Why do you suppose this is happening?
And then a possible key quote from this article is
"Those who worship less have more family intactness and those who worship more have less," Fagan marveled.
'Going to church' and worship are not the same thing!
Technically it should be but it is not in America. I think it shows how dead the church is in America.
But, I have always said that Christian marriages are no different than non Christian marriages. This is because it isn't God, per se, that keeps a marriage healthy. It is both people who keep it going. I know couple who love each other but don't say it to each other because it is like an unspoken rule and they couldn't live without each other but they don't say sweet things to each other like Christians pastors might say you should be doing.
I do think that this statistic arrests the church though because instead of it being the leader in society it is the laughing stock. God is not a liar but man is trying to reflect GOd out to be a liar with the information in this article.
I find it shameful.
John
'Going to church' and 'being the Church' are not the same thing!
'Going to church' and 'being the Church' are not the same thing!
This would then imply that the church across America, and the deep south, are false, or have failed massively?
This article is mistaken in its premise because it is actually looking at those who are "playing church" not the true Bride of Christ. There is a difference between those who are twice born and living for Him, and those who attend meetings and gatherings.
as far as why those who are "attending church" are seeing destruction to the family i would dare to say its because many of them are still apart of the world system. they may know all about Jesus, they may quote scripture and give a tenth every sunday, they may even seem like real nice people but they have had no encounter with Jesus the person, and are not His.
rdg
by DEADn on 2014/2/15 16:27:56
'Going to church' and 'being the Church' are not the same thing!
This would then imply that the church across America, and the deep south, are false, or have failed massively?
__
pretty that is an accurate statement when we are speaking of the organized religion in this country not to be confused with the Bride(true Church) of Jesus. The Bride is alive and well all across the world and she is boldly proclaiming her love for her King and Lord Jesus. Now there may very well be some who are apart of the Body of Christ still attending in the structure and religious system but they are there as warriors, praying and shinning forth the light of Christ. there are however many that are just lost souls attending a meeting because its the thing to do or its the way they were brought up. Again they have had no real life changing encounter with Jesus.
don't confuse this with the true Church though, as i said they are out there strong and the gates of hell will not stand against Jesus and His Church.
rdg
This article is mistaken in its premise because it is actually looking at those who are "playing church" not the true Bride of Christ. There is a difference between those who are twice born and living for Him, and those who attend meetings and gatherings.as far as why those who are "attending church" are seeing destruction to the family i would dare to say its because many of them are still apart of the world system. they may know all about Jesus, they may quote scripture and give a tenth every sunday, they may even seem like real nice people but they have had no encounter with Jesus the person, and are not His.
rdg
I understand what you are saying here but at the same time is also sounds like a deflective response to a serious problem. Are we really to say that because we broad stroke the church, in the South, as not really Christian then we can say that is why these stats are the way they are? It just seems as if something is missing.
One of my takes is that people get so busy in the church they neglect their families and hence brings strife on the family as a result. Also, individuals have their own intentions and when they don't get their way things happen. Often when someone becomes religious they can get more selfish and more self absorbed, without realizing it and it will affect others around them. It is like being self righteous and not realizing it and it affects everyone around them.
But, let's be real. There are a lot of people that "are the Church", that God is dealing with (rebuking and chastising).
There are many "striving against sin".
There is an onslaught of deceiving and seducing spirits against the church, today that amongst other things are tasked with turning us against each other.
Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Heb 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
Heb 12:13 And make straight paths for your feet (get the sin out of your life), lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness (if we are not living holy lives we will not see the Lord), without which no man shall see the Lord:
God has to correct and rebuke us if we harbor bitterness.
Heb 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
And is warning us to not be profane or fornicate (spiritual/physical). He is presently rescuing many who have fallen into bitterness, profane ways and fornication. Haven't you ever been used to restore a brother or sister who fell into bitterness and sin?
Heb 12:16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
Brothers, the church in America IS Hurting and we don't know who the tares or wheat are. We are to be interceding for one another and encouraging one another, provoking one another to good works. The good works are following Jesus without a divided heart. Following Him with a whole heart. We are to minister love and forgiveness to one another. Instead, the church in America is involved in competition. Competition of programs, theology, and growth of their personal religious business.
I posted in Apollus' "Beginning of Sorrows" that God will break down our altars and destroy our images (false images of Christ, altars of self) because He loves us and everything He does in our lives He does with a view to restoration and reconciliation.
We are to warn the unruly:
1Th 5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
Eze 3:20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Eze 3:21 Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.
Paul never shrunk away from declaring the whole counsel of God.
Act 20:27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
Act 20:31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
One of our biggest challenges today is to "keep ourselves in the love of God". We cannot minister to anyone or rescue them if we do not keep ourselves in the Love of God.
Jud 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Jud 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
Jud 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
There are many in the church who are sold out to Jesus one day and fall into sin the next day and back and forth. I think that this is a part of what is happening in the church today and why it is so dead.
But then again there is that one reference quote
"Those who worship less have more family intactness and those who worship more have less," Fagan marveled.
Maybe this means going to church more vs not going to church more. In any cases do you think this means people who go to church more tend to neglect their families more as a result of being involved too much and not balancing their lives with their families?
It is like the end of the year when people get involved with Christmas programs. They are so involved with it that they don't have much family time or quiet time and those seeds can reproduce into something awful in the end. I had a friend who was in a similar position. Constantly busy for a month from 5pm to 11pm and never had quiet time and yet 2 of her 3 kids ended up pregnant without getting married and she was Pentecostal and Word of Faith type of person.
In the south the 'church' is little more then a social club. Holiness is foreign. In fact many have no clue what holy means, much less holiness.
Years ago the Holy Spirit impressed upon me how I need to speak more about the Holiness of God to my clients. I did and I found an extreme ignorance of this concept among my clients. They had no clue. None. Sad. God was just a big Santa Claus in the sky that rewards folks with coal or gifts depending on how much they impressed God.
Are there any threads on holiness and ones that don't babble on and on and on?
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