Members trapperhoney Posted October 9, 2015 Members Share Posted October 9, 2015 I am working on an article about personal revival and I was doing some research online and came across this article:http://www.christianpost.com/news/study-born-53454/I have seen this at work, so I know it's true that Christians have become complacent. Then I saw this article:http://www.christianpost.com/news/many-born-again-christians-hold-universalist-view-barna-finds-49883/WOW. What has happened??? I knew things were bad, but wasn't quite expecting this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members swathdiver Posted October 9, 2015 Members Share Posted October 9, 2015 "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." - 2 Timothy 4:3-4"Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity." - Luke 13:24-27 The author at Christian Post and Barna fail to understand the biblical meaning of a Christian. Most of the people polled are not Christians. trapperhoney 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members trapperhoney Posted October 9, 2015 Author Members Share Posted October 9, 2015 The author at Christian Post and Barna fail to understand the biblical meaning of a Christian. Most of the people polled are not Christians.I do understand that, but I would assume that the people surveyed are calling themselves Christian, and if so many people can consider themselves Christian and be so far off the mark, I think that points to a serious failure on the part of the true Christians.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Pastor Scott Markle Posted October 9, 2015 Members Share Posted October 9, 2015 The failure is primarily with our men. HappyChristian and robmac68 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members trapperhoney Posted October 9, 2015 Author Members Share Posted October 9, 2015 The failure is primarily with our men.That is interesting. Would you elaborate on your comment? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Popular Post Pastor Scott Markle Posted October 9, 2015 Members Popular Post Share Posted October 9, 2015 (edited) That is interesting. Would you elaborate on your comment?The Lord our God has placed the responsibility of spiritual leadership for individual homes and individual churches upon the shoulders of the men. Even so, the men are responsible to lead and to teach their respective wives and children, as well as to influence their churches, in the truth of God's Holy Word. However, the majority of the men are no longer diligent students of God's Holy Word and are no longer walking after God's Holy Spirit (but after their own selfish flesh); therefore, they cannot lead and teach as they ought. Sad to say, but this is even true within the pastoral leadership of many churches. As such, our churches, our homes, and our children (as the next generation of adults) are all moving deeper into Biblical ignorance and spiritual corruption. (As a side note: I strongly believe that the spiritual future of our churches is directly tied to the spiritual direction of our homes, and I strongly believe that the spiritual direction of our homes is directly tied to the spiritual character of our men.)Ephesians 5:25-27 -- "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."Ephesians 6:4 -- "And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."Deuteronomy 6:1-9 -- "Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it [Notice the plural pronouns "you" and "ye" in verse 1.]: that thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged [Notice the change to the singular pronouns "thou," "thee," and "thy" in verse 2. Furthermore, notice the male references to male leadership in verse 2. Finally, notice that the singular pronouns continue through verses 3-7.]. Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey. Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: and thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates."Joshua 24:14-15 -- "Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." (Notice according to Joshua 24:1 who was called to this meeting with Joshua before the Lord.)2 Timothy 2:2 -- "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also."Ezekiel 22:30 -- "And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none." (Consider also the following sermon -- http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=921151953480) Edited October 9, 2015 by Pastor Scott Markle WellWithMySoul, trapperhoney, John81 and 4 others 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members trapperhoney Posted October 9, 2015 Author Members Share Posted October 9, 2015 amen! do you think the feminist movement has contributed to the men's decline as spiritual leaders? heartstrings 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Popular Post Pastor Scott Markle Posted October 9, 2015 Members Popular Post Share Posted October 9, 2015 amen! do you think the feminist movement has contributed to the men's decline as spiritual leaders?An argument certainly could be made to that effect; however, I myself would probably be more likely to make the argument that the decline among men as spiritual leaders is what allowed the feminist movement to acquire greater strength. HappyChristian, John81, WellWithMySoul and 4 others 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Popular Post John81 Posted October 9, 2015 Members Popular Post Share Posted October 9, 2015 Excellent posts from Pastor Markle! I've taken much heat over the years for discussing that very issue. Leadership, which Scripture calls men to, is the key issue.Another factor which has led to complacency has been the ease of life in America and the dominance (until our lifetimes) of secular Christianity in America. This all made for ease of living and ease of conscience as many lose interest in God when everything seems to be so good in their lives and why bother evangelizing when most folks call themselves Christian and share a similar public persona (again, until changes in our lifetime).These factors, lack of male leadership in the home, church, etc., plus the ease of life, opened the door for so many other anti-Christ factors to come about. One of the most devastating being compulsory education, mostly in public schools which were transformed into anti-Christ indoctrination centers. The anti-Christ indoctrination is furthered in the halls of "higher learning" which virtually all high school seniors are encouraged to