Why Are So Many People Turning Away From Christianity These Days?

[jsca777]

I'm a relative newcomer to Christian discussion forums in general, but in those few short weeks I have been really shocked by some of the sorts of attitudes that get expressed. the primary rule of Jesus is to love others which means to repect their opinions even when we disagree. This so often just doesn't happen (I'm not talking about this forum, by the way, but some others.) If people are turning away from Christianity I suspect it is because Christians are not walking in love.

Of course, If they really had the fruit of the Spirit in them, they wouldn't dog you with malice and hatred and hostility when you speak up for something. It really shows what's really in them when they act the way they do. It shows that Jesus isn't really Lord in their lives. Jesus mentioned of people who worship Him with their lips but their hearts are far from Him(Mark7:6,7). You see that in the church quite a bit today. You see that in christian message board forums. Many christians really destroy each other. Satan works hard to get christians to "DESTROY EACH OTHER." And it works very well. Ya see, that's the only way that Satan can destroy the church, is to get the church to "DESTROY EACH OTHER."

Philippians2:15 says to be a light in this crooked, preverse society we live in. But I have seen many who profess Christ, act just as crooked and preverse. I find it amazing however, that these same christians, profess to have God's love in them. If they really had His love, they would treat you humanely even when disagreeing. There's been times where these so called "loving christians" spewed vile hatred at me for speaking up for something they didn't want to hear about. Where was the love of Christ in the way they treated me???

[Believer1997]

Actually, where I live the opposite is true. people are coming to the Lord in droves at the moment. recently in a little village about an hours drive from us, 60 people started a home group! We were asked to assist, they have done the alpha course and we now have a new church out of nothing! This was the Lord at work! We now send people every Sunday morning to teach, which has stretched us to the limit!

And this from people just getting together, no evangelizing, or outreach. This is the Spirit at work. This has happened at two other places near us in the last year as well!

The Lord is at work here, and people are coming in droves

Blessings

Fez,

That is wonderful. We, as Christians, need to open our hearts to 'baby Christians" and mentor and help them learn and grow in Christ. It's not amazing to me that people 'get saved' and then wander away.... Being Saved is just the first step - they need the help and mentoring of Christians who are perhaps more seasoned in The Word to help them along - they are, after all, family now. I think your work there in your country is wonderful and you are so blessed to be able to be there and the people are blessed to have you.

[OneLight]

I have not done a study on this, but it seems that those who have (US, Europe, etc.) are the ones who are turning a hardened heart toward Christ, but those who have not (Asia, Africa, Muslim countries) are turning toward the Lord with a fervor. We have become so complacent in our "Christian Lives" that we no longer have the "first love" we had. Has anyone else notice this?

I pray God moves us out of our comfortable lives and into Him once again.

[Believer1997]

I have not done a study on this, but it seems that those who have (US, Europe, etc.) are the ones who are turning a hardened heart toward Christ, but those who have not (Asia, Africa, Muslim countries) are turning toward the Lord with a fervor. We have become so complacent in our "Christian Lives" that we no longer have the "first love" we had. Has anyone else notice this?

I pray God moves us out of our comfortable lives and into Him once again.

I think that there are countries that struggle so much and turn toward hope represented in Christ. I don't know if westerners are turning a hard heart or are just internalizing their emotions - I believe that in an industrialized and modern society - it's easy not to communicate with others - and to turn inward and shut the noise, people, etc. out. We don't depend on each other the way we used to - or know the personal troubles of our neighbors and help them and pray for them - As a society - I believe people have become very shut down to keep from ...feeling anything. I think it's actually a form of preservation. It's very unhealthy, imo.

[MorningGlory]

Nice to be found in agreement with you brother Botz. Its my tendency to challenge and point out the other side reguardless of who is speaking, especially to defend the underdog. But it can make me less popular and annoying.

I laughed out loud when I read the above JCISGD. I do the same thing and people get really incensed at me.

[MorningGlory]

I have not done a study on this, but it seems that those who have (US, Europe, etc.) are the ones who are turning a hardened heart toward Christ, but those who have not (Asia, Africa, Muslim countries) are turning toward the Lord with a fervor. We have become so complacent in our "Christian Lives" that we no longer have the "first love" we had. Has anyone else notice this?

I pray God moves us out of our comfortable lives and into Him once again.

