Spiritual Declension in the Church and in the World

[Brakelite]

I believe that very few would disagree with me that not only in the world, but also in the church, there has been over the last several years a sharp and serious declining in moral and spiritual maturity and virtue all around us. Have we not all observed the increase in violence in our streets, homes, and society in general. We have all witnessed the huge increase in pornographic material and associated behaviours and mindsets in government, entertainment, and even in our schools. Just a couple of days ago the Australian high court supported the legal rights of biological men identifying as women to enter into women-only designated spaces, indirectly citing an online woman-only web site as the precedent. The designer and creator of the web site was taken before the courts and found guilty of contravening current Australian law by declining membership to her woman only web site to a biological male identifying as a woman. She took the case to the high court as her last recourse, but was denied.
Very few genuine Christ loving Bible believing Christians of any denomination would disagree with me that all the above current situations which sadly are so prevalent throughout society are of grave concern and are a satanic spiritual attack to destroy forever the power of the gospel and the influence of the Body of Christ in the world, and thus an attack upon the Godhead itself.
Mixed in with all of this are other matters as well affecting the future of the church. There is much talk about religious liberty, and the inroads of the world, particularly through the auspices of the United Nations, and WHO and local government into the affairs of the church, particularly since COVID, with accompanying restrictions on religious liberty.
So with all the above being taken into account, the question arises, how is the church to react and what is it to do? Ancient Israel and its history is written as an inspired lesson and example for the church.

Can the church today make decisive moves and take biblically sound initiatives to counter the present worsening situation in the world and the growing apostasy among God's people? And can it accomplish such a thing without going to the other extreme and end up initiating and supporting a false revival?

 Could the following texts give a clue as to the correct steps to take?

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. ”
2 Chronicles 7:14

“1 And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. 2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beer-sheba. 3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment. 4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, 5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. 6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. 7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. ”
1 Samuel 8:1-7 KJV

 

[Episkopos]

As the church slides more and more into apostasy, the world around us will slide more and more into depravity. But make no mistake, the depravity stems first of all from the church. Every deviation from morality in the world stems from a slide away from holiness in the church.

People prefer pretending than facing reality. People deepen opinions rather than deepen their relationship with God. It starts with us.

The church system is Babylon...a mishmash of religious opinions and factions based on a lack of knowledge of God. Crying out in the name of the Lord while doing the very opposite of what Jesus taught.

And it's going to get worse. The church follows after a "saved" fallen nature...and the world follows a much more obvious freedom to indulge every whim and fancy.

But as the world goes darker a few in the church will realize what is going on and take responsibility for the state of the world. These will turn to God in repentance and be renewed in the Spirit...and in their way of thinking. Their mind will become STRETCHED away from the limitations of the flesh and take on a new mind....the mind of Christ...ready to suffer for the truth.
We will see the return of the saints before the end. And Jesus will return for His church...His Bride...and then the end will come. But the great falling away is now happening. And it's the obvious darkness that wakes certain believers up to see the reality and cry out to God for His grace.

Is it bad enough yet so that we repent of our lapsed responsibility?

 

[Hepzibah]

As the church slides more and more into apostasy, the world around us will slide more and more into depravity. But make no mistake, the depravity stems first of all from the church. Every deviation from morality in the world stems from a slide away from holiness in the church.

People prefer pretending than facing reality. People deepen opinions rather than deepen their relationship with God. It starts with us.

The church system is Babylon...a mishmash of religious opinions and factions based on a lack of knowledge of God. Crying out in the name of the Lord while doing the very opposite of what Jesus taught.

And it's going to get worse. The church follows after a "saved" fallen nature...and the world follows a much more obvious freedom to indulge every whim and fancy.

But as the world goes darker a few in the church will realize what is going on and take responsibility for the state of the world. These will turn to God in repentance and be renewed in the Spirit...and in their way of thinking. Their mind will become STRETCHED away from the limitations of the flesh and take on a new mind....the mind of Christ...ready to suffer for the truth.
We will see the return of the saints before the end. And Jesus will return for His church...His Bride...and then the end will come. But the great falling away is now happening. And it's the obvious darkness that wakes certain believers up to see the reality and cry out to God for His grace.

Is it bad enough yet so that we repent of our lapsed responsibility?

This is true but something is being missed out: Satan will make sure that the true message to bring in the Saints, will be contaminated with lies wrapped around the truth.

It will sound like the real thing ie holiness teaching from the past including the early church and times of true revival, but there will be something misleading enclosed to lead people astray.

A new message. Satan's signature.

 

[Episkopos]

This is true but something is being missed out: Satan will make sure that the true message to bring in the Saints, will be contaminated with lies wrapped around the truth.

