INTERESTING INFORMATION
CHRISTIAN MINISTRY 9/30/2026 Every Wednesday
Est. 1997
The following material is provided for information purposes only. Any conclusions or opinions formed should be based on the principles as outlined in Acts 17:11. The material is intended for use as a witnessing tool and to keep you informed so you will not be unaware (Luke 21:34) of what is happening according to Scripture’s” However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find any faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8b)
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INTERESTING INFORMATION ARTICLES
COLLAPSE OF CHRISTIANITY” TO BLAME FOR DOWNFALL OF AMERICA
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
Christianity is a religion of paradoxes: The way up is down; the way to get is to give; the way to be first is to be last; and the way to live is to die! - Our Daily Bread
SUMMARY OF ARTICLES
"Give Me That Old Time Religion”
McLaughlin, Heritage Church, McKinney, TxThis is a wonderful Message. Don’t miss it, you will be blessed! Pass it on to your Homebound Family and friends
Charisma News - A report from the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University explains the “shocking” level of “depravity” in American society, describing the failures of Christians to maintain a biblical worldview.
“Corrupt politicians, dishonest journalists and media outlets, broken social institutions, immoral religious leaders, unconstitutional government programs and policies, and more, have generated non-stop headlines highlighting the decadence of American society and the demise of the United States,” the report says.
The report asserts that the “indisputable cultural decline” is directly linked to the “spiritual collapse of Christianity in the nation.”
In the last 30 years, the report describes, evangelical Christians have undergone a “dramatic transformation” in the United States. “In reality, evangelicals are far fewer in number than typically reported, often are far less biblical in their thinking than one might think, and tend to vote in far fewer numbers than expected,” it says.
While evangelical Christians are generally a conservative voting bloc, the group tends to reflect “fewer lifestyle differences from the culture than often thought. “Surprisingly, most evangelicals do not possess a biblical worldview—only about one-third do,” the report notes. “In fact, the data strongly suggests that evangelicals are more likely to be shaped by the culture around them than they are to influence or ‘evangelize’ it.”
While some surveys report evangelical Christians making up anywhere between 25% to 40% of American adults, only about 10% of American adults are likely evangelical Christians.
About 30% of identifying evangelicals believe truth is subjective. As the report explains, beliefs about “absolute moral truth” are “pivotal” for any society. That evangelicals disagree on moral truth is a “matter of grave concern,” the report emphasizes.
“[A]lmost half of the adults attending evangelical churches (44%) believe that there is no absolute moral truth that is pertinent to everyone in all situations,” the report continues. “It is even more dire among the nonevangelical public: Just one out of every four people (24%) in that vast population reject the idea that moral truth is always subjective and conditional.”
“[M]illions of evangelicals do not vote (a practice of every good citizen and those seeking to serve their community); believe the animist and Eastern mystical perspective that that animals, plants, the wind and water have unique spirits; do not pay much, if any, attention to news about politics and government that affects their lives; and who read the Bible on occasion, but not on a daily basis, even though the Bible encourages us to immerse ourselves in God’s words to us,” the report adds.
Christians also have a responsibility to be politically engaged, the report notes. Evangelicals have unfortunately failed in that area, however.
Only one-third of evangelical Christians are “very likely to vote in the 2024 general election.” One out of every five “prefers socialism to capitalism.”
George Barna, the Director of Research at the Cultural Research Center of Arizona Christian University, said the “entire faith matrix of America is frighteningly complex.”
“How many people realize that a substantial majority of all non-evangelicals in this country (62%) are self-identified Christians?” Barna asked. “That means most of the people who describe and think of themselves as Christians either do not embrace Jesus as their Savior, or the Bible as God’s true and relevant Word for their life, or the responsibility of sharing the opportunity to be saved from sin by Jesus. In fact, the largest share of that group rejects all three of those evangelical—and biblical— standards!”
7 REASONS AMERICA IS PINPOINTED IN BIBLE PROPHECY
Charisma News - As the entire world breathlessly awaits the outcome of the upcoming U.S. election, the question I wish to propose isn't, "Who will win, Trump or Biden?" But rather, does America itself have a place in end-time biblical prophecy?
