I believe part of the answer to your question is that to 'be victorious' is NOT to 'conquer this WORLD', but to defeat 'death' through 'life'. And 'straight is the gate and narrow IS the WAY that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it'.
I know the end goal isn't to conquer the world, though certainly it is A goal. But yes the spiritual goal of life should be our utmost pursuit.
P.S. For the record I think you are on to something with this entire post (it just needs to be worked on an expounded upon a little bit) and you actually repeated some of the things I had already said about things getting easier and more comforting (go back an look at my list of such things like TV, magazines, CDs, etc.). But, in agreement with Drew, you are to some degree assessing the human condition from a doctrinal standpoint. I say this not to make arguement against your post but to point out the reality of how you cannot seperate the two (or atleast must reference one against the other for comparison), especially if you are comparing a present "regression" of doctrine in light of past or future (prophecy) patterns shown us in the Bible. With this said I will continue.
My point. The indication is that there will be FEW that 'overcome' the temptations of this life and receive the gift.
Well now - I must know - are you talking about prophecy here? Because if we are just dealing with "prophetical facts" of whether people will be weaker in their faith and doctrine in the end then there is no need to assess what people believe now. We might get an inkling of which direction it is heading but prophecy ultimately wins out since God is all knowing. But mind you God has always promised to keep a remnant. And even if America (and other non-3rd-World countries) are regressing in the Christian faith, you must admit that there is also great revivals happening in other places on the earth (PLEASE go back and read my post where I talked about this), and this could be the remnant. However, the Bible doesn't say that there will be
just a remnant, so there could actually be many believing saints in that day. But no question about it the road is hard and the Bible gives that long list of how people in the end times will be "lovers of themselves, disrespectful to parents, selfish, etc, etc." so we see a degredation of the "human condition" but this does not reflect directly on Christian doctrine thus does not mean that
doctrine will necessarily enter into "regression". Infact knowledge will increase in the last days. Those strong in the Lord will grow stronger, and those weak or unbelieving will be like what Paul mentioned:
the people who are always learning but never come to the knowledge of the truth.
But I need to know your emphasis here. What exactly are you trying to evaluate?
0h, I'd like to 'think' that it's as simple as saying 'I believe in Christ', (as many 'seem to think' it is), but I belive that it's a 'bit' more intricate that that. For there WILL be many that say this and direct it towards a 'different' Christ. For these, they are blinded and lost, REGARDLESS of what name they pray in, God KNOWS their hearts and 'who' they TRULY worship.
No doubt "cheap Christianity" won't cut it. But if we are talking about the strength of Christian doctrine as held by people in the end days then how would any deception in doctrine be different than the deceptions & heresies that already existed at the time of the Apostles? Intensity? That might be so, but why say Christian doctrine will degrade because of it? There may be
less Christians but who says those few Christians will have
weak doctrine? I cannot personally belive that.
And PLEASE, let's us take the 'state' of God's people to 'some other thread'. I do not desire to discuss that issue on a thread that was designed to deal with DOCTRINE rather than the 'state of man'. Yes, the state of man is certainly an imiportant issue, but THE issue here concerns 'doctrine', NOT whether God's presence exists.
Now, some neat points have been rasised so far.
Let me see if I can offer a brief 'semi-summary'.
Doctrine DOES have an influence on the beliefs of the 'general congregation'. MOST doctrine is 'believed' to be inspired. Doctrine itself is CERTAINLY 'evolving'. And most believe that it's been doing so 'for the best?' That man is becoming MORE enlightened to God's Word and in greater numbers than 'ever before'?
Ok.
I agree with some of this and some of it is obviously 'tainted' by the very doctrine that I believe is REGRESSIVE. I know that there are many that have been 'influenced' by the 'church thing'. By this I refer to the 'part' of churches that seems to 'demand' that everyone 'act' the 'same' way when discussing things pertaining to God. That MOST are placed in a position of 'feeling' that there is certain 'behavior' that MUST be adhered to in order to be 'accepted' as 'one of us'.
This is NOT necessarily a 'bad' thing. But sometimes I think that many don't really understand why and do it out of 'emulation' rather than 'understanding'.
My point? It's real easy to take the position that; becaue God is 'good' and that He LOVES us, that 'everything is going to be OK'. That because 'we' are going to church, or reading 'a little' in the Bible. Or throwing a 'few bucks' in the plate each week leads us tobelieve that we are OK. Choosing to 'see' God as some sort of 'cure all' for everything.
Now, to break it down. First of all, the MOST dramatic change that I have seen in 'technology' is NOTHING more than the 'comfort' that it offers so far as making our lives more 'trouble free' so far as 'work' is concerned.
Where did THIS idea 'come from'? I know, I've heard it stated with each sucsessive generation, "Boy, things sure were tougher when I was a kid''. or 'We didn't have all this stuff when I was a kid''. or 'we use to play with an old tire rim with a stick'', kinda stuff.
Have put on 'a few' years myself, I MUST admit that the 'living' of life is EASIER than it EVER has been in history, (for the majority of those to which I speak). BUT, does this really have ANYTHING to do with God? Is this REALLY what He would 'choose' for us? To simply seek out an 'easier life'. One with LESS work and more 'comfort'? Hmmmmm..............
I briefly commented on this section above. I agree that comfort is increasing, etc, etc. But like I said, to an extent, this is evaluating some of the human condition. But that's ok, its a good thing because it reinforces a view or backdrop against which we can look at docrine's 'progression' or 'regression'.
I DON'T think so. As a matter of fact, I don't just, 'not think so', I believe that we have MUCH scriptural PROOF that this is CERTAINLY NOT what He would have for those that 'seek after HIM'.
If a so-called Christian gets caught up in the comfort of the world, I would doubt if they are truely saved (but that's a whole 'nother arguement altogether), but the Bible says, "
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God"
(James 4:4).
This would describe a lukewarm person.
Now, what happened to 'allow' those that 'think' that 'this life is 'closer' to God's plan' than that of two thousand years ago'? Most that have posted can clearly SEE the point that I'm trying to make here. Most realize 'just what a mess' this world is in. I ask those that 'realize' this as I have portrayed, 'the state of mankind', and ask you this, HOW is it that there are ANY others that 'see' this 'differently'? Where did 'their understanding' COME FROM?
Watering down the Gospel is certainly not good and even destructive, but I'm atleast a little glad that there ae some evangelists out there like John Bevere giving wake-up calls to America (and throughout the world) to
fear God and to be
sanctified, pure, and holy before God. These are the messages we need to be hearing, in order to persevere and progress in the Christian life.
God Bless,
~Josh
