The above are true. But God through His prevenient grace draws the lost soul, frees the will so it may accept or reject God's offer of pardon and salvation.
IMHO the rapid erosion of Christianity is because it has lost it mission and thus it's value. Those leaving are not "lured away" by false teaching. They are leaving because of the false practice of what is called Christianity today. They see no difference in the lives of Christians and Pagans. They are correct. There is no difference in action, commitment, honesty, integrity, mercy, love and self-sacrifice from those in the pews and those who have no idea what a pew is. We are not plagued with false teachers we are plagued by false practitioners. It's not that they see a better Christian dogma somewhere else. It they see the exact same social, cultural and personal pathologies inside the church and outside the church. They see 10 pastors worth collectively over $1billion. They see nationally elevated and worshipped church leaders exposed as common criminals, morally corrupt and vastly rich. They see a Christianity that has vended it's love for and commitment to those in need to the government. They see personal difference of opinions about religiously irrelevant issues destroying entire congregations. They see churches divided by race, income, education and politics that are no different than their country clubs, political parties and families. They see churches that are little more than a sunday platform for politics. They see people consciously devoted to believing "right" as a free pass to live any damned way they chose. Some leave "mainline" Christianity in search of group more focused on Christian living over Christian dogmas.200 years ago the Protestant churches many believed where apostate and left them , many groups have formed since those days , like mormans , JW , and others . The real problem is they do not read and learn from the Bible , and then they would understand the conditions of answers to prayer .answers to prayers are so encouraging, and doing Gods will as well because we reap in time what we sow , good or bad . Jesus said in Matthew 24 and Luke 21 many will come in my name and deceive MANY ! You must be able to read the word or most likely end up being deceived. So many false teachings are very convincing, so knowing the truth is so important. The scriptures are the fact check . Jude gives a warning as well verse 4 ungodly men turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness , and denying the only Lord God , and our Lord Jesus Christ . So here we have loose living by the grace of God that ends up in denial or apostasy. False teaching is the root of it all according to Jude . And it’s prophetic by Apostle Paul saying before anti Christ comes there will be a falling away . The solution stay in the word watch and pray
Some, on coming to churches, after the initial conversion impulse soon discover that the various teachings of the churches do not provide much for the regeneration, or otherwise, that some doctrines, considered authoritative, accepted by the church councils, have to be believed by faith into the church authorities, even though they cannot be rationally understood.
The problem is that the various church councils all issued decrees that applied only for specific regions, the 7 "great councils" for example only applied within the Roman Empire, even though they are now considered binding throughout the world by most people. A council finding that applies only in a single diocese in France is another example of something that has spread far beyond its official area of application.
You get to a point that you have to leave. It seems they are worshiping the Jesus some bible college created. Stuck on bad doctrine, no more seeking, one man preaching, tithing, praying for nations and military, etc... Depending on where you live, it can be a real downer. Here is the saddest part, I'm an idiot and I've outgrown church. That's just sad.
I agree with you. Bible study is very important especially during these troubled times.200 years ago the Protestant churches many believed where apostate and left them , many groups have formed since those days , like mormans , JW , and others . The real problem is they do not read and learn from the Bible , and then they would understand the conditions of answers to prayer .
Good point. Leaving an institution is surely not the same thing as leaving the faith.
I know a number of people in your situation. They find religion unfulfilling and frustrating. At the church I attend we have 12 seperate "ministries" that are focused on serving the needs of our community. It has been my experience that doing Christianity is always more fulfilling and edifying than contemplating it. Why not give it a try in your community? Many have found the heart of Christ in serving, helping and even skinning a few knees and elbows. For many it has "unfrozen" Christianity.
Seminaries have a tendency to teach a specific institutional program, and too many students unconsciously accept it as the only truth and thus get upset when someone thinks or believes differently. My pastor asked why I attended his church when he knows how radically different my beliefs are and I told him because I felt his heart was in the right place and the congregation welcomed me. I just wonder what he thinks about one adult Sunday School class asking me to teach, knowing that I will teach differently than is normal.
Man will not always seek the "truth." Like a bird he is captured by a bird snatcher and carried away. Seminaries are not places of refuse. They are, if authentic, places of questions.
