Americans Love The Bible But Don't Read It Much, Poll Shows

By Caleb Bell
Religion News Service

(RNS) More than half of Americans think the Bible has too little influence on a culture they see in moral decline, yet only one in five Americans read the Bible on a regular basis, according to a new survey.

More than three-quarters of Americans (77 percent) think the nation's morality is headed downhill, according to a new survey from American Bible Society.

Dan Kimball: When 'Theology' Gets in the Way

I am not someone who cries often, but lately I have found myself emotionally moved to the point of tears several times.

What is causing such a strong emotional reaction? The rhetoric and tone some Christians use when they differ with others on theology or ministry methodology. I am not talking about major doctrines of historical orthodoxy. When such foundational teachings are compromised, we are instructed to defend the faith, teach correction, guard doctrine (1 Tim. 4:16). I also love robust arguments and fun discussions about our differences as evangelicals.

Breaking Out of The Christian Ghetto

Unbelievable, I said to myself, surveying my office. I had just been hired by a Christian organization, a place as close to paradise as I could imagine: no profanity, no off-color jokes, and no tales of drunken weekends. Having worked in the secular marketplace for more than 12 years, I now breathed in the wholesome air like a person getting a second chance at life. Could it get any better than this?

As it turned out, things became a little too good. I quickly settled into a routine of work, church, family and friends all Christian. I often felt a twinge of guilt when I thought of Lynn, a non-Christian co-worker at my former job. She had opened up to me about her personal problems, and I had befriended her and shared my faith with her.

Who's the pastor?

Review and insight from We Have This Ministry by Samuel Proctor and Gardner Taylor

In an age of declining youth and young adults desiring to be a part of organized religion, the church must evaluate what has caused this precipitous decent.  We must take a hard look at those who are charged with and aid our spiritual growth, the pastor.  Of course the pastor doesn't get all the blame, but he/she is the spiritual leader or undershepherd of congregations across the US and beyond thus necessitating the need to look at these spiritual leaders.  In The Last Dragon (click HERE to reminisce/remember), Sho'nuff asked Bruce Leroy the question, "Who's the Master?"  But Bruce was unwilling to acknowledge that Sho'nuff was the master.  Why?  Could it be that Sho'nuff did not exhibit the character of a master?  I also believe that Bruce Leroy realized that being the master wasn't about him, but those he cared about.  So I ask the question, "Who's the pastor?"

What will cause the great falling away?

"At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, ¹¹and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.¹²Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, ¹³but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 24:10)

I bet you have some great friends, I know I do. I believe they would drop everything to be there for me just as I would for them. Local churches are full of groups that consider themselves close. Yet Jesus says in the end times that MANY of these “friends” will betray and hate each other.

What We Can Learn About Preaching from 'Parks and Recreation'

For the moment, the sitcom seems to have forgotten to be funny. Or to be thoughtful. Or that I might even be watching.

Russell Moore [ posted 10/25/2012 ]

There aren't many television situation comedies left, and one of the last standing is NBC's Parks and Recreation. This show has succeeded so far with its creative and fresh writing, along with a talented ensemble cast of likable characters. I happened to catch a new episode last week though, and clicked it off.

The show was culture-warrior preachy, almost like a throwback to a 1970s Norman Lear sitcom. The more I thought about it, the more I realized there's something we ought to pay attention to about public discourse.

The episode was about an outbreak of sexually transmitted diseases among the elderly in a Pawnee, Indiana, nursing home. The show's lead character, councilwoman Leslie Knope, takes on the mantle of educating the elders about preventing STDs with condoms, and is stymied by a Religious Right activist and her stereotypically and flamboyantly gay husband. It turns out there is a law forbidding anything but abstinence education in Pawnee.

UnCHURCHED

Unplugging from being "churched" for a "Tru REALigion"

To quote 2 Chainz on the Understatement track, “Real recognizes real, and you don’t look familiar!”  Today’s society is looking for authenticity from the “faithful.”  In other words, has there been an expungement of the sermon by our lifestyle?  Have we been guilty letting our sermons outrun our character?  A lack of authentic “faithful”, in my opinion, has contributed to the growing number of disinterested individuals in religion.  I suggest that “REALigion” begets the notion of transparency and the ability to connect with people without the false pretense of having it all together.  It’s heretical to portray a life that is so far removed from our former lives.