I hope you will read the “Special Message” at the end of this article.
This is from the Chick.com website: “A recent study shows that over 60% of Americans no longer believe that God has any effect on their lives. Even more troubling, nearly half of self-identified Christians —and 40% of born-again Christians— believe the same thing.”
Link to article below:
https://www.chick.com/information/article?id=Can-America-Be-Saved-From-Itself&utm_medium=Email&e=20a138fd684e4a45a9c5cdcbaa18f0bc&utm_source=Newsletter&utm_campaign=2025-0404
I feel compelled to question the terminology here, so I am pasting the last portion with Emphasis added by me.
[and 40% of born-again Christians— believe the same thing.]
For the purpose of making my point, I am going to add a phrase to the above statement {in Italics} that I think should have been included either in the original question to the “Christian” respondents or perhaps as a footnote to the final posting.
[and 40% of {people who claim to be} born-again Christians— believe the same thing.]
One of the most serious degradations to genuine Christianity by today’s culture is a broad perception of hypocrisy. Accusing Christians of that is nothing new. In fact, one might say to any unbeliever who makes that excuse when declining our invitation to come to church might accurately be, “Well then, come on in; there’s always room for one more!” All levity aside, the church does not hold a monopoly on hypocrisy.
However, sometimes, accusations of hypocrisy in or by the church are not possible to refute because it does, in fact, exist, and we should be willing to acknowledge it.
The True Church is comprised of fallible human beings, just as the rest of the world is.
So, the extra scrutiny of everything Christian should, I believe, make us extra cautious about how we present our concepts to the unbelieving world.
We should do this with the awareness that no matter how careful we are, accusations will come because it is really a spiritual war we are engaged in.
But we continue to march.
God is in the midst of the details.
This same confusion that seems to be invading the True Christ-honoring and believing Church can best be expressed by a modification to the old saying, “familiarity breeds contempt”: perhaps by changing it to “familiarity breeds indifference.”
Indifference to the accurate understanding of what it means to be “born again,” what truly defines it, and how that definition relates to the present-day unsaved culture and even to many genuine believers.
Some may think I am being somewhat judgmental. If so, I fall back on the Scriptures to explain my thoughts, fully cognizant of Jesus’ warning against being judgmental without examining yourself first, but not against discerning and evaluating circumstances and observations based on the Truth of God’s Word.
The promise: “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).
The Ministry and purpose of the Holy Spirit: “However, when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13a).
Our responsibility: Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?” (2 Corinthians 13:5).
The Plumbline Jesus established for us to observe: “Therefore by their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7:20).
Emphasis in the above four verses added by me for clarity.
Scriptures cannot be broken: “and the Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35b).
How seriously should the Church view this terminology, and should we validate the claim people are making when they declare that they are “born again” to be sure that they truly are before posting it and allowing the unbelieving world to decide to define it in their own terms, or worse, mock it as a form of entertainment.
Is it possible that a truly born-again believer can actually claim that God has no effect in their lives? Would the Holy Spirit allow that to happen without convicting the one who makes that claim? I’m not sure, but I am concerned.
Why this is so important: The term “born again” appears fairly often in this deteriorating modern culture. In very general terms, it seems to fall into three categories.
> By believers who truly understand that it means a genuine spiritual regeneration (rebirth) from their former spiritually dead condition into eternal life by the promise of God and the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
> By “believers” who repeat the phrase because they have heard it said but do not understand it. They might be those who claim to be Christian because they live in America, or their parents or grandparents were perceived to be (or genuinely were), or even just because they went to church every Sunday.
> By the unbelieving world who hold the term “born again” in derision for a myriad of reasons. Unfortunately, the reasons would require an entire volume of books to cover all the manifestations that it takes. Suffice it to say, they mock and deride, not because it is not an accurate description of a True Follower of Jesus Christ but because they embody the Truth of God’s Word in today’s perishing world.
“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God” (Psalm 14:1 and 53:1).
Now to the crux of this article.
The Lord Jesus Himself, the very foundation of our eternal life, made it clear in unequivocal terms how important it is to properly understand and receive this spiritual rebirth.
“Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Emphasis added.
Can we hold to anything less? I believe that before we accept anyone’s declaration of that spiritual rebirth and declare it to the world, we should make sure they understand what it means. If we do that, then we have done our due diligence as Christ’s witnesses.
The state of salvation of any individual is truly known only to God. When we understand what is meant by the Word of God – Jesus Christ, the Living Word – and the written Word of the Scriptures, we can fully comprehend the importance of this verse:
“For the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
The Plumbline Jesus established for us to follow: “Therefore by their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7:20).
From the same article: “George Barna, director of research at Arizona Christian University, didn’t mince words: “…nothing short of sweeping national repentance and spiritual renewal can save America from itself.”
I completely agree with this statement from that article and applaud Mr. Barna for making such a sobering and truthful declaration and making it so clear.
Many people, both Christians, and Non-Christians, have noticed or are beginning to see the flat and meaningless tripe of the past several decades, the empty promises and the obvious lies about “God is dead,” the world is becoming a better place, blah, blah, blah.
Perhaps they don’t realize where to look for answers: Truthful answers.
This satanically inspired lie appears to be falling apart as the weight of the reality of current human events, the empty and meaningless prognostications of the world, and the Truth of God’s Word shines its Light and Truth for anyone who has ears that are willing to hear and eyes that are willing to see – and a heart that is willing to repent.
I truly hope and pray that the optimism that is also expressed in this Chick.com article reflects the beginning of a massive harvesting of souls into the family of God as He prepares to execute the final stages of His plan for the end of the age.
Let us, who are truly born again, pray without ceasing.
In the meantime, we cannot be too careful about defining Christian terminology and legitimacy in order to fulfill the directive/command given us when communicating to the unsaved world.
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11).
The special message I promised you:
For anyone who may read this article and has not trusted in Jesus Christ and therefore has no hope or peace in your life.
You can have hope. You can have the peace that Jesus has promised to all who have made Him their Lord and Savior. The peace that passes understanding.
It requires that you come before God on His terms and that you do so in your living years.
And, what are His terms according to His Word?
- Genuine repentance (turning to God instead of continuing to reject or ignore Him).
- Confession of sins (that you are a sinner and acknowledge that to God).
- That you understand that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
- To acknowledge to God that you are unable to pay that debt.
- Belief that Jesus Christ paid your death sentence for you on the cross and rose from the grave three days later, conquering death, just as He promised.
- To believe that Jesus is the Way, the only Way, that God has established by which humans may be saved from the consequences of their sin and rebellion.
God has made it absolutely clear that there is no one who comes before Him, under His terms, that will be refused.
- No one: no race, no color, no country of origin, regardless of any previous belief system: no one.
- No matter what your past sins have been, God can and WILL forgive you because He says He will.
- Salvation is available to everyone without any exceptions.
If you put all your trust for salvation in Jesus, and Him only, you can follow that prayer up by simply saying, “Thank you, Father God, for hearing my prayer and saving me,” because we can trust Him to keep His Word. He always has. He always will.
“Truly, Truly, I say to you that he who hears My words and believes the One who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned. He has crossed from death to life” (John 5:24).
There are no answers and there is no hope in the world by governments, organizations, politics or politicians. There are only lies and deception. But you can have the Truth and the peace you seek.
The answers are in the Word of God—The Bible. If you ask God, with all your heart, He will hear you.
“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).
Pro Salvator Vigilans
To contact me: canoeman96@gmail.com