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Why is Christianity declining?

Gregory Thompson

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Ah, so you meant "I know what you are." Thanks for making it clear.
No problem, I phrased it that way because it comes off childish to anyone who doesn't understand the argument.
 
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Valletta

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Why is Christianity declining both in membership and in clergy? Even the more conservative branches of Christianity such as Orthodoxy and the more conservative branches of Catholicism and Protestantism is declining although not as rapidly as the more liberal and heretical branches. Although Islam (prelest that combines Moon paganism with heretical forms of Christianity), which like Mormonism and Judaism is a cheap imitations of Christianity, is not declining.
 
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Akita Suggagaki

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Charles Spurgeon said, "Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you're not saved yourself, be sure of that!"

The question should then be asked, "Is someone a Christian, if they simply allow the lost to perish without warning them?"
If they do not care for the will of the Father, "That none should perish", then, maybe they are not true Christians. In that case, it is not a matter of "Christians accommodating each other". It is more of a matter that there are weeds amongst the wheat. We unfortunately have to accommodate them and their lukewarm beliefs. It will be Jesus who separates us.
The greatest commandment is to love the Lord with all you heart, soul, mind and body. The second greatest commandment is to love your neighbour as you love yourself. So, how loving is it to leave people to die without warning them?
Is pointing out to others their sin effective evangelization? Especially when our own house may need cleaning?
I don't know that "warning" people is an effective evangelization strategy. Of course, Jesus did it. But we are not Jesus.

How about more emphasis on Good News.
Testifying to our own experience of love and forgiveness, offering prayer and blessing to others.

Does that mean we condone or accommodate sinful behavior in others? No.
But it can get pretty intrusive when it comes to LBGTQ. Is it any of our business. And yet of someone if boasting of their shoplifting we are more likely to speak out. But we are talking about something even deeper than that here, aren't we. Not specific sins but sin in general and our universal general need for reconciliation. Maybe that is the more effective strategy. Not "You are a sinner in need of redemption!" But, "Are you at peace? Do you feel the love of Christ and his companionship that is available to you?"
 
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1Tonne

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Is pointing out to others their sin effective evangelization?
The problem is that many choose not to show people their sins. Without knowing what our sin is, we will not fall down at the foot of the cross.
Most people will judge themselves off others. They see evil people like Adolf Hitler or someone on the news and think, "I am not as bad as that person. That person is evil. In fact, I am pretty good compared to that person." So, an unbeliever compares and naturally thinks that they are good. If they are good then there is no need for the cross. Most believe that they are good enough to get into heaven. It is not until we show them the Law that they change their mind.
"The Law of the Lord is perfect at converting the soul." Psalms 19:7
"I would not have known sin except through the law" Rom 7:7
"Through the law comes knowledge of sin" Rom 3:20

But I am not talking just about pointing out people's sins. I am talking about sharing the Gospel. Only 2% of believers regularly share the Gospel. That is appalling. If you are really excited and amazed at what Jesus done on the cross for us, then why would we not tell as many people as possible? Sadly, 98% of believers choose to not say anything. No wonder the church is in decline.
NOTE: 17% of believers will talk about the things of God regularly. But this is not the Gospel.

How about more emphasis on Good News.
When we tell the lost that Jesus died on the cross without telling them why, it’s foolishness to them. It doesn’t make sense because we’re giving them the cure, without first convincing them of the disease. So, show them the law first.

Testifying to our own experience of love and forgiveness, offering prayer and blessing to others.
Telling people of our own experience is a good thing. But it is not the power of God unto salvation.
 
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Gregory Thompson

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"The Law of the Lord is perfect at converting the soul." Psalms 19:7
"I would not have known sin except through the law" Rom 7:7
"Through the law comes knowledge of sin" Rom 3:20
None of these scripture verses can come to effect without the Holy Spirit.
 
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1Tonne

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None of these scripture verses can come to effect without the Holy Spirit.
If you are a believer, then you have the Holy Spirit working through you.
NOTE: I also just added more to the previous post just as you posted this.
 
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Gregory Thompson

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If you are a believer, then you have the Holy Spirit working through you.
NOTE: I also just added more to the previous post just as you posted this.
So if they're aware, then there's no need to tell them.
 
