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I don't think it's quite that. I think it is the old apologetic of refusing to accept that any @Real Christians' can ever lose faith; they were never real Christians in the first place.
It's absolutely true, though. Only God knows how many professing Christians are like this. Maybe they've walked the aisle or said a sinner's prayer, maybe they go to church and read the Bible, but have never actually been born again. Our Lord Jesus said the way is narrow (Matthew 7:14).
His point - which is utter nonsense, of course - is clearly that the decrease in Christian identification in the United States was that some people were previously lying about being Christian, and no longer are doing so.
It's rather amusing that he seems to think this claim puts some sort of positive spin on the continuing decline of American Christianity.
I think part of it is that the less Christians there are............the more exclusive the group. You get to be the ones who "stuck it out" when you get to heaven.
The data also shows a slight increase in non-Christian faiths. This appears to be from Hindus (up to 1% from less-than-1% a decade ago) and 'other non-Christians' (up to 3% from 2%). Jews, Muslims, and Buddhists are holding steady. Also, within Christianity the Mormons are keeping pace.
The percentage of Catholics among Hispanics has fallen 10%. Among Hispanics, Protestantism has gained 1%, non-Christian faiths have gained 2%, and 8% have joined the ranks of the unaffiliated.
Men and whites remain less religious than women and non-whites, though church attendance and rates of adherence has fallen among all these groups. There is dramatic difference between Democrats/liberals and Republicans/conservatives, of course. Interestingly, among Democrats blacks are far more likely to identify as Christian than whites, but among Republicans whites are somewhat more likely than blacks to so identify.
While the number of born agains/evangelicals is dropping, they are dropping at a slower rate than Protestants overall, such that they comprise an increasing proportion of that group.
Good news. Maybe we Americans will finally join the civilized world.
It's absolutely true, though. Only God knows how many professing Christians are like this. Maybe they've walked the aisle or said a sinner's prayer, maybe they go to church and read the Bible, but have never actually been born again. Our Lord Jesus said the way is narrow (Matthew 7:14).
The sinner's prayer is the Born Again ritual for this process, is it not?
Then whammo, you are suddenly born again!
Of course we know only Born Agains are the only true Christians, according to Evangelicals.
The sinner's prayer is the Born Again ritual for this process, is it not?
Then whammo, you are suddenly born again!
Of course we know only Born Agains are the only true Christians, according to Evangelicals.
That's not what we believe. We just think that a person accepts the gospel at that moment.
That's not what we believe. We just think that a person accepts the gospel at that moment.
And you need to understand that to many people in the world, and even right here in the United States, that opinion is not gospel...so to speak. It's really away of you folks to set yourselves apart and pat each other on the backs while you're saying, "We're special".
The sinner's prayer is the Born Again ritual for this process, is it not?
Then whammo, you are suddenly born again!
No.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Derek41
Of course we know only Born Agains are the only true Christians, according to Evangelicals.
John 3:3-8:
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Brilliant using scripture to prove scripture to people who don't believe in scripture.
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