyone claim in public school or public college that "Genesis is not true." And I talk to teens all the time about "tough questions" as I am connected with our youth and college ministries, and no one has claimed they were taught that Genesis was "not true."

I do get questions about how to interpret Genesis 1-11, and we have fruitful discussions about what the scripture actually says and how it was likely understood prior to the Enlightenment era, but no one complains they were taught that the Bible was not true. Granted, I might hear about it tomorrow, but that would be more of an exception, rather than the rule.

However I did hear all kinds of stuff from Christians growing up - and today - that one has to believe a certain few beliefs about Genesis (sometimes, only one interpretation is acceptable!) or they "don't believe the Bible." Usually those few "acceptable" beliefs are not based on a careful reading of the text, so it is clear that those who make those claims are not terribly familiar with the biblical text itself, or have contorted it to match a preconceived agenda.

(And no, I don't have the time to argue about evolution. It is a waste of time. I now only talk about it if someone has a sincere question, since then they are probably open to biblically and rationally evaluating their beliefs and whatever I present to them.)

Of course, biological evolution has been disproven scientifically but American schools lag behind. High school students are taught evolution is true which logically leads to the conclusion that Genesis is false.

 

[robycop3]

My HS biology teacher was a devout Christian. At the beginning of the school year, he held up a copy of our bio book & said, "This book teacher that birds evolved from lizards. But I must say that's asking an awful lot from that lizard! Firse, we're asking it to reverse the way its limbs bend, which is similar to ours. Then, we're asking it to trade in its scales for feathers. Then, we're asking it to trade in its jaws & teeth for a beak, and last, but not at all least, to change its chemistry from cold-blooded, which is quite-useful in unchanging climates, for warm-blooded, which requires about 10 times the amount of food for similar-weight animals to maintain the warmth."

"There are no 'missing links' found that are half-bird, half-lizard. Furthermore, lizards still exist, of course. You may believe what you want, but I believe God made each creature for a specific purpose & with specific equipment to ensure its continuing survival. til He replaces it with another, as He did the dinosaurs."

I thought about what he said from then til I was saved & realized he was absolutely right ! That's something for any students reading this to consider !

 

[Shoostie]

Darwinism has been around a long time, and yes, has contributed to the decline of Christianity. But, there are many other factors at play, and Christians themselves are among the worst offenders. I can't find a church within a reasonable drive that I like, and that's not the fault of the non-Christian world. I can find people who are more godly in the neighborhood bar than in Church.

 

[KenH]

Christians are to be known for: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23 ESV). Instead, the public perception in the United States is not these qualities. Instead, much of Christianity, especially white evangelicalism, is seen as nothing more than another political interest group just wanting to obtain political power and exercise it over others. Thus, people who are not of the same political persuasion are not attracted or, if they are, it is in spite of such political shenanigans.

 

[Shoostie]

Christians are to be known for: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23 ESV). Instead, the public perception in the United States is not these qualities. Instead, much of Christianity, especially white evangelicalism, is seen as nothing more than another political interest group just wanting to obtain political power and exercise it over others.

You champion another nauseating form of pseudo-Christianity that invites oppression and judgement upon Christians. When Christians speak the truth, the left accuse Christians of hate, a weapon against God's people which you prime with your out-of-context verse quoting about love. The previous verses to what you quote say the sexually immoral will not inherent the kingdom of God. Why didn't you quote a passage teaching that Christians are to be known for moral living, not murdering, etc? Your message, for example, effectively is that Christians should be known for loving homosexuals as shown by supporting same-sex marriage. But, a Christian should be known for morality, which means disapproving of same-sex marriage. The fruit of the spirit is love, but that doesn't include loving people who practice sexual immorality.

You bear false witness in equating Christians with a political interest group just wanting to obtain political power and exercise it over others. As I see, Christians are in a position of fighting just to be left alone, far from being in a position of imposing power over others. Other than abortion (which is about protecting life), where are Christians trying to control others? What court cases are about people trying to resist demands of Christians in their personal business? Come on Ken, answer! You are completely backwards on this one.

 

[KenH]

You champion another nauseating form of pseudo-Christianity that invites oppression and judgement upon Christians.

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. - Matthew 5:11-12(ESV)

Why didn't you quote a passage teaching that Christians are to be known for moral living, not murdering, etc?

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. - Galatians 5:19-21(ESV)

Your message, for example, effectively is that Christians should be known for loving homosexuals as shown by supporting same-sex marriage.

I do not recognize same-sex marriage as being a Biblical marriage. Government sees it as a legal contract. I think government should stay out of marriage altogether.

The fruit of the spirit is love, but that doesn't include loving people who practice sexual immorality.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." - Matthew 5:43-45(ESV)

 

[KenH]

Other than abortion (which is about protecting life), where are Christians trying to control others?

