This know also, that in the last days perilous
times shall come. for men shall be lovers
of their own selves, covetous, boasters,
proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents,
unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce,
despisers of those that are good, traitors,
heady, highminded, lovers of pleasure more
than lovers of God; having a form of godliness,
but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
For of this sort are they which creep into houses,
and lead captive silly women laden with sins,
led away with divers lusts, ever learning,
and never able to come to the
knowledge of the truth.
2Timothy 3:1-7
The spiritual climate of the Christian Church being in decline can be seen in those ministers that give messages devoid of biblical content. It is not that those ministers do not affirm the basics of the faith and their formal liturgy, yet in their writings there is seldom an affirmation of the basics of Authentic Christian Faith. This can be seen in the writings of these men in which the main characters are Christians and even their lives are portrayed in a positive Christian light, yet there is no mention of the belief system that has produced these positive characters. often when you hear, or watch on television, a pastor, or a televangelist, they are giving some sort of easy to hear message, one that they know that the congregation would accept, and they know that if they preached hellfire many would turn away and this would lower the economics of the Church. These same men in their writings, we have the impression that if there was no belief system that these characters and their writings would still act in the same manner. It is curious to know what that in other writings of faiths, such as Islam, and generally you'll find the foundations of their faith articulated clearly in the story. We must remember "character is intimately interwoven with belief."
Here's another problem that can be seen in the writings of man even those who are writing religious books, or thesis, is that unfortunately they are professing unbelievers. It is not that all writers are against religious faith in his or her writings for is not uncommon to find that it right or would praise those who are open hostile to religious faith. By their endorsement they reinforce the message these other writers are sending. a person who will take time to look around they will see the outcome of these trends in those countries who have gone ahead of us in reaching the logical conclusion in regards to such a cultural drift. We see this in countries like England, France, Germany, Spain, and even in Italy, these places have fallen far adrift from the Christian faith. They have been corrupted and this can be seen in their manners, the press, there actions is how they handle circumstances, in fact, morality has sunk into depravity, indulgence is out of control, and can been seen in the drunken affairs, even here in the United States were young men and women have to go out and drink during some sort of holiday from the universities. This life has become fashionable, out-of-control. Culture is so out of touch with reality and the masses of the people deny outright the existence of God. God has a will for nations and this is an abandoned and man has been made to be God.
Some will acknowledge the decline in religious beliefs and our nation and will say that I carry this logic too far, too extreme conclusions. In fact they will argue that it could never happen here in the United States, or in their nation, and yet it does not take much effort to see that it has to happen. Say that I am a fanatic and that my view of Authentic Christian Faith is impractical. Yes if we carry our religiosity too far a person might become so heavenly minded that there are no earthly good, yet, to hold fast to Authentic Christian Faith is to be of earthly good. Those arguments against those who hold fast to Authentic Christian Faith have no merit in their arguments so that when I argue that the Bible teaches a way for us to live and a call for us to sacrifice a bit of worldly comfort and material influence for the sake of eternal reward they have forgotten that Jesus Christ taught us to deny ourselves and pick up our cross and follow Him. Yes we must make a living, and it is not wrong to move upward in a company to better positions, and it is not wrong to have nice homes or cars or clothing, all this is fine if you have enough money to do so and not going in debt for it, but when that becomes a priority of your life than your relationship with Jesus Christ will suffer. The Bible as simple as my dad explained to me: "If the Bible says do it: do it! If the Bible says do not do it: do not do it!" Jesus Christ did not give us a suggestion as to whether or not we might do or might not according to our will and desire, no He said that we should do it and with an attitude of cheerfulness. If we respond in this manner, to the call of Jesus Christ it requires us to hold all temporal possessions loosely. Do you not remember that we are just pilgrims and strangers passing through this land to reach the land of heaven? If we would follow the words of Jesus Christ and build upon that relationship and growing in our Authentic Christian Faith our nation did not exist as it does today for it would not be able to function as it does.
This requires a change from the inside/out and only you or I can make this change for God will not simply reach down and change without you coming to repentance and faith in His Only Begotten Son the Saviour. Your will based upon that faith that grows from the knowledge of the words of Jesus Christ allows you to be able to receive their free gift of faith now because you have earned it, no, you have come to realize that you are a sinner in need of salvation and that Jesus Christ is the one and only Savior. there is no need to go seeking after books written by men who are far from teaching Authentic Christianity and when we find that we are reading such a book would be best to put it aside and turn to the Bible the only book that can lead you to Authentic Christian Faith. Well, you have to open and read the book, and to do this with prayer, and the Holy Spirit who dwells within all those who have come to believe in Jesus Christ as Savior will guide you and me, we do not have to do this alone.
But this shall be the covenant that I
will make with the house of Israel;
after those days,saith the LORD, I
will put My law in their inward parts,
and write it in their hearts; and will be
their God, and they shall by My people.
Jeremiah 31:33
You are that Israel, Spiritual Israel
Richard L. Crumb
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