DOES THE SHOE FIT?

A recent report entitled, “Six Megathemes Emerge From Barna Group Research in 2010” (1) contained the following conclusions:

1. The Christian church is becoming less theologically literate.
2. Christians are becoming more ingrown and less outreach-oriented.
3. Growing numbers of people are less interested in spiritual principles and more desirous of learning pragmatic solutions for life.
4. Among Christians, interest in participating in community action is escalating.
5. The postmodern insistence on tolerance is winning over the Christian church.
6. The influence of Christianity on culture and individual lives is largely invisible.

If your church is wonderfully God-centered and influencing your community for Christ, you may be thinking they apply to just a small segment of American Christianity. But unfortunately, many polls on the state of Christianity yield similar results. Many conclude that American Christianity has been losing its impact on the culture for decades.

But the church has had its problems throughout history, hasn’t it? After all, isn’t the church body composed of sinners? The prophets continually called upon the people of Israel to repent of their idolatry and return to their God. Through the epistles, Paul busied himself with fighting against false teaching and admonishing Christians to live up to their faith.

So what is different today? A lot. I recently finished reading a book entitled “No Place for Truth” by David Wells. The author makes a cogent argument that modernization and humanist philosophy has led to the "psychologization" of man. This phenomenon is rooted in secular humanism, which finds its origins in the humanist philosophy central to the 18th century and the social impact of the 19th century industrial revolution. The man-centered, postmodern era was born. The impact on society, culture, and religion is far-reaching and profound.

Specifically, the concepts of individualism and equality, coupled with an anti-intellectual movement that began generations ago, has produced our modern-day philosophy of tolerance (both social and theological). Although written over twenty years ago, most of his analysis concerning the negative effect of postmodernism on American Christianity has an eerie accuracy about them.

In our postmodern world, all beliefs and belief systems are considered to be relative. There is no absolute truth. Faith is a matter of personal opinion and no one’s faith is more true or valuable than another’s. Individualism is the right of any person to act, or say, or be anything or anybody they want, regardless of the morality of it (assuming it is legal). A truly enlightened person tolerates opposing views and considers them of equal merit to his own. Equality has more to do with equal results than equal worth as a human being. The author also proposes that the anti-intellectual movement has found its way into the church in the form of an anti-theology mindset.

Society bases its ethics on cultural values rather than moral beliefs. Tolerance is considered a virtue. Tolerance is evident in the church because we have been influenced by worldly values and also do not want to labeled “intolerant” (the implication being a lack of love).

Added to this, the media feeds Christians a steady diet of worldliness, consuming valuable time necessary for spiritual growth, and worst of all, numbing our conscience to the immorality and aberrant behavior now widely accepted by our culture. There are now a couple of generations of Christian children whose worldview and value system has largely been molded by television — not the church. Research shows that less than 10% of students who regularly attended church growing up remain active in their faith during their college years.

Technology is not only assaulting us morally, it has given rise to an unprecedented number of “readerless” people, Christians included. Studies indicate the number of adults who regularly read a book is continually dropping (2). We would rather watch it on television than read about it in a book, newspaper or magazine.

This technological age is supposed to be making us smarter, yet attention spans of television watchers are short. Many preachers today employ multimedia sermons to keep the attention of their congregation.

Finally, and perhaps most important, many Christians view “success” in worldly terms — materialism and wealth. They seek happiness and fulfillment in careers rather than serving their God. Even though the Bible clearly shows the pursuit of worldly success is counterproductive to spiritual growth (Mt 6:24; Lk 16:13), we are no different than the world in this respect. So it is no wonder most Christians are more interested in learning pragmatic truths for living than in growth guided by spiritual principles (see #3 above).

No matter the polls, there do exist those “Captive Christians” (as Barna terms them) who do have a biblical worldview, are growing in knowledge of God, and do have the spiritual confidence to defend their faith (3). If you aren’t captivated and don’t feel separate from the world, you may be caught up in the same rat race and spinning the same hamster cage as the rest of the world. If this is the case, then STOP! There is a kind of rest in taking spiritual inventory and reprioritizing your life. There can be rest in seeking God and his will for your life, but we must start with the Word of God, not trying to find the next experience. We have to get rid of the distractions, and limiting television is a big step. We also must focus our efforts on spiritual gain rather than material gain.

