Well, if you’re looking for some spiritual doom, I have it for you this morning. Pew just released a new poll, and it perfectly aligns with the state of the world.
Let’s hear it from Pew…
“80% of U.S. adults say religion’s role in American life is shrinking – a percentage that’s as high as it’s ever been in our surveys.”
8 in 10 Americans Say Religion Is Losing Influence in Public Life
Now a graphic to add to the gloom…
Can you believe it?
Of course you can, our world is going to hell in a handbasket!
Look at that graphic again…
In just 22 years, 28% more Americans believe religion is losing its influence in society, and it has, there’s no doubt about it. Folks, I truly believe this is due to so many false doctrines that have been taught over the years.
I’m talking about the we all came from Adam and Eve crowd, the global flood crowd, and the God knows your every move in advance crowd. I cannot tell you how many non-believers have been created by those doctrines. Hey, if I was wrong on that one, 80% of Americans wouldn’t say religion is losing its influence.
Look, religion is declining as people aren’t so quick to down the Kool-aid.
At least, not when it comes to our Heavenly Father.
By the way, I know someone’s still thinking,
“Of course God knows our every move! Are you crazy Brandon!!”
Well my friend, if that was true, then why did God ask Abraham to sacrifice his only son?
We both know why, Scripture tells us…
As Abraham was about to sink his knife into his own son’s body, God shouted from Heaven…
“Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.”
Genesis 22:12
Well, how about that…
God didn’t know what Abraham was going to do, until Abraham acted.
This shouldn’t be a surprise to any of us…
Hey, if you just read the Bible for yourself, you won’t believe how much you’ll learn, and that comes to the heart of the matter. The sad reality is, we’ve allowed pastors and denominations to form our opinions about the Bible for us.
Rarely if ever does anyone question what they believe, I mean like never.
Instead, they just ridicule other people, even other Christians for what they believe.
Do you know why?
Looking in the mirror is just a little too hard, and even worse, it requires work.
If I sound a bit harsh this morning, it’s due to our world crumbling thanks to the decline in our faith. Our pastors, our church leaders, and the grand buildings we call “churches” are to blame. If they weren’t, the world would be a much better place, and our faith would not be declining.
Hey folks, it always starts with us.
Don’t pass the buck.
Long ago, people started slacking on God.
We started accepting false doctrines, and we brought them into the church — cough Easter cough. A few of us realized they were false doctrines, but we just said, “Hey, it’s for the kids.” So the next generation accepted the false doctrine, but it became a bit worse…
You see, they don’t know it was false doctrine.
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That’s right!
And so it goes from one generation to the next, until society becomes so corrupted, that religion is a thing of the past. You know, as I share these thoughts with you this morning, I can guarantee you I’m right on this one. I’ve never done that before.
You must be thinking, how can I be so certain?
It’s happened before…
Listen, read, understand, and obtain wisdom…
Judges 2:1
And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you.
God was speaking to the ancient Israelites.
He reached a point where He had enough of their corruption. He reached a point where He was tired of their false “prophets,” akin to many modern pastors.
Judges 2:2
And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?
Boy, I sure hope God doesn’t have to ask any of us that…
“Why didn’t you listen to my instructions?”
That’s going to be a rough conversation.
So in this verse, God was reminding the Israelites they were to wipe out everyone in Canaan.
The reason was simple, the people of Canaan were wicked. Yet, the Israelites couldn’t manage to do it. Instead, they picked up on the ways of their world, married into the families of Canaan, and accepted the societal doctrines of the peoples around them. All instead, of listening to God.
Let’s read some more…
Judges 2:3
Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.
Earlier in Scripture, God demanded everyone in Canaan be destroyed. God told the Israelites, do not accept their customs, or their customs and gods would become a snare to you.
Guess what?
God was right, imagine that!
Judges 2:4
And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.
The people finally realized they messed up big time!
Unfortunately, it was too late to correct their mistakes.
Now, let me tie in my point from earlier…
Judges 2:10-11
10 And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.11 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:
Do you see?
When one generation cannot keep the ways of God, the next generation veers that much further from Him. That has been happening in our world for decades, and we’re now reaching the climax.
Let me guarantee you something else…
I’m going to keep doing my part for God. I’m going to keep sharing Him with my family and the world. I’ll keep at it until my dying day, and I hope you will too.
God will not die in my household.
God will not die on my watch.
God will always be alive in my heart and soul.