DECLINING INFLUENCE OF THE CHURCH


In the most recent issue of FFV magazine, Ed Stetzer writes, “We live in a world that is losing respect for Christianity. People don’t like Christians all that much, but they do like Jesus – at least the Jesus they have created in their own image.

“LifeWay Research discovered some sobering facts during two surveys conducted in 2007 of 1,402 people who had not attended a religious service at a church, synagogue, or mosque in the past six months. The following statements were agreed to ‘somewhat or strongly’:

62 percent — ‘The God of the Bible is no different from the gods or spiritual beings depicted by world religions such as Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc.’

86 percent– ‘I believe I can have a good relationship with God without being involved in a church.’

79 percent — ‘I think Christianity today is more about organized religion than about loving God and loving people.’

“Perhaps the most sobering statistic is that 44 percent of people agreed (somewhat or strongly) with the statement, ‘Christians get on my nerves.’ I spoke with a CNN reporter who indicated that even he was ‘startled’ by the number. Few would be willing to say, ‘Jews/Muslims/Buddhists’ get on my nerves.'”

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