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1Tonne

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So if they're aware, then there's no need to tell them.
Unbelievers are not aware of their sins. That is why it is good to show someone how they have fallen short of God's standards.
As we speak, the Holy Spirit works through us in the unbeliever. Also, their conscience will testify to them that they have sinned against God.
 
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Akita Suggagaki

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Only 2% of believers regularly share the Gospel. That is appalling. If you are really excited and amazed at what Jesus done on the cross for us, then why would we not tell as many people as possible? Sadly, 98% of believers choose to not say anything. No wonder the church is in decline.
NOTE: 17% of believers will talk about the things of God regularly. But this is not the Gospel.
I don't know where you got those statistics but I also do not contest them.
I wonder how many people can simply state the Gospel. Or if Christians agree on its essence.
 
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Gregory Thompson

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Unbelievers are not aware of their sins. That is why it is good to show someone how they have fallen short of God's standards.
As we speak, the Holy Spirit works through us in the unbeliever. Also, their conscience will testify to them that they have sinned against God.
What you're saying comes off as inconsistent.
 
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Akita Suggagaki

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That is why it is good to show someone how they have fallen short of God's standards.
And some people just love to show others how they fall short.
 
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1Tonne

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I don't know where you got those statistics but I also do not contest them.
I have a few books on Evangelism. A number of them have the same statistic in them. I will put it up later when I find it (If I remember). But from what I remember, the stat was done by the Campus Crusade organisation (Bill Bright).
I wonder how many people can simply state the Gospel. Or if Christians agree on its essence.
I have asked many believers about the Gospel and many, even pastors have not been able to say it. They have said things like, "It's the bible" or "It's Jesus". I do believe that many of these people do know what the Gospel is, but they have not prepared a defence. So, they have not thought through how to say it. However, I do find it strange that with something so important, something of such value, that they have not pondered on it regularly. We were dead and now we are alive. That is the most amazing thing ever and it should be at the forefront of our thoughts.
But this is why the Gospel is not told. Many who believe do not know how to articulate it confidently. They are not being equipped to say the Gospel to the lost. If they are not trained, then when facing a non-believer, it will be scary. It's like a soldier going into battle but he has not been taught how to use his weapon. He will want to run from the battle.
 
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1Tonne

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And some people just love to show others how they fall short.
You would be right there. Some people love others enough to show the lost how they fall short and so bringing them to a place of repentance. It is called loving your neighbour as you love yourself.
I would hate to know that someone did not love me enough to warn me of the things I have done wrong. And because of these things, I end up in Hell.
 
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Gregory Thompson

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In what way?
Unbelievers are not indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

In 2nd Peter we are instructed to add virtue to faith, and knowledge to virtue.

Filling people's minds with scripture before they come to faith sets them up to fail.
 
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public hermit

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Why is Christianity declining both in membership and in clergy? Even the more conservative branches of Christianity such as Orthodoxy and the more conservative branches of Catholicism and Protestantism is declining although not as rapidly as the more liberal and heretical branches. Although Islam (prelest that combines Moon paganism with heretical forms of Christianity), which like Mormonism and Judaism is a cheap imitations of Christianity, is not declining.

The first place to look for the decline is in-house. What is it about Christians that is not winsome in the world? It can't be the default, "We're doing everything right; it's just persecution and the sinfulness of the world." That old saw no longer works. Christians can no longer convince the world it needs Christ, and the likely place to look for that failure is among Christians. Again, it might be tempting to say the problem is those Christians who are too much like the world. But, of course, the loudest Christians, the ones forming the world's conception of "Christian," are not at all like the world. Conservative Christians and fundamentalists have begun to display a hatred for certain people that is becoming more and more peculiar to conservative Christians and fundamentalists. They might not see it as hatred, but the world does see it as hatred, and therein lies the rub. If your love is not obvious, is it love? Until Christians find a way to truly love those with whom they disagree, it will continue to be ineffective and insular.
 
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Ignatius the Kiwi

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? Until Christians find a way to truly love those with whom they disagree, it will continue to be ineffective and insular.
Christians would be better off learning to love each other first and foremost instead of trying to cater to those who will never love them in return.
 
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public hermit

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Because society more broadly rejects Christian precepts and Christians don't actually believe said precepts based on how they organize and conduct their life
Just as much, Christians broadly reject Christian precepts and Christians don't actually believe said precepts based on how they organize and conduct their life. I mean, how much is love of neighbor the controlling idea of Christianity today? It's not apparent that it has any influence.
 
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