Let’s be seekers of the Truth, both about God and ourselves. Let’s be willing to submit our lives to that Truth. Let’s develop a worldview consistent with who we are. Let’s be prepared and willing to defend that truth. Then we will be salt and light to a lost and dying world.

No matter what these polls indicate, the true church of Jesus Christ is alive and well. We can also be salt and light to our brothers and sisters not living a victorious Christian life.

It must begin with you, and with me.

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! (Rom 11:33)

(1) Six Megathemes Emerge… http://www.barna.org/culture-articles/462-six-megathemes-emerge-from-2010
(2) Literary Reading in Dramatic Decline http://www.nea.gov/news/news04/ReadingAtRisk.html
(3) The Seven Faith Tribes: Who They Are, What They Believe, and Why They Matter by George Barna. In this book, Barna outlines seven diverse faith segments, profiling their lifestyles, religious beliefs and practices, values and life goals. The seven tribes include Casual Christians, Captive Christians, Mormons, Jews, Pantheists, Muslims and Skeptics.
Devotion by Dr. Bob Engel (guest writer)

MOMENT OF CLARITY: Are You Independent?

MOMENT OF CLARITY: Are You Independent?

MISERY AND POVERTY

To a great extent misery and poverty are spiritual diseases rooted in the heart and soul of a person that manifests itself in a series of attitudes and behaviors such as indolence, laziness, ignorance, lack of education, envy, remorse, covetousness, idolatry, vices and addictions, infidelity, immorality, delinquency, corruption and others. Misery and poverty can never be cured by blaming other for the situation or with money or donations that are not earned. To overcome poverty and misery, a person must repent of his evil ways and pluck it out of his heart, soul and mind and make a definite decision to change.
To be able to leave behind spiritual poverty, a person needs to take a long hard look at himself, a self-examination of what has caused the situation and understand that as long as one continues to act the same way or keep on doing the same things, it is impossible to expect a different outcome. One must look in the mirror and see the specific nature of the problem, confess it to God and, if possible, tell it to a trusted friend or relative that can become like a monitor of the situation and the changes and progress that are being experienced in overcoming the problem.
The Catholic Church and the Protestant Churches in general must stop promoting liberation theology, socialism and class warfare which only perpetuates obscurantism, poverty, slavery and hate among people who instead need the Living Water of Jesus Christ to liberate them so they can have life, liberty and pursue happiness.

LA POBREZA

La pobreza o miseria en alto grado es una enfermedad del espíritu, enraizada en el corazón, el alma y la mente que se manifiesta en una serie de actitudes y comportamientos tales como: indolencia, pereza, ignorancia, falta de educación, rencór, ira, envidia, idolatría, vicios, adicciones, infidelidad, inmoralidad, delincuencia, corrupción y otros. La pobreza nunca puede curarse culpando a otros o recibiendo dinero o donaciones que no se han devengado.
Para curarla, los que la padecen necesitan arrepentirse y decidirse a cambiar, arrancándola de sus entrañas, de su corazón y de su alma. Para poder dejar atrás la pobreza, la gente debe inicialmente hacerse un concienzudo auto examen de las causas de su situación y aceptar el hecho de que si continúan viviendo en la misma forma, nunca tendrán resultados diferentes.
Deben verse en un espejo y confesar asi mismo la naturaleza de su problema. Confesarse ante Dios y si posible con algún amigo ó pariente de confianza, para que les ayude a monitorear su situación, su decisión de cambiarla y los cambios y progreso que principiarán a experimentar.
Las iglesias Católica y Evangélica deben abandonar la promoción de la mal llamada "teología de la liberación," el socialismo y la lucha de clases con lo cual únicamente han perpetuado el oscurantismo, la pobreza, el odio, rencór y la esclavitud de la gente. En verdad lo que necesitan es brindarles el agua viva de Jesucristo que les permita mejorar su situación, libertad, bienestar y felicidad.

