[Lexinom]

The sissification of the American church has been occurring for over a century now. The release of the Barna survey coincided appropriately with my reading of J. Gresham Machen's 1923 landmark treatise Christianity and Liberalism. "The greatest menace to the Christian church today comes not from the enemies outside, but from the enemies within; it comes from the presence within the Church of a type of faith and practice that is anti-Christian to the core," Machen declared.

[Lexinom]

Ping to the brethren.

[Avenger]

I've got some spiritual viagra but I think many would find it a difficult pill to swallow.

[aardvark1]

The reason that so few Americans attend church is that so few churches are Christian. Liberal pastors speak much of unity and peace and social justice and harmony and the like. The human condition and the Cross are seldom preached in many churches. And if the claim seems too vague, I will name names (generally speaking): Presbyterian Church USA, United Methodist Church, United Church of Christ, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, and the Episcopal Church USA, to name a few.

These churches have gutted the authority of the Scriptures so they, in turn, have no authority. The message of the church and thus it's power is found only in the gospel. Rom. 1:16

[BibChr]

Mmmmm, Machen.

Some of what he says in that book and in What Is Faith?, written as it was in the early 1900's, will simply give you the chills. He was so prescient.

Dan

[HarleyD]

I don't wish to sound pessimistic but each generation that fails to properly instruct the next erodes the theology and our understanding of God. This is what occurred with the Jews in the Old Testament. Over time they lost the true understanding of God to such a point their scriptures were found hidden in a sealed room in the temple. This is what was warned to us by Augustine. And even though the Reformation corrected the theology of the church, it was only about 100 years after Calvin that Arminianism crept back into the church.

Now you have a man-centered theology with “seeker churches”. (What are the churches seeking?) The next generation may go out to preach the word, but what word? Jesus is my “Homeboy”? This is not to say God will not raise up another Luther or Calvin but I’m skeptical. It’s not that I don’t have the faith that God can do it. It’s that the sins of man have become so perverse (e.g. abortions, cloning, homosexuality, etc.) I don’t think He will do it. I’m becoming more convinced the time for Christ’s return is sooner than we expect and I don’t think He’s going to be happy.

“…However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” Luk 18:8

[Gamecock]

Nice find.

The cancer found in mainline denominations is so insidious that most don't realize what is their folly.

Folks are shocked when the festering boil comes to a head, not relaizing that it is the fruit of the seed that was planted long ago.

They are more interested in entertaining goats than feeding sheep.

(Forgive my symbolism, guess what I do for a living...)

[WaterDragon]

Excellent article! Thanks for posting!