A new survey (http://thestateoftheology.com/) released September 28 by Ligonier Ministries and Lifeway Research, reveals some not so-surprising results about the state of churches in the United States.

• 64% of Americans agree that God accepts the worship of all religions including Christianity, Judaism and Islam. If this is the case, half of the Americans don’t see that the only way to the God of the Bible, our creator, is through the Son of God.  This then is false doctrine for Christians.  Jesus said in John 14:6, Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the No one comes to the Father except through Me.
• Only 52% agree that the Bible alone is the written word of God. That means that almost half of the people don’t believe this and that to them they are believing in false doctrine for Christians.
• Only 58% agree that God is the author of Scripture. That means that almost half of the people don’t believe this.
• 65% agree that everyone sins a little, but most people are good by nature. That means that more than half of the people aren’t professing faith in Christ.  Being good never saved anyone.  The doctrine for Christianity says that to be a child of God we believe that Jesus is the Son of God; He died, was buried and rose again on the third day, and is now seated in heaven at the right hand of God (1 Cor 15:3-5).
• 44% agree that the Bible, like all sacred writings contains helpful accounts of ancient myths but is not literally true. We as Christians believe that the bible was inspired by God (2 Tim 3:16).  One definition under dictionary.com writes, “Mythsarestoriesaboutdivinebeings,generallyarrangedinacoherentsystem;theyarereveredastrueandsacred;theyareendorsedbyrulersandpriests;andcloselylinkedto”  This means that more than half of the people believe myths, which are manmade, over the Bible.  To a Christian, the Bible is the only truth that we can live by.  We believe that God is righteous and that when we become a child of God, we become the righteousness of God (Rom 3:26).
• 51% agree that the bible was written for each person to interpret as he or she chooses. This is false doctrine.  John 15:13 tells us that the Spirit of Truth [the Holy Spirit], is come, He will guide you into all Truth for He shall not speak of Himself but whatsoever He shall hear [from God], that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come.  It is the Holy Spirit that interprets the Bible to show us Truth.
• Only 47% agree that the Bible is 100% accurate in all that it teaches. It is obvious that more than half of the people in this country don’t line up with Christianity.  It is hard to believe that our country was based on “In God we Trust.”
• 59% of Americans agree that worshiping alone or with one’s family is a valid replacement for regularly attending church. This is 59% of Americans, not American Christians.  Hebrews 10:25 says to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together.  Church is the place where Christians meet Christians in order to understand the truth of the Bible.  I am testimony that we never can be saturated enough regarding the truth of the Bible.  I learn every day, especially in my Sunday School class.
•  Only 45% agree that churches that do not preach from the Bible should not be considered a Christian church.  That is more than half of the people do not turn to God but man for the truth.
• Only 49% in churches agree that sex outside of traditional marriage is a sin. That is false doctrine believed by people attending church.
• Only 49% agree that abortion is a sin. In discussing this survey with my best friend, she asked how that was possible. My response was to look at the election.  Half of the voting population in American voted for Hillary who believed that women have a choice.  There were 02 million abortions in 2012.  Think of that, approximately a million abortions a year in the US alone.  In the healing ministry, we see many women who come to be freed from the guilt of abortion.  It is not a one-day event.
• 42% agree that the Bible’s condemnation of homosexual behavior doesn’t apply today. Many of us live in the past and not in the present.  The New Testament is written for us in the present.  Although Jesus died 2000 years ago, we activate His presence in the now.    As to the homosexual behavior, the Bible outlines sin in Romans 1.  Verse 26 says the woman changed the natural use into that which is against nature and likewise also the men leaving the natural use of the woman burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.  That is God’s terminology of the sin of homosexual behavior.  He forewarns in verse 28 that even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.  Then He proceeds in chapter 2 to say that we judge ourselves by our own actions and the consequences thereof.  Homosexuality is defined as a sin in other parts  of the Bible, as well.
• 38% agree that gender identity is a matter of choice. God says in Genesis 1:26, let us make man in our image.  Then in verse 28 we receive the first command from God to multiple (the image of God throughout the world).  We are to line up with the word of God. We saw in the bullet above that gender identity is not a choice.  When we come to Jesus we are to be remade in the image of Christ, a spiritual being fulfilling the truth of the Word of God, the Bible. In all the survey results, this was the lowest number in believing the truth, that the truth shall set you free (Jn 8:32). First Corinthians 14:33 says that God is not the author of confusion.  In the name of Jesus, spirit of confusion you must go and never return.  Spirit of clarity fill Your people with God’s truth.  Praise You Jesus.
• 45% agree that modern science discredits the claims of Christianity. Science is worldly and made from man; Christianity is spiritual and is inspired by God.  All science is derived from God releasing that truth.
• 52% agreed that by the good deeds that I do, I partly contribute to earning my place in heaven. In John 6:27 Jesus told the people not to labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you.  In all things we must take every thought captive to Jesus (2 Cor 10:5-6) to have the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16).  The things we do by a knowing from God, this is the will of God.  We must know that God is only good.  If we follow our heart and do something good, it will not give us a reward in heaven.  Only those things that we know are the will of God, the truth of the Word of God, received through the Holy Spirit, will earn us eternal rewards in heaven.  There is nothing worldly in heaven, only spiritual.  Romans 12:1-2 tells us to not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
• Only 60% agree that Jesus Christ’s death on the cross is the only sacrifice that could remove the penalty of my sin. THIS IS TRUE!  Yet we have to testify to the other 40% so that they can be released from spiritual death.  It is our testimony that will do it.  When conversing with anyone we have to listen to what they say and help them find the truth.  The secret is to remark on the truth of their comment, and then the truth of Jesus.  By not going against them, and finding truth in part of their comment, they will not have resistance, but dialogue.  Keep finding agreement in their statements and then follow with the truth of Jesus.  The Holy Spirit will give you the words.  It is the greatest purpose for talking!
• Only 52% agree that it is very important for me personally to encourage non-Christians to trust Jesus Christ as their Savior. I pray that the Holy Spirit will convict all Christians that their only purpose in life is to overcome Satan, otherwise we would have gone to Jesus after we were saved.  We have to realize that the Holy Spirit is using us to bring people from spiritual death to life.  That is our only purpose on earth.
• Only 54% in churches agree that only those who trust in Jesus Christ alone as their Savior receive God’s free gift of eternal salvation. THIS IS TRUE!  We can’t have a watered down Christianity because that is not truth.  Seek to find the truth in Jesus, reading His Word every day until you are consumed with His truth and you can speak of His truth.  Remember, this is our only eternal purpose on earth.

I pray that with the election of Trump who ran on righteous principles of God, that God has given us a time for revival.  Everything that we think of has to have a spiritual meaning.  Worldly is about what we do; spiritual is about who we are.  We were made in the image of God in Genesis 1:26 and then commanded to be fruitful and multiple His image.  To be fruitful and have the fruit of the Holy Spirit of God is not understood until we come to Galatians 5:22, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  This is the character of God that we are to imitate.