Christian Economics

The United States of America has been the "Land of Opportunity." People have come from all over the world to reach for and realize the so-called "American Dream" which is the product of Christianity, liberty, free-market capitalism and a puritan work ethic.

In 1948 the socialist World Council of Churches abandoned free-market capitalism, adopted and promoted one world government and socialism also known as communism also misquoting the Bible (Acts 5:1).

In socialism or communism the State controls or owns all property and keeps it all for itself. It declares that all private property is theft and should be confiscated one way or another, stealing it from its rightful owners and promote slavery and misery. They want the people to look to the State for all their needs, thus violating the First Commandment: Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.

In the book of Exodus chapter 20 as well as Deuteronomy chapter 5, the 8th Commandment says "Thou shalt not steal" and the 10th Commandment states "Thou shalt not covet." The Bible also say "If any (able-bodied person) will not work, neither shall he eat." (2 Thess. 3:10)

It is the individual who is voluntarily charitable and to be able to be charitable he has to have possessions and property. In socialism or communism, charity is not voluntary and it deters excelling and induces people to get out of working and achieving. Charity is to be selective and voluntary and is not based on so-called "fairness" because the charitable person decides what to do with his own money.

An important warning to new legal immigrants: even though we will want to retain our cultures which is perfectly legitimate and enriches our new nation, we should avoid attempts to change the things that made our new nation great and replace them with an ideology and behaviors that mimics the country or society we left behind with all its misery and lack of opportunities because otherwise it may have been better for us to stay where we came from and try to change our unbearable situation that forced us to abandon our homeland.

Christian withdrawal brings decay, collapse and death to society.

Ref: Book of Acts

Economía Cristiana

Los Estados Unidos de America, ha sido la "Tierra de Oportunidad." Gran número de gente de todo el mundo ha venido aquí huyendo de su triste y desesperada situación, a hacer realidad el llamado "Sueño Americano" el cual no es mas que el resultado de los cimientos cristianos, la libertad y el capitalismo de la libre empresa de esta gran nación.
En 1998 la organización socialista llamada Concilio Mundial de Iglesias abandonó el principio de libre empresa, adoptando y promoviendo el socialismo o comunismo y malinterpretando las Sagradas Escrituras.

En el comunismo o socialismo el estado controla, se apodera y acapara toda la propiedad privada, proclamando que toda propiedad prívada es un robo, por lo que debe ser confiscada de una forma u otra, despojando y robándosela a sus legítimos dueños.

Al léer los Diez Mandamientos en el libro de Exodo, en el VIII Mandamiento, El Señor dice: No robarás. Y el el X Mandamiento Dios nos dice: No codiciarás. También encontramos en la Biblia: Aquél que no trabaja, no come.

Es el individuo y no el gobierno quién de su propia voluntad es caritativo y misericordioso y para poder serlo, el tiene que poseér bienes y propiedades. El gobierno que no produce nada, unicamente puede ser caritativo despojando a los que poséen bienes y dárselos a los afines a su ideología y partido y no necesariamente a los necesitados.

El comunismo o socialismo no es voluntario y unicamente provoca miseria y esclavitud, pues entre otros males, evita y anula la excelencia, el éxito y el deséo de progresar y sobresalir.

La caridad es selectiva y voluntaria y no está basada en inparcialidad, porque siendo su dinero y su propiedad es el individuo quién decide a quién dársela.

Una observación importante a todos los nuevos inmigrantes legales es que si vienen a lograr y forjar su "Sueño Americano," aunque es encomiable que quieran conservar su cultura, no deben intentar o contribuir a cambiar a este gran país, intentando convertirlo en el país de donde vienen, con toda su miseria, falta de oportunidades y desesperante situación, pues de lo contrario, mejor les hubiera sido quedarse donde estaban y luchar por cambiar su situación.

Referencias: El Libro de Hechos.

Dr. Paul's Case for Gold by Llewellyn H. Rockwell, Jr.

Dr. Paul's Case for Gold by Llewellyn H. Rockwell, Jr.