Gospel
The Lord declares that HIS people, the people who are called by HIS Name need to humble themselves and pray and seek HIS face ... AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS ... (2 Chronicles 7)
Before I continue with this article, and to understand my concern, read the following that I received from the Church Leaders Intelligence Report this week:
• A new national survey by the Barna Group suggests that many Americans claim to be “closely connected to Jesus Christ”; in fact, more people claim this than claim to be connected on Facebook or Twitter.
The study reports that two out of three adults surveyed said they “have a personal relationship with Jesus that is currently active and that influences their life.” More women than men agreed with this statement, as did more Protestants than Catholics. The study also suggested that “the younger a person is, the less likely they were to claim to have an active, influential bond with Jesus.”
38% of adults said they are “completely certain” that Jesus speaks to them in personal and relevant ways, and 21% said they are somewhat certain of this. Less than one-quarter of adults said Jesus doesn't speak to them at all.
Barna Group 4/10
So according to this article, 59% of American Adults claim to be living in a personal, viable state of fellowship with Christ Jesus - THAT INFLUENCES THEIR LIFE!
IF this were true ... IF this many Americans were actually being influenced by Christ, then our nation would be overwhelmingly aligned with the Bible morally, socially, politically, economically, and diplomatically!
IF this were actually true ... IF this many Americans were actually being influenced by Christ, then our divorce rate would have already fallen dramatically; our abortion rate would already have fallen dramatically (if not outlawed altogether!); our elected officials would reflect strong Biblical values ... need I go on?!
59% of American adults would be the CONTROLLING MAJORITY of the voters ... and the controlling majority of the MARKETPLACE! Yet, by observation, neither government, nor society, nor our culture, nor the marketplace in America seems to be directly influenced by Christ Jesus as Lord!
If the clear majority of American adults were influenced by Christ Jesus the Lord, things would be vastly different in our nation ... across the board we would be witnessing an increasingly evident move to bring our nation into alignment with God's Word!
How can I be so certain that these things would be so? Simple...
1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2. The same was in the beginning with God.
3. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4. In him was life; and the life was the light of men ...
10. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11. He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name ...
14. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1)
So I must question ... who do the majority of this "59%" think that Jesus Christ is? An adviser? A counselor? A consultant? Apparently something other than LORD!
Jesus made this bold statement ... 'If ye love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15) So, is the majority of our population keeping the commandments of Christ?
• USA TODAY (December 18, 2008) - -
Most American religious believers, including most Christians, say eternal life is not exclusively for those who accept Christ as their savior, a new survey finds.
Of the 65% of people who held this open view of heaven's gates, 80% named at least one non-Christian group — Jews, Muslims, Hindus, atheists or people with no religion at all — who may also be saved, according to a new survey released today by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.
65% of Americans (that hold some religious viewpoint - including "Christians") think that Jesus IS NOT the only way to eternal salvation!
Friends, THIS is a problem ... not an issue - A PROBLEM!
The problem is this ... IF Jesus says that He is the ONLY way, the ONLY truth and the ONLY life and the ONLY way to the Heavenly Father, yet the majority of those who claim to have a relationship with Him reject His message, then what is taking place is NOT a genuine personal relationship with THE CHRIST OF THE BIBLE but a spiritual deception!
It really doesn't matter if the deception is self created or demonically directed, it is still deception and the results of this deception will be multitudes of souls screaming in agony as they hear Jesus declare "depart from Me I never knew you!"
The problem is that apparently, while people like the idea of being in relation with Jesus and God, they are missing what Jesus Christ is truly all about!
This problem only exists because the people of Christ have been living in spiritual compromise which has allowed the enemy a much freer hand to deceive the masses!
THE SOLUTION - - REVIVAL IN THE LAND! A revival of spiritual TRUTH! A revival that can only begin in the House of God, the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ!
God's own people need to stop looking for some "coming revival" and start being revived in God's Spirit and Truth! God's own people need to stop looking for God to raise the banner of His righteousness and begin BEING God's standard of righteousness! (Not self-righteousness but TRUE righteousness!)
God's own people need to begin a move of truth and righteousness that shines as God's LIGHT throughout our communities and nation ... not just the conduct of righteousness (that all too often falls into the legalism of rules and regulations) but THE RESULTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, freedom from the slavery of sin and the bondage of failures but the freedom of failures being transformed into successes!
Let us each one begin raising the standard of righteousness where we are and allowing people to witness God's power through His people! Let us each one begin anew shining as lights in this perverse and wicked generation! Let us each one encourage - - and challenge - - all others who claim to be saints of Christ to live as He directs us to live - in and intimate fellowship with God as our Father and with each other as dear kindred of one another in Christ!
PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
Reader Count & Comments
Date
I agree. We need to hit our knees again and ask forgiveness. We have been afraid of offending someone so we have sat by and said nothing for too long. We have believed the lie that Christians have no place in government. We should the Bible never tell us to do nothing and the nation was founded on God's word. God's children have to stand again for what is right. We need to find our voice.
The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com. This is especially true with articles that
deal with personal healthcare and prophecy. We encourage the reader to make their own decision in consultation with God, His Word, and others as needed.
This article has been read 1344 times < Previous | Next >
Read more articles by Dr. Timothy Hoflund or search for other articles by topic below.
This article has been read 1344 times < Previous | Next >
Search for articles on: (e.g. creation; holiness etc.)
Read more by clicking on a link:Free Reprints
Main Site Articles
Most Read Articles
Highly Acclaimed Challenge Articles.
New Release Christian Books for Free for a Simple Review.
NEW - Surprise Me With an Article - Click here for a random URL
God is Not Against You - He Came on an All Out Rescue Mission to Save You
...in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them... 2 Cor 5:19
Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Acts 13:38
LEARN & TRUST JESUS HERE
FaithWriters offers Christian reading material for Christian readers. We offer Christian articles, Christian fiction, Christian non-fiction, Christian Bible studies, Christian poems, Christian articles for sale, free use Christian articles, Christian living articles, New Covenant Christian Bible Studies, Christian magazine articles and new Christian articles. We write for Jesus about God, the Bible, salvation, prayer and the word of God.