attend.This gives the forces of darkness most of Americas children from about age 5 (in some cases earlier) to age 18 to indoctrinate and corrupt in the ways of the world, the flesh and the devil. Meanwhile, in most households, even many Christian households, this stuff isn't countered or is countered only in small and most often ineffectual ways. The "better" parents which have their children in church, at least when they are very young, often expect that hour of Sunday school to be all their children need to grow up right. That hour of Sunday school is overwhelmed by the many hours in public school, hours spent in front of a TV, listening to worldly music, etc.With the watering down of the Gospel even among many "conservative" churches, coupled with the weakness of many TV preachers, the "only salvation sermons" of some preachers, the "make sure the congregation is happy" preachers, and the overall lack of attending church regularly and it's little wonder so many professing Christians have little interest in personal revival, personal holiness, growth in Christ, leading their families. Some may not even heard of such!As Pastor Markle pointed out, men failing in their duty of leadership is the main problem. This opened the door to all these other issues; from radical feminism to loss of control over the education of our children and beyond. Alan, WellWithMySoul, Pastor Scott Markle and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members trapperhoney Posted October 10, 2015 Author Members Share Posted October 10, 2015 thank you, gentlemen! this will give me something to discuss with my husband when he comes back from his trip. I know from the woman's perspective, if you believe women are to be submissive in the home and the church you are looked on as a traitor to your sex. We have gotten ourselves into quite a spot. heartstrings and wretched 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members heartstrings Posted October 10, 2015 Members Share Posted October 10, 2015 (edited) The Lord our God has placed the responsibility of spiritual leadership for individual homes and individual churches upon the shoulders of the men. Even so, the men are responsible to lead and to teach their respective wives and children, as well as to influence their churches, in the truth of God's Holy Word. However, the majority of the men are no longer diligent students of God's Holy Word and are no longer walking after God's Holy Spirit (but after their own selfish flesh); therefore, they cannot lead and teach as they ought. Sad to say, but this is even true within the pastoral leadership of many churches. As such, our churches, our homes, and our children (as the next generation of adults) are all moving deeper into Biblical ignorance and spiritual corruption. (As a side note: I strongly believe that the spiritual future of our churches is directly tied to the spiritual direction of our homes, and I strongly believe that the spiritual direction of our homes is directly tied to the spiritual character of our men.)Ephesians 5:25-27 -- "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."Ephesians 6:4 -- "And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."Deuteronomy 6:1-9 -- "Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it [Notice the plural pronouns "you" and "ye" in verse 1.]: that thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged [Notice the change to the singular pronouns "thou," "thee," and "thy" in verse 2. Furthermore, notice the male references to male leadership in verse 2. Finally, notice that the singular pronouns continue through verses 3-7.]. Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey. Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: and thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates."Joshua 24:14-15 -- "Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." (Notice according to Joshua 24:1 who was called to this meeting with Joshua before the Lord.)2 Timothy 2:2 -- "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also."Ezekiel 22:30 -- "And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none." (Consider also the following sermon -- http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=921151953480)Being born male? All the burden is on men? As a result of the World's philosophy and ultimately the Devil's "feminist movement", men are blamed for all the ills of society. Is that one reason we have so many "gays"? It seems it's not very appealing to be a man anymore.In the Bible we find the "odious woman", the "brawling woman in a wide house" and the "foolish woman" who "teareth down her house with her hands" which is speaking of a woman with the power and propensity to spiritually destroy her home. But Paul, whenever he addressed the home, laid the responsibility on BOTH the man and the woman, husband and wife. I have actually heard men propagate to wicked lie that "If the sorry man don't lead, the wife ain't obligated to follow". That isn't how Paul taught: He taught things like: if your husband won't be spiritual, he just might be "won" by the "chaste conversation" of the wife. That's a command to take responsibility by submitting and behaving like a Christian wife no matter what, in order to turn one's home around. If that isn't "leading" I don't knw what is. I think maybe a lot of men stick to the "man responsibility" thing and are afraid to preach the other. The whole counsel.It's husband AND wife leadership. Husband love, wife submit, "defraud ye not one the other", things like that. That's how Paul taught. The half teaching isn't working. Edited October 10, 2015 by heartstrings trapperhoney and wretched 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members trapperhoney Posted October 10, 2015 Author Members Share Posted October 10, 2015 I do tend to agree that we both bear blame. If a woman is bent on disobedience, no matter how godly the man is, she will be disobedient. Women need to be teaching the girls and young ladies what it means to be a godly female, obedient to the divinely instituted male leadership. Men do need to step up, be better examples, assert their divine roles, treat women in a respectful, biblical way, careful not to abuse that authority, and most of all teach solid biblical doctrine. It is intended to be a partnership, will well defined roles for both, and it will take a solid biblical partnership to fix it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.