George Barna is the founder and president of Barna Research Group, a full-service research company in Oxnard, California, specializing in research for Christian churches and church related groups.
In Barna's findings:
In a recent poll given among born again, adult Christians in the United States, only one fourth make their moral and ethical choices based upon the Bible.
In a second poll taken out of just the above group, only half believe that the Bible truths are absolute.
This means, according to the poll, that only one EIGHTH of Christians believe that the bible is absolute in its truth and actually make their life's decisions based upon scripture as guidance! How could 7/8ths of the people who are Christians in the USA not live according to the truths in the Bible? Could this be why divorce rates are just as high in the Church as they are in the secular world? Could this be why there are such a large number of people who leave the Church never to return? Could this be why so many lives are in shambles in the Body of Christ and people are becoming so disillusioned?
People bought the fire insurance Christianity, but in reality they were not practicing Christianity to it's fullest in their lifestyle. This could be because they don't read the bible and/or put it's teachings into practice in every day life.
Satan knows that the Word is absolutely powerful. If you examine scripture you'll find he even tried to twist the meaning of scriptural text when tempting Jesus in the wilderness and with so many Cults today we also see Satan's demonic influence at work still twisting scriptural meaning. In the parable Jesus told of the Sower. The birds of the air represented demons stealing the Word from us so we couldn't gain understanding from it. If it weren't anything for Satan to fear us having, then why would he steal it?
Jesus says in John 17:17:
Satan knows that the Word is absolutely powerful. If you examine scripture you'll find he even tried to twist the meaning of scriptural text when tempting Jesus in the wilderness and with so many Cults today we also see Satan's demonic influence at work still twisting scriptural meaning. In the parable Jesus told of the Sower. The birds of the air represented demons stealing the Word from us so we couldn't gain understanding from it. If it weren't anything for Satan to fear us having, then why would he steal it?
Jesus says in John 17:17:
"Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
We've examined George Barna's statistics at the beginning of this blog and they may have been a wake up call to you, but did you know that the Bible itself prophesies this? As we read the following scripture keep in mind that this is Paul's last letter known of written to Timothy. Of course historically we know of no others anyway
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Timothy was Paul's protégé in a sense and Paul considered him as a son in the Lord to him and I myself believe that Paul knew that this could be his last letter to Timothy. In this passage you will see that the bible tells us that even in Timothy's generation there will be a turning away from the bible's truth. Should Barna's statistics surprise us today?
2nd Timothy 4:1-5 say's
2nd Timothy 4:1-5 say's
1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Whatever you focus on grows. Isn't it time to focus on the answer when a problem arises? Many people have problems and even the bible says it rains on both the just and the unjust. A servant is not greater than his master and just look what they did to our Master! We will have afflictions and suffering in this world, but Jesus sent us a comforter called the Holy Spirit. One of the many functions of the Holy Spirit is that He calls things unto our remembrance. ( John 14:26 )
Now just consider that you take the scripture to heart and memorize it and study it and etch it into your being. Along comes a conflict in life and suddenly you can't remember the scripture you need. This is where the Holy Spirit comes in! Why? Because you NEED the Word of God to tackle life's problems. You need the Word of God in your decision making process!
A bad life is created by a series of bad decisions, but also I believe bad things happen to good people too. Satan is like a roaring lion roaming around seeking whomever he may devour. (1st Peter 5:8) We need to arm ourselves with God's Word!
Faith is spelled RISK. The world will tell you one way to tackle a problem, but the Word of God tells you another. Take the Word of God approach regardless of how uncomfortable it may be. You will over time look back and see where it saved you from making bad decisions in your life and you will see it's power! Let's look at more scripture:
2nd Timothy 3:16, 17
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Psalm 119:89-93
89 Forever, O LORD,
Your word is settled in heaven.
90 Your faithfulness endures to all generations;
You established the earth, and it abides.
91 They continue this day according to Your ordinances,
For all are Your servants.
92 Unless Your law had been my delight,
I would then have perished in my affliction.
93 I will never forget Your precepts,
For by them You have given me life.
Psalm 1:1-3
1 Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
In Psalm 1:1-3 let's examine the 2 words I've highlighted. Counsel & Delight
Counsel
Counsel also means influence. Ask yourself the following: What are your influences on TV, the Internet, at work, at school, and else where? Are they contrary to God's Word?
Delight
Why would we delight in it? Because it has become valuable to us! It has kept us safe and helped us through many of life's storms. As I mentioned above even Satan acknowledges it as valuable to us and therefore a problem for him.
Psalm 119:116
Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live;
And do not let me be ashamed of my hope.
These days there are so many opposing views and opinions about morality. It's these influences that have crept into many believers' mindsets and they've abandoned or at least belittled the simplicity of Scriptural truth. The truth we find in the bible transcends all cultures, trends, times, and lifestyles. It is true yesterday, today, and forever. It is the foundation of all morality and good ethical living. The bible tells us that there is a way that seems right to man, but the end thereof is death. This is because God's word is living and produces life. Any other substitute or philosophy is less and could even lead you to death, either in this life or the one to come, which means Hell. When a nonbeliever finally comes to the realization that God loves them and died for them, so they will be saved it is a beautiful thing. It is also a beautiful thing when a believer realizes for the first time just how powerfully God's word can enhance their life.
As Christians we should embrace His word as a gift and live by it regardless of other influences that may try to dictate us otherwise in how to live. Perhaps this blog has been a wake up call to you as a Christian or perhaps it has been interesting to you as a non-Christian reader. Whatever you think about it, ignore my lousy writing style and examine its heart. It is at its core - A challenge from God to try Him at His Word. He loves to prove Himself. You might be amazed!
