...a falling away is under way....

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
May 22, 2020
2,382
358
83
#1
  1. Scores of congregations quit United Methodist Church over gay ...
    www.washingtontimes.com/news/2022/feb/11/scores...
    United Methodists are the largest contingent in the global Methodist movement. In 2018, the denomination reported 6.4 million members and 30,543 congregations in the United States, with an equal...
  2. The Methodist Church: Recent Membership Trends – Truediscipleship
    truediscipleship.com/the-methodist-church-recent...
    Methodist growth in America continued into the post-World War II era, reaching a high point of 11 million members in the 1960s. But in the past forty years, as with all of America’s “mainline” denominations, Methodist membership numbers went into free-fall, to a current membership total of 7.6 million. Even as the total number of Americans skyrocketed, the number of Methodists plummeted.

A very clear example of what is happening in denominations reflecting end times prophecy.
 

Aerials1978

Well-known member
Dec 10, 2019
1,707
987
113
#2
While
  1. Scores of congregations quit United Methodist Church over gay ...
    www.washingtontimes.com/news/2022/feb/11/scores...
    United Methodists are the largest contingent in the global Methodist movement. In 2018, the denomination reported 6.4 million members and 30,543 congregations in the United States, with an equal...
  2. The Methodist Church: Recent Membership Trends – Truediscipleship
    truediscipleship.com/the-methodist-church-recent...
    Methodist growth in America continued into the post-World War II era, reaching a high point of 11 million members in the 1960s. But in the past forty years, as with all of America’s “mainline” denominations, Methodist membership numbers went into free-fall, to a current membership total of 7.6 million. Even as the total number of Americans skyrocketed, the number of Methodists plummeted.

A very clear example of what is happening in denominations reflecting end times prophecy.
While what would be considered traditional denominations have seen their numbers drop, what is considered The New Apostolic Movement has seen an increase.
 

Aaron56

Well-known member
Jul 12, 2021
3,046
1,800
113
#3
See how, in the Methodist church and in other congregations, those who fall away are those who REMAIN in the church?
 

Aaron56

Well-known member
Jul 12, 2021
3,046
1,800
113
#4
While


While what would be considered traditional denominations have seen their numbers drop, what is considered The New Apostolic Movement has seen an increase.
Pew Research evidence is quite clear: people are simply moving from one doctrine to another but the ratio of believers / unbelievers in dropping.
 

soberxp

Senior Member
May 3, 2018
2,511
482
83
#5
See how, in the Methodist church and in other congregations, those who fall away are those who REMAIN in the church?
I think what he meant was the decline of the church because it was off track as OT .
I think people pay too much attention to homosexuality.The church still has many problems to solve.
 

Aerials1978

Well-known member
Dec 10, 2019
1,707
987
113
#6
Pew Research evidence is quite clear: people are simply moving from one doctrine to another but the ratio of believers / unbelievers in dropping.
I agree. The overall numbers are dropping.
 

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
Apr 21, 2021
8,443
3,691
113
#7
Jesus quoted Isaiah to the Pharisees in Matthew 15:8-9:

"These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men."


This passage is as relevant today as when Isaiah said it.

There's no question a falling away is happening right before our eyes.

"For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires."—1 Timothy 4:3

These are are they who do their own will in Christ's name, not His will.

"But I will reply, 'I never knew you. Go away; the things you did were unauthorized.' "—Matthew 7:23 (NLT, 1996 ed.)
 

arthurfleminger

Well-known member
Aug 18, 2021
1,405
780
113
#8
No doubt that there is a decline in the populations/congregations of the liberal Churches which have abandoned the teachings of the Bible and Gospels for the latest flavors of 'politically correctness' and 'LGBT' agendas. Why bother to be a member of a church that just spouts politics and bends Bible truth on what is sin and what isn't.

If I want to hear about politics I can view it on the news or on my PC. For sure, I'm not going to church to live leftist politics.

A second primary reason that so many are leaving organized faith churches is because we have too much in terms of the materialistic world. We have become self sufficient and no longer need God. Many are just happy with what the secular/materialistic world offers here and now and now what God offers.
 

arthurfleminger

Well-known member
Aug 18, 2021
1,405
780
113
#9
No doubt that there is a decline in the populations/congregations of the liberal Churches which have abandoned the teachings of the Bible and Gospels for the latest flavors of 'politically correctness' and 'LGBT' agendas. Why bother to be a member of a church that just spouts politics and bends Bible truth on what is sin and what isn't.

If I want to hear about politics I can view it on the news or on my PC. For sure, I'm not going to church to live leftist politics.