It will sound like the real thing ie holiness teaching from the past including the early church and times of true revival, but there will be something misleading enclosed to lead people astray.

A new message. Satan's signature.

You seem to be insinuating something here....something specific. To be sure there are different levels of deception.

How I can tell when someone has a false holiness is when the very basic building blocks of righteousness are thrown away...a sure sign of deception. I preach the need for the fear of the Lord and humility. Basic HUMAN righteousness. A false holiness person looks down on anything human...and yet we ARE human. We are not spiritual beings...there is a spiritual ASPECT that should govern and take the human to a higher power and capacity. But at the end of the day we are just humans. That kind of sober realization saves us from the excesses of a false holiness whereby we have to judge people, even of other religions, as being totally condemned.

God's ways are double edged.

Glory for the saint. Mercy for the righteous and poor. If we seek for glory without mercy, we will be condemned.

 

[Lizbeth]

I believe that very few would disagree with me that not only in the world, but also in the church, there has been over the last several years a sharp and serious declining in moral and spiritual maturity and virtue all around us. Have we not all observed the increase in violence in our streets, homes, and society in general. We have all witnessed the huge increase in pornographic material and associated behaviours and mindsets in government, entertainment, and even in our schools. Just a couple of days ago the Australian high court supported the legal rights of biological men identifying as women to enter into women-only designated spaces, indirectly citing an online woman-only web site as the precedent. The designer and creator of the web site was taken before the courts and found guilty of contravening current Australian law by declining membership to her woman only web site to a biological male identifying as a woman. She took the case to the high court as her last recourse, but was denied.
Very few genuine Christ loving Bible believing Christians of any denomination would disagree with me that all the above current situations which sadly are so prevalent throughout society are of grave concern and are a satanic spiritual attack to destroy forever the power of the gospel and the influence of the Body of Christ in the world, and thus an attack upon the Godhead itself.
Mixed in with all of this are other matters as well affecting the future of the church. There is much talk about religious liberty, and the inroads of the world, particularly through the auspices of the United Nations, and WHO and local government into the affairs of the church, particularly since COVID, with accompanying restrictions on religious liberty.
So with all the above being taken into account, the question arises, how is the church to react and what is it to do? Ancient Israel and its history is written as an inspired lesson and example for the church.

Can the church today make decisive moves and take biblically sound initiatives to counter the present worsening situation in the world and the growing apostasy among God's people? And can it accomplish such a thing without going to the other extreme and end up initiating and supporting a false revival?

 Could the following texts give a clue as to the correct steps to take?

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. ”
2 Chronicles 7:14

“1 And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. 2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beer-sheba. 3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment. 4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, 5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. 6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. 7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. ”
1 Samuel 8:1-7 KJV

....things are ripe for an antichrist like Saul?

 

[Lizbeth]

This is true but something is being missed out: Satan will make sure that the true message to bring in the Saints, will be contaminated with lies wrapped around the truth.

It will sound like the real thing ie holiness teaching from the past including the early church and times of true revival, but there will be something misleading enclosed to lead people astray.

A new message. Satan's signature.

So deceptive, that if it were possible, even the very elect would be deceived.

 

[amigo de christo]

So deceptive, that if it were possible, even the very elect would be deceived.

so deceptive that it would convince all religoins they serve the same GOD
and having them unifying to be as one for world peace .
And all thinking and all believing this to be OF GOD and his plan .
preaching a love and making that love seem to be God .
And yet its love only made a real fat path of UNBELIEF IN THE TESTMONY OF GOD , to seem as though ITS THE INCLUSIVE way to GOD .
Something is not as it seems dear sister . A unifying love for peace has been sent .
And those recieving it , whether buddists , whether mulism , whether whatever
BELIEVES IT TO BE GOD and OF G OD . SOUNDS like a nimrod we are one DELUSION TO ME sister .
So very deceptive indeed . And its a merger all right . ONL Y IT AINT UNDER THE GOD they so think it is .
Something was unleashed upon this last generation and it grew and it grew
And more and more beleive it to be love , and to be OF GOD . And many in wool do clambor under it was well .
Someone and something and someones ARE LYING to this generation , this all inclusive generation .
And more and more buy this merger , this DELUSION , this love , and this plan of peace .
And they all beleiving it to be FROM GOD .
And when their prophets do sing and say THUS sayeth the LORD , they do buy it .
And believe if their leaders , their etc does say
Their prophets say , IF so and so says it , GOD SAID IT . and that aint just the trump realm
its all over the realms .

 

[amigo de christo]

So deceptive, that if it were possible, even the very elect would be deceived.