In spite of America's massive problems, political divisions and rising social unrest, what happens in Washington, D.C., affects the globe. But is the most powerful nation on earth mentioned in the Bible at all? Many prophecy teachers state emphatically, "The U.S. isn't there." They may pinpoint Russia, China, Israel, Iraq or Iran as major end-time players, but not the United States. After 40 years of studying eschatology, I want to suggest the possibility that America is the exact power specified in this mysterious verse in Revelation 13:11 (NKJV):
"Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon."
First, it is helpful to identify that the term "beast" translates to a "great nation." The proof is in the book of Daniel, Chapter 7, which clearly parallels Revelation 13. Both Daniel 7 and Revelation 13 refer to beasts, 10 horns, a boastful mouth speaking great things and battles against God's saints. Daniel 7 describes four great beasts: a lion, a bear, a leopard and a dragon-like creature. An angelic interpreter confirmed:
"The fourth beast shall be A fourth kingdom on earth" (Dan. 7:23b).
So, we can nail this down: According to Daniel 7:23, a "beast" in Bible prophecy isn't a computer or super-evil, bad guy, but a mighty kingdom or nation. That's what the angel said. Historically, 98% of reputable Christian Bible commentaries have interpreted Daniel 7's four beasts to represent the ancient nations of Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome. But let's go back to Revelation 13:11:
"I saw another beast coming up out of the earth."
John is describing a great nation rising into power. From where? "Out of the earth." In Daniel 7, all four beasts "came up from the sea" (Dan. 7:3b). What does "water" represent? Again, prophecy provides a clear answer. In a parallel prophecy, another angel confirmed: "The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues" (Rev. 17:15).
True to the facts of history, ancient Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome all arose from the midst of a sea of peoples in Europe and the Middle East. Not so with the beast in Revelation 13:11.
It comes "out of the earth."
The underlying Greek words for "out of the earth" also imply gradual growth like a plant. Next, John wrote that this new nation would have "two horns," indicating a division of power. Significantly, those two horns have no crowns upon them like a previous beast referred to in Revelation 13:1, which has "ten horns," and "on his horns ten crowns."
"Crowns" signify kingly power. Thus, in Revelation 13:11 we see a new nation springing up gradually like a plant in a wilderness territory, which develops a government not ruled by kings. It would be “democratic “of the people, by the people and for the people."
Its "two horns" would be "like a lamb." Each word here is significant. The true Lamb of God is Jesus Christ. "Like a lamb" indicates that this nation would have Christian features. A lamb is a young animal, a baby sheep. So, this nation would at one time be youthful and new. The two horns themselves are considered to be lamblike.
When Jesus was challenged by tricky Pharisees whether it was lawful for Jews to pay taxes or not, He insightfully responded: "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" (Matt. 22:21).
"Caesar" represents government, while "the things that are God's" represent the things of religion and the church. In this teaching, Jesus Christ, the Lamb, clearly showed a proper separation between the two. Amazingly, this exact principle—which is historically rooted in the teaching of Jesus—has become the cornerstone of the first amendment of the U.S. Bill of Rights, which says:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
Let's put all the pieces together:
1. Revelation 13:11 pinpoints the rising of a great beast.
2. In prophecy, a beast represents a great nation.
3. This nation comes out of the earth, or wilderness area.
4. This nation starts out young, like a baby lamb.
5. This nation has a division of power within its government.
6. Its horns have no crowns. It has no kings.
7. This nation is lamblike, with distinct Christian characteristics.
Be honest: How many nations on planet Earth fit all seven of these heaven-inspired details?
Only one.
The United States of America.
Yet Revelation 13:11 plainly predicts that major changes will envelop our beloved country. Sadly, the prediction is that this mighty nation which has stood tall for representative government, democracy and freedom, will finally sacrifice its mild, lamblike, Christian principles and eventually "speak as a dragon."
Consider candidly what has happened during the coronavirus pandemic. Based on "emergency" advice from health experts, orders have been given from state governors to close private businesses, even churches. Yet look again at the First Amendment. It denies the right of government leaders to "prohibit the free exercise" of religion and the right of the people "peaceably to assemble."
Is the dragon starting to speak?
40% OF CHRISTIANS DON’T BOTHER: IS THIS THE GREATEST THREAT FACING CHRISTIANITY?
Voices are gradually rising as many realize Christianity is on the brink of worldwide persecution.
Charisma News -- The West has abandoned the principles on which it was built, and is instead silencing the voices of any who declare the ways of God and the salvation found in Jesus Christ. It has turned its back on the ways of God and embraced the ways of man. But is persecution the greatest threat facing the spread of the Gospel message today?
According to George Barna, founder of the market research firm The Barna Group, in an interview with The Christian Post, there are several “negative trends” that have led to the loss of cultural influence and relevance for the Christian faith, leading to “Christian invisibility in our culture.
“People have become more selfish, churches have become less influential, pastors have become less Bible-centric,” Barna says. “Families have invested less of their time and energy in spiritual growth, particularly of their children. The media now influence the church more than the church influences the media, or the culture for that matter. The Christian body tends to get off track arguing about a lot of things that really don’t matter.”
How did we get here? When did the faith traditions that built the West become afterthoughts in society, and a punching bag of Western media?
Barna points to the lack of proper discipleship from old to new generations of leaders which has led to a decay of influence over the years.
“There is poor leadership in seminaries that mislead local churches into thinking that they’re actually training individuals whom God has called to be leaders and are qualified to be leaders and certifying them to lead local churches, not knowing any better bringing them on,” warns Barna.
As recently as January 2022, The Barna Group discovered, only a mere 28% of Christians are engaged in “Discipleship Community,” and 39% aren’t engaged in discipleship in any form whatsoever.
Instead of holding coming generations up to the Bible’s standard, we have instead been conforming ourselves to the world’s standard, trying to wrap the Bible around that, instead of wrapping our views around the Bible.
“You get what you measure,” he continues. “So if you measure the wrong things, you’ll get the wrong outcomes … [pastors] measure how many people show up, how much money they raise, how many programs they offer, how many staff persons they hire, how much square footage they built out. Jesus didn’t die for any of that. So we’re measuring the wrong stuff and, consequently, we get the wrong outcomes.”
So, how do we as the corporate body of Christ fix this predicament we are in?
It’s all about getting back to biblical basics, according to Barna.
“If we were to go back to the Bible, I think we’d recognize the local church, the institutional church, as we’ve created it, is man-made. It’s not in the Scriptures,” he said. “The programs, the titles, the buildings, all the stuff that has become sacrosanct in American culture and around the world is not necessarily biblical.
“Jesus didn’t come to build institutions, He came to build people. And we see that model in His life. He devoted the ministry portion of His life to investing in individuals. And that’s what each of us who are followers of Christ need to be doing.”
With proper, biblical discipleship and the establishment of relationships that can weather the storms of life, the church can once again be the light that societies around the world so desperately need it to be.
THE PROOF OF OUR SALVATION
1 Peter 1:6-9
Nobody likes adversity. But if you’re a believer, difficulties and suffering are valuable because they can strengthen your faith and prove it is genuine. Unfortunately, many churchgoers today continually wonder whether they ever actually received salvation. Even scriptural assurances of eternal security may bring no comfort to people who aren’t sure they are saved. Using an illustration of seed sown on different kinds of soil (Matt. 13:18-23), Jesus told a parable about various responses to the gospel. He described one of the soils as rocky, likening it to someone who initially receives the good news with joy. But on encountering trials, the person falls away because superficial trust in Christ often fades when tested by hardship.
In contrast, Peter says that when professing believers are beset by trials yet remain steadfast in the Lord Jesus, their faith is proved genuine. The result is confidence in their salvation, and with each new trial, assurance and trust in Christ grows. Their continued perseverance is the fruit of salvation that demonstrates they are abiding in Him (John 15:5).
That’s why we can rejoice even in our sufferings—because through them, God is assuring us of our salvation and conforming us to His image. Knowing this should give us hope and encouragement to continue the process of sanctification, because we have confidence that our salvation will be completed with the resurrection of our bodies.
The next time you face trouble, remember God wants you to know that your salvation is genuine. So hold tightly to Christ and keep trusting Him.
In Touch Ministry