I've noticed that as well; it does seem like the revival is happening mostly in countries where people have very little. Many times,IMO, people have much in the way of worldly goods lose sight of the fact that all they have are blessings from the Lord and not a result of their own importance.

[Bold Believer]

Are they turning away from CHRISTIANITY, or from CHRIST; that would be my first question. As others have pointed out, what passes for Christianity these days is pretty much drivel. I've got a problem with the whole every head bowed and every eye closed thing. It's like "You don't need to let anyone know you're a eliever now unless you want to." If you are ashamed down here, will God not be ashamed of you in Heaven?

Second, someone mentioned 'the doctrines that divide us.' IF YOU HAVEN'T PROPER DOCTRINE, HOW DO YOU KNOW WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE A FALSE CHRIST OR THE REAL ONE! I am SO sick of Believers whining about doctrinal differences. The differences are there so that the truth can be discovered. They are there so that the faith once for all delivered to the saints can be arrived at.

Third, the whole Christian lovefest thing is about to make me hurl. Sometimes, you have to tell the truth about things and let the chips fall where they may. I read a day or so ago in a newspaper about an Episcopal church selection process for bishops in which some of the candidates were openly homosexual! Good Lord, not only is that disgusting, it's outrageous that it would be reported in the newspaper FOR THE ENTIRE WORLD TO SEE. This is the product of the 'just love everybody' and 'we don't need doctrine' teachings. It's more loving to tell the truth then it is to allows someone to continue in a lie and be lost.

Fourth, we are in the Apostasy of which Paul foretold. The Church has fallen from the standard which was set down by the Lord Himself and through the Apostles. How many denominations which were once bright lights have had their lampstands snuffed out? Well let's see:

Episcopal/Anglican Church openly permitting homosexual pastors.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America doing the same thing.

Roman Catholic Church covering up child molester priests AGAIN.

Various denominations embracing New Age/Gnostic type teachings about Christ..

Various denominations embracing Islam.

United Methodist Churches ordaining homosexuals (not sure if the UMC is allowing them openly yet)

United Presbyterians barely staved off a vote a few years ago to allow homosexuals to minister (they may well have allowed it by now, I don't know.)

The now infamous Christa blasphemy of a female "Christ" on a crucifix at the Cathedral of St John the Divine in NYC and Holy Comforter Episcopal Church in Richmond VA.

Robert Funk of the Jesus Seminar saying: "It's time to demote Jesus"

A revision of The Living Bible supposedly reads "Our Father/Mother in heaven..."

Supposedly (I have never heard whether this is true or not) Pastor Jack Heyford led an African witch doctor type dance at a Promise Keepers meeting in Atlanta. (This comes from Texx Marrs, so I am not sure if it is reliable or not.)

TBN supposedly promoting apparitions of Mary

These are just a few of the obvious signs that there is a massive apostasy going on within organized Christianity. Gog and Magog are running amok on the earth and the results are pretty obvious.

[CAP73]

I'm sick of the watered down religions that pass for Christianity these days. We are reflecting the world instead of influencing it. The world is so politically correct and the Church has begun to mimic the behavior. I don't feel we have to be rude to get our point across, but we don't have to be politically correct either. Christians have got to start taking a stand or we will lose this country forever along with millions of souls.

[OneLight]

I'll take that as a yes from both Bold Believer and melasthanatos.

I agree that those who are religious are not all Christians. I also agree that we have adapted to the world in order to draw in those of the world instead of allowing His Spirit to convict through the preaching of the truth, His word. We are stepping all over His toes trying to do His work when all we are told to do is to preach the truth, make disciples and baptize in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. One day, the US will look inward and see how dead we really are as a nation, having the name of Christ but denying the power thereof. We seem to of fallen into the following:

Matthew 23:27

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.

[Believer1997]

The now infamous Christa blasphemy of a female "Christ" on a crucifix at the Cathedral of St John the Divine in NYC and Holy Comforter Episcopal Church in Richmond VA.

I've been in the Holy Comforter Episcopal Church a number of times for meetings and work that they do in coordination with other denominations for the needy in central Virginia and I have never seen a female "Christ" in the church - do you have information on this? This church is very involved with the Richmond community and helps care for thousands of less fortunate and has many outreach ministries that involve many denominations. I have never seen anything like this in their church.