Christian Reputation

[Some Schmo]

15,000 churches could close this year amid religious shift in U.S.

The decline of traditional brick-and-mortar churches comes as a record number of Americans (29%) are identifying as religiously unaffiliated, and as 62% identify as Christians — down from 78% in 2007, according to the Pew Research Center.

This doesn't surprise me... well, actually, I guess I'm surprised Christian self-identification is still that high.

I mean, I haven't called myself a Christian in... well, I'm not sure I've ever called myself that (I can't really remember professing it in any serious way), although that seems unlikely when I was a kid. However, if I did identify as a Christian in these last 10 years, I'm pretty sure I'd be embarrassed and keep that crap to myself, assuming I didn't drop the label like a stone.

As I recently mentioned, the Christian brand has been taking a beating lately. Telling people you're a Christian is not the positive thing people generally used to think it was. It's turning their extremists into a domestic terrorist group.

The price of religion is nowhere near as low as the benefits it's purported to provide.

[Jersey Girl]

I can well understand why people would shrink back from identifying as Christian these days. Particularly those who don't wish to be affiliated with the political scene. That said...the words of Jesus as recorded in scripture tells us that we're to do the direct opposite. We're to live it out as best we can in front of everyone and I think that only then can the contrast be seen and realized in the public eye.

It's in the Book.

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Let your light so shine...my favorite reminder. In the language of the KJV of course.

All the hatred, manipulation, anger, greed, arrogance, devaluation, and cruelty is NOT what Jesus taught. He in fact preached against it and reserved his harshest criticisms for the religious/political community of the times.

Christianity is a walk of love. Not starving people to literal death. Easy to do? Some days, not others.

What Trump is laying down is diametrically opposed to the teachings of Christ. That is to say, it's antichrist and I think it's the assignment of every Christian who can summon the courage to step out, step up, and call it precisely what it is.

Again. Not always easy given the current climate of things political. But we are called to do it all the same and in the Christian believing mind this season is THE pivotal moment to do it. It's never mattered more than it does right now.

Wake up. Speak up. Live it. As best we can, step forward. Put ourselves out there and trust the Lord to equip us for the job that he gave us.

[Jersey Girl]

One more comment while I have a moment here.

I am of the mind that every Christian believer and also non-believers who were raised up on and know their scripture should be speaking out right now. It's as simple as this...

"That's not Biblical".

And there you go.

Be ready to give examples if you think you need to such as those I offered in the thread I created. I'll put the link here.

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=159859

If you are speaking as a believer, don't worry about what you are going to say. Paul provides reassuring instruction for that moment.

"But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak"