Grace Thoughts
GraceLife Thoughts – Don’t Give In To Paganism!
Not giving in to pagan philosophies is a primary emphasis of this series. Neo-paganism has slowly crept into churches, denominations, Christian colleges, seminaries, and conferences. It has infected modern Christianity with a spiritual disease that is slowly choking the truth out of the ‘presentation’ of the Gospel of Christ. Here are four examples of what I mean by that.
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- According to Lifeway Research in 2020 almost two-thirds (65%) of evangelical Christians believe Jesus is “the first and greatest being created by God.” Since that research was four years ago, I think we can safely say that a full two-thirds of “evangelical” Christians believe that Jesus Christ is a “created” being. Keep in mind that Lifeway, Barna, and other research groups view “evangelical Christians” as people who see themselves as being “born again.” So, two-thirds of people who self-identify as “evangelical, born again” Christians believe that God created Jesus. They believe that even though the New Testament is very clear that Jesus Christ is Eternal, Uncreated, and Co-Equal with God the Father and God the Spirit (e.g. John 1:1-4; 17:5; Colossians 1:15-18; Philippians 2:5-7; Titus 2:13). You may remember that the apostles dealt with that heresy in the 1st century, and the early Church condemned that view as “heretical.” Yet, here we are in the 21st century with a large majority of “evangelical” Christians believing in a false view of Jesus Christ. Diminishing the Person of the Son of God is a type of “paganism.”
- Next example. The “truth” of the Gospel of Christ includes sharing the Gospel with unbelievers. Jesus and His apostles made that very clear throughout the New Testament. However, Barna Research from five years ago showed that almost half of practicing Christian millennials say evangelism is wrong – “Almost half of Millennials (47%) agree at least somewhat that it is wrong to share one’s personal beliefs with someone of a different faith in hopes that they will one day share the same faith.” Though Gen Z was not included in Barna’s research, the future of Christian evangelism is not looking good. The reason given in the research was the “cultural temperature around spiritual conversations.” Keep in mind that research was five years ago. It’s most certainly worse today. Younger people don’t believe it’s right to change what other people believe is “true.” This is what I mean by “creep and drift” in churches and denominations. Christians today have determined that they know better than God about the purpose of being a follower of Jesus Christ. While almost half of Millennials believe that evangelism is wrong, the numbers for older Christians who believe evangelism is wrong was substantially smaller (27% for Gen X, 19% for Boomers, and 20% for Elders). The drift toward error and disobedience in the church has been happening for decades, but is now getting worse. It should be no surprise that as more Christians believe evangelism is wrong, fewer people are becoming Christians. The idea that truth is “subjective” rather than “objective” is a type of “paganism.” If everyone’s “truth” is equally valid, then why bother presenting evidence that Jesus Christ is the Truth and the only Way to the Father? This is very insidious and deceptive, and has deeply infected the Western church.
- Third example. Many people who say they are Christians don’t even believe Jesus rose from the dead, even though that is a primary teaching of the entire New Testament. It sadly demonstrates how wrong people who claim to be Christians are about Jesus. Why are they so wrong? Because their leaders are wrong. Barna did research in 2000 on the number of U.S. church leaders who believed in the resurrection of Jesus. 33% of the church leaders said they believed Jesus was crucified but not physically resurrected. 33% of church lay leaders also said they believed in the crucifixion but not the physical resurrection. Keep in mind that was 24 years ago. It’s most likely worse now.
- Fourth example. Barna Research from 2009 showed that only a slight majority of Christians (55%) strongly agree that the Bible is accurate in all of the principles it teaches. About a third of those same “Christians” believe the Bible, Book of Mormon, and Koran teach the same truths, including those about the nature of God, salvation, and truth. How sad.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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Published by gracelifethoughts
Founder & Director of GraceLife Ministries View all posts by gracelifethoughts
