Searching for Truth in a Pluralistic World
The CHRIST Culture Blog | August, 2020 | Rev. Dr. Carole Hulslander
Today we are watching the numbers of Christians being persecuted increasing around the world and our ancient history and culture destroyed. “World Watch List” keeps me updated on what is happening around the world concerning my sisters and brothers in CHRIST. I would highly recommend this site to you also. We can join in prayer and in our efforts for all these nations.
Here in America we are not facing the level of persecution observed in many other nations, but we are facing oppression from many different factions and a lack of faith in those who call themselves by HIS name. Christians are not attending Church and therefore we are finding more who call themselves Christian but do not believe in the gospel. A survey conducted by the “Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University” found that American adults today increasingly adopt a “salvation-can-be-earned” perspective. A plurality of adults (48 percent) believe that if a person is generally good, or does enough good things during their life, they will “earn” a place in heaven. Only one-third of adults (35 percent) disagree.”
Many “Christians” are no longer studying the Bible, and if they are reading it they are often reading it only superficially, looking for sections they personally agree with or using it to feed a narcissistic need for a “positive” or “flattery” verse for themselves. Many have walked away from the Church as the Bible warns us about in 2 Thessalonians 2:3. Paul is warning believers what to expect before the second coming of CHRIST JESUS. There will be an apostasy defined as: treachery, faithlessness, disloyalty, betrayal, desertion, or heresy which we are certainly seeing in the Church here in America and in other places around the world.
2 Thessalonians 2:8 “And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the LORD JESUS will kill with the breath of HIS mouth and render powerless by the manifestation of HIS coming, 9 the one whose coming springs from the power of Satan in every mighty deed and in signs and wonders that lie, 10 and in every wicked deceit for those who are perishing because they have not accepted the love of truth so that they may be saved. 11 Therefore, GOD is sending them a deceiving power so that they may believe the lie, 12 that all who have not believed the truth but have approved wrongdoing may be condemned.”
Now, some reading this may be shaking their head, while their minds are swimming in all the lies that have been pushed as truth lately. To list just a few of the lies: “there can be more than two genders,” “men can give birth to babies,” “killing babies in the womb is not murder but a right,” and many more. JESUS is the truth, (John 14:6) and by loving HIM daily we are in fact loving truth. This will keep us free from the deception of the lawless one (John 8:31-32). As we search Scripture to know more about CHRIST JESUS and study with other believers, we become secure in the will of the FATHER as we believe, trust in, and cleave to the ONE the FATHER sent. This is our work (John6:29). This is CHRIST Culture!