Tag Archives: God

General Society Study shows only half of Americans believe in God

Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Important Takeaways:

  • Does God exist? Only half of Americans say a definite yes
  • General Social Survey, stands out among several nuggets of new data about religion in America.
  • Not quite 50 percent of Americans say they have no doubt about the existence of God, according to the 2022 survey, released Wednesday by NORC, the University of Chicago research organization. As recently as 2008, the share of sure-believers topped 60 percent.
  • Thirty-four percent of Americans never go to church, NORC found, the highest figure recorded in five decades of surveys.
  • Another new report, from the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI), said that 27 percent of Americans claimed no religion in 2022, up from 19 percent in 2012 and 16 percent in 2006.
  • The General Social Survey found 29 percent of Americans claiming no religion in 2021, up from 23 percent in 2018 and 5 percent in 1972.
  • Mainline Protestantism, the backbone of faith in many American communities, is “collapsing,” Burge wrote in a recent article on the decline of Baptists, Methodists and other denominations.
  • Since the 1970s, the share of Americans who identify with Protestant denominations has declined from nearly 1 in 3 to around 1 in 10.
  • To some extent, declining faith is a generational trend. The share of Americans who claim no religion rises with progressively younger age groups: 9 percent of the Silent Generation, 18 percent of baby boomers, 25 percent of Generation X, 29 percent of millennials and 34 percent of Generation Z, according to data from the Survey Center on American Life.
  • But the rise in nonreligious Americans is too steep to be fully explained “in terms of generational replacement; that is, religious old people dying and secular young people taking their place,” said David Campbell, the Packey J. Dee Professor of American Democracy at the University of Notre Dame.
  • Changing societal norms may also explain why half of Americans can now say they aren’t sure there is a God.

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Study shows Americans trust their pocketbook over belief in God

Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Important Takeaways:

  • Biblical Foundations Rejected by Most Americans in New Poll – Money Has Now Replaced God
  • A new poll from the Wall Street Journal and NORC finds only 39 percent of Americans say religious faith is a top priority. That’s down from 62 percent back in 1998.
  • Only 31 percent of those under age 30 said religion is very important, compared to 55 percent of people 65 and over who feel that way.
  • Belief in the value of patriotism, community, and having children are all down as well.
  • The study did find one value that’s grown in importance over the last 25 years – the love of money. The percentage of Americans who now put their trust in money has risen from 31 percent to 43 percent.

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Church of England votes to change the language in reference to God; must be gender neutral

Church of England

Romans 1:28 “And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.”  2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears

Important Takeaways:

  • Gender-neutral God to be considered by Church of England
  • [Calling for] reference to Our Father, to be scrapped in favor of either gender neutral or female alternatives.
  • Claiming that “a theological misreading of God as exclusively male is a driver of much continuing discrimination and sexism against women”.
  • The news comes amid tensions within the Church of England as the Synod prepares for a historic vote on blessings for same-sex couples later this week.

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A dangerous divide when one party completely rejects God: A Nation divided cannot stand

Romans 1:28 “And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.”

Important Takeaways:

  • How the Democratic Party Divorced God and the America of 1776
  • The Democrat Party’s divorce from God has become final. In 2019, the Democrat National Committee (DNC) unanimously passed a resolution affirming atheism and declaring that neither Christianity nor any religion is necessary for morality or patriotism. In other words, “We don’t need God!”
  • The Democrat Party’s divorce of God should come as no surprise. At the 2012 Democrat National Convention, a majority of the delegates wanted to remove a reference to God from the party platform

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Flashback: NY Representative Jerry Nadler say’s “the will of God is no concern of this Congress”

Romans 1:28 “And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.”

Important Takeaways:

  • ‘God’s Will Is No Concern of This Congress’: NY Dem Jerry Nadler Rejects God During Equality Act Debate
  • Debating of the equality act Greg Steube (R-FL) tried to explain the real concerns over the bill
  • Referencing Deuteronomy 22:5 “’A woman must not wear men’s clothing, nor a man wear women’s clothing, for the Lord your God detests anyone who does this,” Steube said. “Now, this verse isn’t concerned about clothing styles but with people determining their own sexual identities.” … When men or women claim to be able to choose their own sexual identity, they are making a statement that God did not know what he was doing when he created them.”
  • In response, Nadler stated, “Mr. Steube, what any religious tradition ascribes as God’s will is no concern of this Congress.”

