The death of Christianity in the U.S.

[tulc]

https://baptistnews.com/article/death-christianity-u-s/#.WgvQLTRrwdV

Christianity has died in the hands of Evangelicals. Evangelicalism ceased being a religious faith tradition following Jesus’ teachings concerning justice for the betterment of humanity when it made a Faustian bargain for the sake of political influence. The beauty of the gospel message — of love, of peace and of fraternity — has been murdered by the ambitions of Trumpish flimflammers who have sold their souls for expediency. No greater proof is needed of the death of Christianity than the rush to defend a child molester in order to maintain a majority in the U.S. Senate.

tulc(thought this was an interesting op/ed)

 

[Basil the Great]

Well, it remains to be seen how the AL Senate election finishes.....

 

[Strathos]

Interesting, but I don't believe Christianity is in such dire straights.

 

[pat34lee]

https://baptistnews.com/article/death-christianity-u-s/#.WgvQLTRrwdV

tulc(thought this was an interesting op/ed)

Another hit piece by a man who let his hatred
outpace his honor. After all, why bother with
facts when you can just lynch your opponent
in print, if not in reality. Does he know if Roy
Moore is guilty, or does he care? No, and no.
I doubt he even cares about the case, outside
using it to try to hurt Trump and conservatives.

He is the worst type of hypocrite. One who uses
his religion to bash others. Then blame them for
not being Christian enough.

 

[GoingByzantine]

Evangelicalism has been slowly declining long before the rise of Trump, there are articles spanning at least the past decade describing how evangelical churches in many parts of the county are losing their membership. The election is still too recent to substantively determine its impacts on evangelicalism.

Forgive me, but I think that this author needs to quit judging the motivations and beliefs of other Christians.

 

[Blood Bought 1953]

Evangelicalism has been slowly declining long before the rise of Trump, there are articles spanning at least the past decade describing how evangelical churches in many parts of the county are losing their membership. The election is still too recent to substantively determine its impacts on evangelicalism.

Forgive me, but I think that this author needs to quit judging the motivations and beliefs of other Christians.

Please define evangelicism for me....pure definition with no opinion. Thanks

 

[Radagast]

Christianity has died in the hands of Evangelicals. Evangelicalism ceased being a religious faith tradition following Jesus’ teachings concerning justice for the betterment of humanity when it made a Faustian bargain for the sake of political influence. The beauty of the gospel message — of love, of peace and of fraternity — has been murdered by the ambitions of Trumpish flimflammers who have sold their souls for expediency.

The message of Christianity is not the "betterment of humanity," it's salvation from sin and death. And the gospel message is not primarily "love, peace and fraternity." It is, as 1 Corinthians 15 says, "that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures."

 

[Radagast]

Evangelicalism has been slowly declining long before the rise of Trump, there are articles spanning at least the past decade describing how evangelical churches in many parts of the county are losing their membership.

Just talking numbers, evangelical churches gain about as many people as they lose, as this famous chart indicates:

 

[Blood Bought 1953]

The message of Christianity is not the "betterment of humanity," it's salvation from sin and death. And the gospel message is not primarily "love, peace and fraternity." It is, as 1 Corinthians 15 says, "that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures."

Radagast....I tried to be succinct in my post...you beat me.. Amazing how simple the true Gospel is...what you have written says it all

 

[Radagast]

Radagast....I tried to be succinct in my post...you beat me.. Amazing how simple the true Gospel is...what you have written says it all

It's not me, it's Paul (and the Holy Spirit).

 

[66/40]

Not surprising. Jesus warned that the larger portion of the human race won’t make it into His Heavenly Kingdom.....only the very few will.....

Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV)
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and ONLY A FEW FIND IT.

(Words in CAPS, my emphasis)

 

[FireDragon76]

The message of Christianity is not the "betterment of humanity," it's salvation from sin and death.

It seems to me he said alot about justice. The words of Christ are surely part of our message? If they aren't, something is wrong.

From the Lutheran POV, working towards peace, justice, and the betterment of humanity are fruits of a living faith. God has no need for our good works, but our neighbor certainly does.

 

[Radagast]

It seems to me he said alot about justice. The words of Christ are surely part of our message? If they aren't, something is wrong.

From the Lutheran POV, working towards peace, justice, and the betterment of humanity are fruits of a living faith. God has no need for our good works, but our neighbor certainly does.

Peace and justice are indeed important. But if that's your only message, you're a humanist, not a Christian.

 

[FireDragon76]

Peace and justice are indeed important. But if that's your only message, you're a humanist, not a Christian.

I don't think the author implied those are the only things Christians believe in. But they surely are important. In our tradition, this is part of what as known as the Law, which reminds us of our obligations to God and our neighbor.

 

[tulc]

Another hit piece by a man who let his hatred
outpace his honor. After all, why bother with
facts when you can just lynch your opponent
in print, if not in reality. Does he know if Roy
Moore is guilty, or does he care? No, and no.
I doubt he even cares about the case, outside
using it to try to hurt Trump and conservatives.

He is the worst type of hypocrite. One who uses
his religion to bash others. Then blame them for
not being Christian enough.

...you do realize an ad hominem doesn't actually refute what was said, right?
tulc(just thought that should be pointed out)

 

[tulc]

The message of Christianity is not the "betterment of humanity," it's salvation from sin and death. And the gospel message is not primarily "love, peace and fraternity." It is, as 1 Corinthians 15 says, "that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures."

So when Jesus said:

41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

because to me? it sounds an awful lot like He wanted us to help the people in need around us. It sounded a lot like what separates the sheep from the goats is who is helping to make the world a better place and who isn't.
tulc(just a thought he had)

 

[redleghunter]

Evangelicalism has been slowly declining long before the rise of Trump,

Can you quantify this or even define the terms you are using?

 

[pat34lee]

...you do realize an ad hominem doesn't actually refute what was said, right?
tulc(just thought that should be pointed out)

First he would have to say something to refute.
There were no facts in the article, only his opinion
about Moore's guilt and that of the evangelicals
whom the author seems to despise.

 

[jgarden]

Most conservative Christians voted for Donald Trump, someone who has stated publically that he sees no need to repent and seek God's forgiveness from sin.

1 John 1:10 - If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

 

[pat34lee]

Most conservative Christians voted for Donald Trump, someone who has stated publically that he sees no need to repent and seek God's forgiveness from sin.

1 John 1:10 - If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Fortunately, we didn't elect him pastor of a church.
Do you check how pious your barber or grocer is?