Did you know that 75% of United States citizens call themselves Christians?
And yet…
- 50% of United States citizens have never read the Bible
- 35% don’t believe in the Virgin birth
- 44% say God does not play a role in their life
- 77% believe salvation is obtained through works
- 65% believe most people are inherently good
- 47% support abortion (the willful destruction of a child in the womb)
- 78% of men and 67% of women say they do not depend on Jesus (Yeshua) to overcome sin
- 66% do not believe pre-marital sex is wrong
- Cohabitation has increased by 29% since 2007
- The divorce rate is 40-50% (38% for regular church goers)
- 50% of 18-24 year olds do not believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God
- 50% of 18-24 year olds support same-sex marriage
- 24 out of 25 millennials do not have a biblical worldview
- 50% of millennials believe pornography is morally acceptable
- 76% of 18-24 year old Christian men actively seek pornography
- 55% of married men and 25% of married women view pornography on a monthly basis
- 68% of church going men and 50% of pastors view pornography regularly
- For the last 7 years, 2 million people per year have left the church
Of people who regularly attend church
- 74% do not have spiritual conversations with anyone
- 52% believe non-Christian faiths can lead to eternal life
- 69% believe everyone will go to heaven
- 30% say they have never felt God’s presence in church
And here are two to really take into consideration:
- 70% of non-church goers say they have never been invited to church
- 70% of church-goers have never shared the gospel
What has happened to us, church? We are to be salt and light in a dark and evil world. We should be fishers of men, not the fish.
One of the main problems in the modern church is that we go to church to be entertained, not discipled. We ought to be leading people to discipleship, not to the coffee shop in the narthex.
“But I don’t want to offend anybody.”
Listen, righteousness is offensive to those who love their sin. “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.’ Matthew 5:11 But to those whose hearts have not been hardened will love you for sharing the truth.
“Therefore, go and make taught ones (disciples) of all the nations, immersing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Set-apart Spirit, teaching them to guard all that I have commanded you…” Matthew 28: 19-20 The Scriptures
It’s the difference between calling yourself a Christian and be a disciple of the Master!
Christian: a person who has received Christian baptism or is a believer in Christianity
Disciple: a follower or student of a teacher, leader, or philosopher
As you can see, there is a vast difference between being a Christian- believing in the religion; and being a disciple (set-apart or taught one) – following and studying the religion. Even the devil believes in God. There are too many people out there today that profess to be a “Christian” that do not follow, study and obey the Word of Elohim. They go to church on Sunday to hear a feel-good message about how wonderful they are and how blessed their life is simply for being a Christian. They sing songs glorifying and uplifting themselves rather than glorifying and uplifting the Most High God. And when they leave the walls of the church building they ignore His Word and live for themselves.
They do not follow His ways, obey His commands, or walk in the fruit of the spirit, which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustworthiness, gentleness, and self-control.
They, we, are not making disciples of the nations. We are tickling their ears and sugar coating the gospel. We, the church, have created a generation of lovers of self.
“But know this, that in the last days hard times shall come. For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of silver (money), boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, thankless, wrong-doers, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, haters of good, betrayers, reckless, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of Elohim, having a form of reverence but denying its power. And turn away from these! For among them are those who creep into households and captivate silly women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 2 Timothy 3: 1- 7 The Scriptures
They will have a form of reverence for Elohim (a form of godliness). They will walk among you and seem as though they are indeed “Christians.” But they are not true disciples, or taught-ones, of Yeshua, the Messiah. They will always be learning but never come to the truth. They will read all the right books, sing all the right songs, speak all the right words. But the knowledge of the truth is just simply not in them.
You will know them by their fruits. “But beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are savage wolves. By their fruits you shall know them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? So every good tree yields good fruit, but a rotten tree yields wicked fruit.” Matthew 7: 15-18 The Scriptures
They will be deceivers and manipulators. They will be liars and thieves. And they will fool many until they are revealed by the light. “And as Yohane (Jannes) and Mamre (Jambre) opposed Mosheh (Moses), so do these also oppose the truth- men of corrupt minds, found worthless concerning the belief. But they shall not go on further, for their folly shall be obvious to all, as also that of those men became.” 2 Timothy 3: 8-9 The Scriptures
These men and women will not inherit the kingdom of heaven. “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6: 9-11 New King James
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Master, Master,’ shall enter into the reign of the heavens, but he who is doing the desire of My Father in the heavens.”
If you do not want to stand before a Just God and hear, “depart from me, I never knew you,” you must repent of your sins (turn away from) and confess that Yeshua is the Messiah. Do not let the adversary lead you into a godless eternity with his false promises. Follow Him. Study His Word. Walk in His ways.
It is your responsibility, as a disciple of the Master, to spread the gospel. It is your great commission to make disciples of nations.
In His Service,
Rebecca Hamilton, Founder/ Executive Director
For Every Great Battle, There is a Great Victory!!