The Current State Of Christianity: Part 5

But, beloved, remember ye the words which

 were spoken before of the apostles of our 

Lord Jesus Christ; how that they told you there 

should be m ockers in the last time, who should 

walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be 

they who separate themselves, sensual, 

having not the Spirit. But ye, beloved, 

building up yourselves on your most holy faith, 

praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in 

the love of God, looking for the mercy of our

 Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 

Jude 17-21 

     Authentic Christian Faith has and is declining and at the core of this declining of Authentic Christian Faith has at its core one particular cause.  Let us look back at the foundation of our nation to a time when Christian faith was full of vitality and it was that great faith of the multitude of men and women.  Some doubt that this nation was founded upon Christianity and those who have this doubt are often those who know little about the history of the land in which they live, the United States.  Let's take a moment and let us look at some of George Washington's words and beliefs, a man revered in the United States for all he has done to bring us to this place for the United States as a nation and was our First President.  Here are some words by our First President:

"We ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself has ordained: And since the preservation of the sacred fire of liberty, and the destiny of the Republican model of Government, are justly considered as deeply, perhaps as finely staked, and the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people."

George Washington, First Inaugural Address, 1789

 

In a letter drafted by George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, may give a 15, 1796, read:

"That as though all wise dispenser of human blessings has favored no Nation of the Earth with more abundant, and substantial means of happiness than United America, that we may not be so I'm grateful to our Creator; soul wanting to ourselves; and so regardless of Posterity, as to -- that cup of beneficence which is thus bountifully offered to our acceptance."
In George Washington's sixth Annual Address to Congress on November 19, 1794 he could again called the nation to prayer:
"Let us unite, therefore, in employing The Supreme Ruler of nations, to spread his holy protection only these United States: to turn the machinations of the wicked to the confirming of our Constitution, to enable us at all times to root out internal sedation, and put invasion to flight, to perpetuate our country that prosperity, which his goodness has already conferred, and to verify the anticipations of this government being a safeguard to human rights."  

     Authentic Christian morals are the foundation and the bases from which this country was founded, a system of morals beautiful and exalted, and to fund these truths that this nation was construed and constructed.  In the early days of this nation that foundations of Authentic Christian Faith were strong and vital.  Now, compare those things that are written by some theologians and clergyman in our time and you will find a great chasm between the two ideologies and theologies.  The basic doctrines of Authentic Christian Faith changeover times and has brought disgrace to the name of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.

     Over the years, and the last centuries, the theologians of the institutional church began to encounter a different error.  What was this error and it is this error?  They began to advocate the objective of promoting the moral and practical dimensions of Christianity, which they believed had been neglected.  It is true they had been neglected but there is a problem with their emphasis for it was not that these things were unimportant but they were stressing these behavioral and external issues with out maintaining the importance of the biblical basis for a relationship with Jesus Christ.  It is our relationship with Jesus Christ that has the highest of all priorities that can ever be so that we do not decline in our Christian faith, our  Authentic Christian Faith.  This is a fatal error for they failed to a knowledge that a person's actions as a Christian find their route in this essential understanding as to the foundations of Authentic Christian Faith.  What was being done was a changing of the very nature of Authentic Christian Faith. There has been and is now a watering down of Authentic Christian Faith, that faith that produced the very virtues that these men were extolling.  Bottom line: they lost the spirit of Authentic Christian Faith.

     The picture I painted is a dark picture, one of gloom, even one of despair, and this is true if all we do is look at the current state of Christianity.  It is not true if we look to the one who paints for us a beautiful picture full light, one of happiness and not gloom, one of assured hope and not despair, and the One who will give us eternal life.  You hold the paintbrush in your hand, not God, not Jesus Christ, not the Holy Spirit, you and you alone.  Yes, you do hold this paintbrush for your life, what is now important is the quality of the paint in which you'd get your paintbrush and how you use this paintbrush.  We have a guide on how to use our paintbrush properly and that guide is the Bible.  There is nothing in this life that can come to harm you, to give your trials and tribulations, to take away your assured hope. The Bible and alone has the solutions. The Bible has the instructions on how to use the paintbrush of your life, all you have to do is read the instructions and then follow those instructions. Choose well!  If you choose well you will have all the power of God to lead you in your efforts.  This will help you to be an Authentic Christian and to change the current state of Christianity, this all it begins with your spouse, your self, your children, your relatives, your friends, and your church.  You hold the paintbrush: paint well!

O praise the LORD, all ye nations:

     praise Him, all ye people.

For His merciful kindness is great toward us:

     and the truth of the LORD endureth forever.

Praise ye the LORD.

How was your painting going?

Richard L. Crumb