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Gallup poll shows 20% of Americans view the Bible as the literal word of God

  • Fewer in U.S. Now See Bible as Literal Word of God
  • A record-low 20% of Americans now say the Bible is the literal word of God, down from 24% the last time the question was asked in 2017, and half of what it was at its high points in 1980 and 1984. Meanwhile, a new high of 29% say the Bible is a collection of “fables, legends, history and moral precepts recorded by man.” This marks the first time significantly more Americans have viewed the Bible as not divinely inspired than as the literal word of God. The largest percentage, 49%, choose the middle alternative, roughly in line with where it has been in previous years.

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Only 81% say they Believe in God

  • Belief in God in U.S. Dips to 81%, a New Low
  • The vast majority of U.S. adults believe in God, but the 81% who do so is down six percentage points from 2017 and is the lowest in Gallup’s trend. Between 1944 and 2011, more than 90% of Americans believed in God.
  • 17% of Americans saying they do not believe in God.
  • The groups with the largest declines are also the groups that are currently least likely to believe in God, including liberals (62%), young adults (68%) and Democrats (72%). Belief in God is highest among political conservatives (94%) and Republicans (92%), reflecting that religiosity is a major determinant of political divisions in the U.S.

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Rejecting God and the authority of scripture

Deuteronomy 39:15-18 15 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16 For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. 17 But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, 18 I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed.

Important Takeaways:

  • Mike Huckabee Says America Is ‘Rejecting the Standard of God and His Word’
  • Huckabee, who now hosts a popular talk show on TBN, has some deep concerns about the leftward direction our nation is headed—and he says it means we’re rejecting God and the authority of Scripture.
  • “The country has gone through some pretty serious and dramatic changes” The biggest change is that we’ve gone from a society that believes in the power as well as the responsibility of the individual, to more of a focus on collectivism, which is really the heart and foundation of socialism, or communism.”
  • “It’s not so much a Democrat, Republican, left, right issue. I know it may seem like that. This is far bigger than a political divide. As I’ve often said, this is not horizontal; this is vertical. This is not just left and right. This is up and down. This is whether or not we are a God-centered or a me-centered world. And that’s what I fear the most.”

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HE IS RISEN! With Joy and Hope, we worship together in our hearts! Happy Easter!

By Kami Klein~~

HE has RISEN! We Worship with JOY and HOPE today from our homes, our cars or even in our backyards! It does not matter where you are for it is in our hearts that we find Him! Whether we are with family, sheltered together or alone we have New Life through Jesus! No matter what happens here in the world, God gave us His promise through the sacrifice that Christ made on the cross. His message is clearer today than ever! YOU are special, YOU are a child of God, you are forgiven and He LOVES YOU!

This Easter, may you truly understand that the Church is not a building or tradition, the Church is not the creeds or statements of belief found in your faith or denomination. The Church is the bride of Jesus. We are a family built from the greatest Love that has ever been known on Earth. No building can hold us, no statement can ever be bigger than the one made on the cross.

Sing with Joy today! Leave your troubles in God’s hands and Celebrate our new lives! Let today bring you strength as we trust HIM and HIS purpose!

Matthew 28 (MEV)

The Resurrection
28 At the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.

2 And then there was a great earthquake. For the angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sat on it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his garments white as snow. 4 The soldiers shook for fear of him and became like dead men.

5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid. For I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here. For He has risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead, and indeed, He is going before you to Galilee. There you will see Him. Listen, I have told you.”

8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. 9 As they went to tell His disciples, suddenly Jesus met them, saying, “Greetings!” They came and took hold of His feet and worshipped Him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell My brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

The Report of the Guard
11 While they were going, indeed, some of the soldiers went into the city and described to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 When the chief priests were assembled with the elders and had taken counsel, they gave much money to the soldiers, 13 saying, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were sleeping.’ 14 If this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you secure.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed. And this saying has been commonly reported among the Jews to this day.

The Commissioning of the Disciples
16 Then the eleven disciples went away to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshipped Him. But some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

HE is ALWAYS with us!

Happy Easter!

