Slowly but Surely Dying...

[Stann]

That is exactly what the bible said would happen. It says that in the last days there will be a great apostasy, meaning many people departing the faith, and instead giving heed to lies and seducing spirits. Here are just a few:

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2 Thessalonians 2:3​

Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,​

Matthew 24:12​

Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.​

​

1 Timothy 4:1-3​

But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron,​

​

2 Timothy 4:3-4​

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.​

​

With all the contradictions, they had to get something right.​

 

[Stann]

I am hoping you keep in mind, Gracie, that I understand that for you (and perhaps Stann) that church rites and attendance became more of a distraction for you than a portal to God. It is in the quietness of nature that the gateway opens. Most of us who enjoy nature totally understand what you are saying. It happens to us as well and is infinitely beautiful, perhaps more so because we are alone with our Lord.

I feel closest to God when I'm working ( playing ) in the garden. Never found him/her in the church.

 

[Meriweather]

I feel closest to God when I'm working ( playing ) in the garden. Never found him/her in the church.

And some of us have. God is where we are, be it church or garden.

 

[Stann]

And some of us have. God is where we are, be it church or garden.

Agreed, and I love having visitors in my garden, or am I the visitor in his/her garden ?

 

[Stann]

And some of us have. God is where we are, be it church or garden.

Agreed, and I love having visitors in my garden, or am I the visitor in his/her garden ?

 

[BreezeWood]

That is exactly what the bible said would happen. It says that in the last days there will be a great apostasy, meaning many people departing the faith, and instead giving heed to lies and seducing spirits. Here are just a few:

​

2 Thessalonians 2:3​

Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,​

Matthew 24:12​

Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.​

​

1 Timothy 4:1-3​

But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron,​

​

2 Timothy 4:3-4​

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.​

​

​

That is exactly what the bible said would happen. It says that in the last days there will be a great apostasy, meaning many people departing the faith, and instead giving heed to lies and seducing spirits.

.
your bible seems to predict the triumph of evil over good, on the last day - otherwise the last day would be for celebration.

too bad they left that part out. where all will be the same - one way or the other, the final day.

 

[Stann]

People who follow a religion (belong to a faith denomination) are spiritual, and more than likely most are more spiritual than you. I believe you are saying you are still spiritual but do not belong to a religious denomination. I am both affiliated and spiritual, you are unaffiliated but remain spiritual.

Truth: You do not have anything the affiliated lack; you lack something the affiliated possess. I am fine with you and anyone deciding they do not need what the affiliated also have.

Let's think about why so many remain affiliated.

What happens when no one draws water from a well? The well dries up. What happens when water flows into a pond, but has no outlet? Pond scum. A healthy body of water has both input and output. We can observe the same types of thing happening in ourselves and in our community. Yes, I am spiritual, but if nothing flows into me from a larger body (a community) I become stagnant. We need new insights, different perspectives to remain fresh. If nothing flows out of me into a community, I dry up.

I really appreciate that, open and honest. Thanks again, Stan.

 

[RodISHI]

Or, could it be more like the proverbial horse that could be led to water, but could not be forced to drink? By Monday morning how many of us remember the Gospel reading or the homily?

Perspective I suppose. Should churches be drug company pushers too? What happens when the host king Omri (pupil of Jehovah) makes the golden calf for the children to worship? Do all of Israel's children go in and worship that statue or just a portion?

 

[RodISHI]

Well first I would point out that faith is about one's relationship with God more so than their day to day social interactions. In that sense, I feel that churches have a greater opportunity to expand their affiliations than ever before. some like Osteen have done that by preaching happy feel good prosperity gospel sermons that resonate with viewers on fair weather days. Others have taken the more music forward tact. TBH, I was considering trying to start going to a church in my neighborhood due to the reputation of the minister and the church's programs. Then they got a digital sign and started scrolling fire and brimstone stuff and the pastor showed up at my door and basically told me I was going to hell and he was guaranteed a spot in heaven. Needless to say, I will not be visiting that church as long as he is there. I expect humility and have far more respect for people who have a quiet faith. Going door to door telling people they are going to hell is neither.

I do think for these type things is where knowing what is in the Word truly does help.

When we first bought this place an old man started walking by on a regular basis. (we live outside of town) He stopped one day while Rod was gone. I always have large dogs so it didn't bother me but I sensed he was a dirty old man. He confirmed that when he told me, "My wife doesn't like the way you dress". I told him he'd better walk somewhere else beside by our house then.
One day he tried to engage me in more conversation and was going to attempt a similar type bs on me. I quoted scripture back at him and told him he was free to stop in and we could discuss the Bible any time if I had time but "you will have to bring your Bible and I will have mine also if we are to discuss the Word of God". I never saw him walk by our house again after that but his daughters did walk by fairly often and they would always wave and say. "hi, how are you doing?"

Luke 17 :: King James Version (KJV)

Luke 17 - Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

www.blueletterbible.org

Romans 10 :: King James Version (KJV)

Romans 10 - But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down [from above]:)

www.blueletterbible.org

Romans 10 :: King James Version (KJV)

Romans 10 - Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)

www.blueletterbible.org

 

[SweetSue92]

We all are, that includes religion. In the US Evangelical Protestants, Catholics and Mainline Protestants are all losing members. This is old data, 2009 to 2014; I can only assume the trend has continued. Unaffiliated and non-Christian faiths made gains. Go to : Preforum.org and type in Changing U.S. Religious Landscape for more info. Better yet, if you have updates, please post them. Thanks, Stan.

The Great Apostasy 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3

 

[onefour1]

Matthew 7:13-14
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

 

[Votto]

What about the Catholics pouring across the border in the South?

Just given them a year or two in the US public schools to change all that

 

[Mr. Friscus]

We all are, that includes religion. In the US Evangelical Protestants, Catholics and Mainline Protestants are all losing members. This is old data, 2009 to 2014; I can only assume the trend has continued. Unaffiliated and non-Christian faiths made gains. Go to : Preforum.org and type in Changing U.S. Religious Landscape for more info. Better yet, if you have updates, please post them. Thanks, Stan.

I've heard this issue discussed in churches. I'll say this, if attendance starts to wain in the USA, it would be predictable, given that we live in a first world paradise and are now being provided with new things to worship, such as status, government, etc.. not to mention that while I am a believer in American Exceptionalism, we bleed with self-righteousness, which manifests in different ways politically, left and right. However, the intense self-righteousness we see in our activists society today often isn't compatible with the humility to seek the Christian faith.

Further, there's always the tug of war that not just a church, but a faith, needs to decide.

Do you risk watering down the traditions to get more members.. and blend into the society you're targeting? There's no concrete answer. However, I think most can agree that it can go way too far. Christianity has plenty of warnings of this, saying to be from this world not of this world. This can be even about what can be seen as minute issues but can matter quite a bit. It's important to be humble before the Lord in His presence, but also at times to be happy in His grace and praise His name. Well, what is acceptable praise? Does it include rave-like rock concerts with fog machines, laser lights, tight clothing, and fiddling a guitar much like the secular rockers who use the guitar as a representation of their genitalia? I would say not. While they can be praising the Lord as they do this, it's not appropriate for worship, as it sends the wrong message for what the church is. It might bring in more people, but it would sell-out the faith and its principles.