Oh yes sister , SO very deceptive . And with THREE WORDS it convinced many to recieve and to accept sins .
And with THREE WORDS it convinces and convinced even christendom and the false religions to become as one .
And what three words . GOD IS LOVE .
And yet used lies and etc by means of what it called love in order to reshape and to change
the TRUE IMAGE OF THE HOLY GOD WHO DOES NOT accept sins and unbeleif
Into a god that accepts sins and unbelief and even other religoins as valid .
SOMEONE knows how to lie and to lie very well . For though GOD IS LOVE
HIS LOVE WOULD NEVER DENY HIS TRUTH , HIS SON , HIS TESTIMONY , OR HIS WORDS . something
this inclusvive generation SEEMS NOT to REALIZE as it too hollers GOD IS LOVE
and as it too casts out the very words of TRUTH in favor OF THIS LOVE .

 

[amigo de christo]

Now that IS a delusion indeed . A delusion that can and does SAY GOD IS LOVE
and yet by that love has merged many right to THE LIE of all lies and unto the peace of ANTI CHRIST itself.
A love claimed as though and sold as though it were of GOD
and how IT managed to create a god THAT ALL RELIGOINS to include even much of christendom
WOULD BELIEVE IS GOD .
Satan and his harlot , the mystery of inquity and that which is of anti christ
has become the King and the GOD of a we are one merged all inclusive world .
No longer divided but NOW BEING UNITED AS ONE and what IS TO THEM GOD
but is to the sheep seen for what it is .
To many it simply sounds like love and it is beleived to be of GOD .
To the sheep they know , IT HAS DENIED THE VERY GOD , HIS CHRIST and is NOT GOD .

 

[Brakelite]

As the church slides more and more into apostasy, the world around us will slide more and more into depravity. But make no mistake, the depravity stems first of all from the church. Every deviation from morality in the world stems from a slide away from holiness in the church.

People prefer pretending than facing reality. People deepen opinions rather than deepen their relationship with God. It starts with us.

The church system is Babylon...a mishmash of religious opinions and factions based on a lack of knowledge of God. Crying out in the name of the Lord while doing the very opposite of what Jesus taught.

And it's going to get worse. The church follows after a "saved" fallen nature...and the world follows a much more obvious freedom to indulge every whim and fancy.

But as the world goes darker a few in the church will realize what is going on and take responsibility for the state of the world. These will turn to God in repentance and be renewed in the Spirit...and in their way of thinking. Their mind will become STRETCHED away from the limitations of the flesh and take on a new mind....the mind of Christ...ready to suffer for the truth.
We will see the return of the saints before the end. And Jesus will return for His church...His Bride...and then the end will come. But the great falling away is now happening. And it's the obvious darkness that wakes certain believers up to see the reality and cry out to God for His grace.

Is it bad enough yet so that we repent of our lapsed responsibility?

I can't argue with you there. And it begins though not in the church, but Iin the family. Men standing up for truth at home. Being examples of righteousness and holiness. Not demanding others to be transformed into your image, but being transformed yourself into the image of Christ and letting that light shine all around. Others will then follow your lead, first at home then into the church.
Who and what are you when no-one is watching?

 

[Brakelite]

....things are ripe for an antichrist like Saul?

You got it. Looking to an unconverted Caesar to fix the world of spiritual maladies.

 

[PeterAndroz]

So deceptive, that if it were possible, even the very elect would be deceived.

""So deceptive, that if it were possible, even the very elect would be deceived.""
2 Thess 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
..
All those things to occur in the TRIBULATION but not 'today'

 

[Brakelite]

Now that IS a delusion indeed . A delusion that can and does SAY GOD IS LOVE
and yet by that love has merged many right to THE LIE of all lies and unto the peace of ANTI CHRIST itself.
A love claimed as though and sold as though it were of GOD
and how IT managed to create a god THAT ALL RELIGOINS to include even much of christendom
WOULD BELIEVE IS GOD .
Satan and his harlot , the mystery of inquity and that which is of anti christ
has become the King and the GOD of a we are one merged all inclusive world .
No longer divided but NOW BEING UNITED AS ONE and what IS TO THEM GOD
but is to the sheep seen for what it is .
To many it simply sounds like love and it is beleived to be of GOD .
To the sheep they know , IT HAS DENIED THE VERY GOD , HIS CHRIST and is NOT GOD .