For God SO LOVED the World! Good Friday from God’s Word

Three Crosses

By Kami Klein~

This Easter season we can no longer focus on our holiday traditions. This year will not be one of creating memories by gathering in our churches, Easter egg hunts and meals with all of our family and friends. We are on pause. The world is holding its breath for salvation and we are living in a time that is unprecedented. We wake each morning to lives that have been altered, no longer ‘normal’. There is fear, exhaustion, and uncertainty in every country, and in every nation. No souls have been left untouched by this worldwide emergency.

This is the time when the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins, when the miracles of His life, His teachings, should mean more to us than ever before. His message of the unsurmountable love that God has for us was shown by Christ’s suffering on the cross. He died so we may live.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Today on this Holy Good Friday, reflect on that love and find hope. Let us sit silently with the Lord, look within His Word and walk with Jesus in His agony for us. Today we fall to our knees and Thank you God for the hope that is in your son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

THE GOOD FRIDAY MESSAGE FROM GOD’S WORD

Matthew 27:11-65 (MEV)

Jesus Questioned by Pilate
11 Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”

Jesus said to him, “You have said so.”

12 When He was accused by the chief priests and elders, He gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” 14 But He never answered him a word, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

Jesus Sentenced to Die
15 Now at the feast, the governor was accustomed to releasing to the people a prisoner whom they chose. 16 They had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 So when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you—Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew that they had handed Him over out of envy.

19 When he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous Man, for I have suffered much today in a dream on account of Him.”

20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and kill Jesus.

21 The governor answered, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?”

They said, “Barabbas.”

22 Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”

They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!”

23 The governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?”

But they cried out all the more, “Let Him be crucified!”

24 When Pilate saw that he could not prevail, but rather that unrest was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this righteous Man. See to it yourselves.”

25 Then all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”

26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But when he had scourged Jesus, he handed Him over to be crucified.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus
27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium, and gathered the whole detachment of soldiers before Him. 28 They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him, 29 and when they wove a crown of thorns, they put it on His head and put a staff in His right hand. They knelt before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 They spit on Him, and took the staff and hit Him on the head. 31 After they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own garments on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him.

The Crucifixion
32 As they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. This man they compelled to bear His cross. 33 When they came to a place called Golgotha, which means The Place of the Skull, 34 they gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to drink. But when He tasted it, He would not drink it. 35 When they crucified Him, they divided His garments by casting lots to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, “They divided My garments among themselves and for My clothing they cast lots.”[a] 36 And sitting down, they kept watch over Him there. 37 They put His accusation over His head, which read:

THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

38 Then two thieves were crucified with Him, one on the right and another on the left. 39 Those who passed by insulted Him, wagging their heads, 40 saying, “You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” 41 Likewise, the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked Him, saying, 42 “He saved others. He cannot save Himself. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. 43 He trusted in God. Let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him. For He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” 44 Even the thieves who were crucified with Him insulted Him in the same way.

The Death of Jesus
45 Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. 46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

47 Some of those who stood there heard it and said, “This Man is calling for Elijah.”

48 Immediately one of them ran, took a sponge, filled it with wine, and put it on a stick, and gave it to Him to drink. 49 The rest said, “Leave Him alone. Let us see if Elijah will come to save Him.”

50 And Jesus, when He had cried out again with a loud voice, released His spirit.

51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from the top to the bottom. And the ground shook, and the rocks split apart. 52 The graves also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had died were raised, 53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the Holy City and appeared to many.

54 When the centurion and those with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they feared greatly and said, “Truly He was the Son of God!”

55 Many women who were there watching from afar followed Jesus from Galilee, serving Him, 56 among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.

The Burial of Jesus
57 When the evening came, there came a rich man of Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. 58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. 59 When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out of the rock. And he rolled a large stone to the door of the tomb and departed. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.

The Guard at the Tomb
62 The next day, following the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered before Pilate, 63 saying, “Sir, we remember that deceiver saying while He was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ 64 Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’ The last deception will be worse than the first.”

65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard. Go your way. Make it as secure as you can.”

In three days the rock will have been rolled away and Jesus will have risen! God’s promises are true! Hold on to each other, pray for one another and lift your hearts to Him with Joy!

Never forget, God loves you, He really does!