Friday, January 20, 2012

The Great "Falling Away"


Apostle Paul tells us that in the Last Days there will be a great falling away from the faith of Jesus Christ.  (2 Thessalonians)  Many interpret that to mean that many who call themselves Christians and maybe even have sat in Christian churches most of their lives....will really have no concept of the power of God, will simply be practicing a form of religion, and many may not even be saved.

Today we find this headline:

Nearly Half of Churchgoing Americans Say Church Doesn’t Have an Effect on Their Lives

Church is widely regarded as a regular action that can assist one in cultivating his or her faith, while subsequently experiencing personal benefits. While this characterization may hold validity for some, there’s a new study out that shows that, for nearly half of attendees, church isn‘t doing anything to impact or change individuals’ lives.

According to the Barna Group, an evangelical company that studies faith in America, nearly half (46 percent) of churchgoing Americans report that their lives have not changed at all as a result of attending church. While this is startling, 26 percent of individuals who reported having been to church before said that their lives had been changed or impacted “greatly” by the experience; 25 percent said that church was “somewhat” influential.

Here; http://www.theblaze.com/stories/nearly-half-of-churchgoing-americans-say-church-doesnt-have-an-effect-on-their-lives/

Holy apostasy!!  How many are just going through the motions?  Paul goes on to tell us in 2 Timothy;

 1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

Not gonna lie....as we look at that list and take note of EVERYTHING on his list....it sure appears we are there.  And of course a "form of godliness" sure seems as if it could be the people sitting in the thousands of churches across the nation....just sitting there going through the motions...counting the minutes until they can get out of there and get on with their shopping and football.

So what do you suppose it means when Paul goes on to finish his warning with, "Have nothing to do with such people."?  Are we supposed to separate ourselves from our local churches if we find that the majority are just going through the motions?


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