A second primary reason that so many are leaving organized faith churches is because we have too much in terms of the materialistic world. We have become self sufficient and no longer need God. Many are just happy with what the secular/materialistic world offers here and now and now what God offers.

Many churches felt that they could attract more congregants by catering to their secular desires at the expense of the Gospel. Boy, did that logic ever prove to be wrong.
 

Artios1

Born again to serve
Dec 11, 2020
678
420
63
#11
As long as there is a spiritual battle with the god of this world we will see the ebb and flow. Today a major contributor to ebb seems to be wokeism.......but who knows what tomorrow will bring ...there may be a great resurgence.
No matter what is cycling in the congregations, I have but one garden to tend to....Aligning my mind with what is written, so I can teach others also.
 

JeffA

Minstrel
Mar 31, 2022
360
72
28
#12
See how, in the Methodist church and in other congregations, those who fall away are those who REMAIN in the church?
Great point!
Many "Churches" are so desperate to increase their congregations that they abandon Scripture.
Many devout Christians leave to find other believers.
Some just leave in disgust. This is the saddest thing.
 

gb9

Senior Member
Jan 18, 2011
12,405
6,744
113
#13
As long as there is a spiritual battle with the god of this world we will see the ebb and flow. Today a major contributor to ebb seems to be wokeism.......but who knows what tomorrow will bring ...there may be a great resurgence.
No matter what is cycling in the congregations, I have but one garden to tend to....Aligning my mind with what is written, so I can teach others also.
that is the thing- what is written, not what some pastor or some church says.
 
Jan 12, 2022
798
178
43
#14
The evil tree grew up, it is known by its corrupt fruit. The faithful believers cry to God for justice against the evil trees, "cut the evil tree down and throw it away into the fire, in Jesus name, amen."
 

Beckie

Well-known member
Feb 15, 2022
2,516
939
113
#15
The evil tree grew up, it is known by its corrupt fruit. The faithful believers cry to God for justice against the evil trees, "cut the evil tree down and throw it away into the fire, in Jesus name, amen."
Mat 13:28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
Mat 13:29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
Mat 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
 
Jan 12, 2022
798
178
43
#16
Mat 13:28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
Mat 13:29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
Mat 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
Matthew 3:7-10
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
 

arthurfleminger

Well-known member
Aug 18, 2021
1,405
780
113
#17
It was prophesized that the Antichrist would bring the abomination into the temple/church for the people to worship.

And we all know that the Bible/Scripture refers to sex between male and male and female and female as an abomination.
Now we are seeing this abomination being welcomed in many churches. What's even worse is that these same churches are offering gay marriages as sacred rites and offering them up to God, in the churches of God. And the congregations are praising and blessing the abominations as holy in the sight of God.

So, who do these LGBT/liberal churches belong to, Jesus or the antichrist?

If you are a member of a church that supports the LGBT/liberal agenda, a church that has left Christ, I'd suggest you leave and find a place to worship that is with Christ and not against Christ.
 

Blik

Senior Member
Dec 6, 2016
7,312
2,428
113
#18
Great point!
Many "Churches" are so desperate to increase their congregations that they abandon Scripture.
Many devout Christians leave to find other believers.
Some just leave in disgust. This is the saddest thing.
Along with the falling away is a growth is devotion to God. We have many tools for study that is new like the dead sea scrolls that bring us closer to what is old but eternal of God. We have the net to help us study, it is like a huge library if used correctly. For about 2,000 years we did not see prophecy fulfilled, and now we gave the Jews returning to the holy land.

Constantine was a major influence in the development of the organized church, he used his considerable worldly skill to organize the church that is spiritual. Our organized churches have blindly followed him, and now are looking closely at these things.
 

Artios1

Born again to serve
Dec 11, 2020
678
420
63
#19
Great point!
Many "Churches" are so desperate to increase their congregations that they abandon Scripture.
Many devout Christians leave to find other believers.
Some just leave in disgust. This is the saddest thing.
The ironic thing about that is …If they actually taught the truth, and the power of God available to believers today…. God would give the increase.
God will not give increase to a watered-down religious group that is following the dictates of the world.
 

Blik

Senior Member
Dec 6, 2016
7,312
2,428
113
#20
The ironic thing about that is …If they actually taught the truth, and the power of God available to believers today…. God would give the increase.
God will not give increase to a watered-down religious group that is following the dictates of the world.
The tremendous power of the church is the power, not only to save, but to transform lives. God wants our lives to be examples of this, but it is an unpopular thought. What is taught is that God accepts all sin and we must love and accept it, also. It is a distortion of the fact that God forgives any sin, and we are not to judge people.

When people see others giving up their Sunday mornings for nothing that is apparent, they say why bother.