Some Christians want the government to ban various things - such as alcoholic beverages, gambling(such as the lottery), medical products(such as medical marijuana). These Christians may not be the only ones advocating to ban these, but they are certainly major leaders in the efforts.

 

[church mouse guy]

Some Christians want the government to ban various things - such as alcoholic beverages, gambling(such as the lottery), medical products(such as medical marijuana). These Christians may not be the only ones advocating to ban these, but they are certainly major leaders in the efforts.

I believe in the holy Trinity and I do not have a seige mentality. I want a much smaller government and much lower taxes so that married women do not have to work.

And I do not believe that everyone goes to Heaven or whatever it is that Universalists believe. If one does not believe that the Holy Ghost is God, then one does not have the Holy Ghost. Or if one does not believe that Jesus is God eternal, then one is like Pope Francis who believes that Jesus became God.

Science has tried to undermine Christianity but we now know that Darwin is totally wrong and we only have to wait for the people who don't realize that evolution is false to pass away and we will have an honest science instead of a laughingstock science.

 

[Shoostie]

Some Christians want the government to ban various things - such as alcoholic beverages, gambling(such as the lottery), medical products(such as medical marijuana). These Christians may not be the only ones advocating to ban these, but they are certainly major leaders in the efforts.

What planet are you on Ken?

I've noticed no movement by Christians to ban alcohol or medical marijuana (which is a sham). The vast majority of Christians support legal alcohol and medical marijuana. And, the ones that don't have no political power. Ken, you are baring false witness against God's people.

And, even if you falsehood were true, it's nothing compared to the oppression Christians are facing.

 

[Shoostie]

I do not recognize same-sex marriage as being a Biblical marriage. Government sees it as a legal contract. I think government should stay out of marriage altogether.

I don't believe you think the government should stay out of marriage. Even if you do, it means nothing as the government absolutely is going to stay in marriage.

Notably absent from your statement is a defense of the right of people to not be forced to engage in sodomistic speech for homosexual customers. You pretend oppression against Christians doesn't happen, when it's pervasive through society.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." - Matthew 5:43-45(ESV)

Jesus' instruction to love our enemies is hyperbole and Jesus doesn't tell us, in any fashion, to love God's enemies. You are taking verses out of context and misrepresenting them.

 

[church mouse guy]

I don't believe you think the government should stay out of marriage. Even if you do, it means nothing as the government absolutely is going to stay in marriage.

Notably absent from your statement is a defense of the right of people to not be forced to engage in sodomistic speech for homosexual customers. You pretend oppression against Christians doesn't happen, when it's pervasive through society.



Jesus' instruction to love our enemies is hyperbole and Jesus doesn't tell us, in any fashion, to love God's enemies. You are taking verses out of context and misrepresenting them.

You can love your enemies without liking them.

 

[Shoostie]

You can love your enemies without liking them.

The other poster apparently thinks Christianity is in free-fall because Christians are hateful and intolerant. That's an asinine and hateful position for anyone to take. Are Jewish kids being forced to worship Jesus in public schools? Do left-wing speakers at college campuses get assaulted by violent Christian mobs? When asked for an example of his position, the other poster muttered some drivel about Christians banning alcohol. Meanwhile, Christians kids are being taught to be Atheists and Christians are being dragged into court for refusing to engage in sodomistic speech. And, in another example of sodomite love and tolerance, newly opened Chick-fil-A in the UK has announced plans to close due to sodomite protests (which always includes vandalism and harassment, with the cops looking the other way).

Why do you think Jesus literally wants us to love our enemies? Do you also think Jesus wants you to hate your parents? The answer better be the same for both questions, or you'll be practicing something called hypocrisy.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

You can love your enemies without liking them.

How so?

 

[KenH]

I don't believe you think the government should stay out of marriage.

On what basis are you calling me a liar? You have never interacted with me until recently on this board. I took a great deal of gruff from other Libertarians when I ran for Congress in 2014 for the Libertarian Party because I stood by the libertarian position that government should stay out of marriage and refused to go along with same-sex marriage as being acceptable, and a lot of Libertarians weren’t satisfied with that; basically, for your reason that as long as the government is going to be involved, then they want the government to go along with their viewpoint.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

How so?

Can you protect your family against the violent ones by killing them?

 

[KenH]

Jesus' instruction to love our enemies is hyperbole and Jesus doesn't tell us, in any fashion, to love God's enemies.

Yes, He does. He is not talking about a warm, squishy feeling. He is talking about actions.

“Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” - Romans‬ ‭13:10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” - Romans‬ ‭12:20-21‬ ‭ESV‬‬