I don't know your personal calling in Christ. We each one of us are called to a certain, particular, and specific calling. The greatest want of this age is the want of men,—men who will not be bought or sold; men who are true and honest in their inmost souls; men who will not fear to call sin by its right name, and to condemn it, in themselves or in others; men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole; men who will stand for the right, though the heavens fall. We have a story in the OT of a prophet from Judah being sent to rebuke the idolatry of Jereboam in Bethel. This prophet is not named. He did his job. Almost. God required him to go straight home back to Judah, but a lying false prophet from Bethel found him resting instead of obeying, and enticed him back to Bethel to eat and drink. God punished the prophet from Judah. He never made it home.
We have Jereboams all around us today, teaching Israel/ the church to worship according to man's doctrines, intervening in the journey to the heavenlyJerusalem by sacrificing self on the altar of truth. I believe we are called, in different ways but cleaving to truth, to expose the false worship and lying prophets, and to obey God to the letter, especially in these last days when so much is at stake. We also, if not obedient to God in all things and this falling short, may not get home

 

[Brakelite]

""So deceptive, that if it were possible, even the very elect would be deceived.""
2 Thess 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
..
All those things to occur in the TRIBULATION but not 'today'

That also is a deception.

 

[PeterAndroz]

That also is a deception.

And what verses from >PAUL< teach that 2 Thess 2:11 applies to you & I now ?
Just the verses BL, they are my teacher

 

[quietthinker]

Tut, tu, tut. Is stating the obvious in these matters doing anything for one's ego?

 

[Brakelite]

And what verses from >PAUL< teach that 2 Thess 2:11 applies to you & I now ?
Just the verses BL, they are my teacher

“3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: ”
2 Thessalonians 2:3-8 KJV

Unfeigned Bible

Unfeigned Bible

www.unfeignedbible.app

I don't pin entire theological positions on just one verse. The entire chapter is significant, and if you aren't reading verse one in context of the rest of the chapter, you will miss what Paul was talking about. I see no mention of the tribulation.

 

[quietthinker]

“3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: ”
2 Thessalonians 2:3-8 KJV

Unfeigned Bible

Unfeigned Bible

www.unfeignedbible.app

I don't pin entire theological positions on just one verse. The entire chapter is significant, and if you aren't reading verse one in context of the rest of the chapter, you will miss what Paul was talking about. I see no mention of the tribulation.

I think the falling away has been in progress for some time. It has been a falling away and an entrenching in a faulty understanding of the character of God.
The devil has tarred God with his own characteristics which is embraced and defended with gusto by most.....while faith is measured by how fervently one holds this misrepresentation.

 

[Nathaniel]

Honestly, and this likely won't go over very well, the best thing the so called "church" could do for the world at this point is shut it's doors. Or as Christ would have said, "Sell everything you own, give it to the poor, and come and be my disciple." And yes, He did actually say that.

"Christianity has the distinction of being the only world religion that begins by dismissing the creed of it's Founder."
Sir Anthony Bussard

Not an uplifting point of view, but an accurate one.

When asked what he thought about Christians, Ghandi is reported to have said "If I ever meet one, I will let you know."
Just imagine how many people in the world could honestly tell you that they are unsure if they have ever met a true Christian. They have all more than likely met someone who is a Zionist, a dogmatic, a judgmental turd, a Trump supporter, a righteous warmonger, a first stone thrower etc, but have they ever met anyone who actually walks and talks and acts like Christ? If we are honest with ourselves, the odds are against it.

Another thread asked the question "What is a Christian" or something to that effect. Keith Green has the best answer I ever heard "A Christian is someone who's bananas about Jesus." That answer surely won't do for the enlightened crowd that frequents these forums, but I 100% guarantee that it's good enough for Christ.

 

[quietthinker]

Honestly, and this likely won't go over very well, the best thing the so called "church" could do for the world at this point is shut it's doors. Or as Christ would have said, "Sell everything you own, give it to the poor, and come and be my disciple." And yes, He did actually say that.

"Christianity has the distinction of being the only world religion that begins by dismissing the creed of it's Founder."
Sir Anthony Bussard

Not an uplifting point of view, but an accurate one.

When asked what he thought about Christians, Ghandi is reported to have said "If I ever meet one, I will let you know."
Just imagine how many people in the world could honestly tell you that they are unsure if they have ever met a true Christian. They have all more than likely met someone who is a Zionist, a dogmatic, a judgmental turd, a Trump supporter, a righteous warmonger, a first stone thrower etc, but have they ever met anyone who actually walks and talks and acts like Christ? If we are honest with ourselves, the odds are against it.

Another thread asked the question "What is a Christian" or something to that effect. Keith Green has the best answer I ever heard "A Christian is someone who's bananas about Jesus." That answer surely won't do for the enlightened crowd that frequents these forums, but I 100% guarantee that it's good enough for Christ.

The messages to the seven Churches in Revelation two and three(which incidentally I also see as representative of all of The Church throughout time) has admonition and encouragement for them all. The Laodicean Church it appears has gone off the tracks big time. I see it in large measure of todays situation,