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The Changing Face of American Christianity
As we gather in Christian fellowship for that precious hour or two every week, it is important we take full advantage of the blessing of gathering, glorifying God, and for leaders – equipping the Body of Christ to be a bright light to a dark world. As the secular culture around us grows darker and more evil, all the more important that we understand the spiritual battle in front of us, put on the armor of God, and do righteous battle for the truth and for souls of our family, friends and neighbors.
This morning we share some good news about Asia Bibi from Pakistan, a strong warning from the publisher of Wisconsin Christian News, and a call to pastors to preach about the evils of abortion and rally church members to get involved for in the battle for human life in the womb. In our first segment we talk with Kevin Michalowski, an expert on church safety, about the importance of developing a security team at your church in the event of violence or an emergency.
Are American Christian Churches at a Crossroad?
In Mike’s latest book, “American Christianity’s Slide Toward Apostasy: What We Must Do Before It’s Too Late”, he details Satan’s five step plan to bring forth persecution to Bible-believing Christians in America. Spoiler alert: Satan has already accomplished four of the five steps, and step five is knocking at our doors!
We can see how this unfolds when looking at Communist China, where there is a state-sponsored Christianity that is forced to worship government instead of God, and an underground church that is being persecuted frantically. This morning, Mike and Crash contrast two stories from China: The Vatican selling out to Communist government officials and secondly, an underground Christian Church pastor whose home was just ransacked with him being hauled away to prison.
And we continue to look at how Christianity in America is being set up for a similar crossroad. Which churches or denominations will sell out to government and submit to it, and which will be driven underground and persecuted?
More Evidence of the Bible’s Truth
In our final segment, Mike and Crash continue to look at the growing spiritual insanity in our nation that is inviting the wrath of God on a people who kick Him out of public education and continue to promote the increasing murder of innocent children in the womb. Could God be reaching the point where His patience runs out and His wrath is felt here in America? Are we as Christians prepared if that happens?
First, we look at growing evidence supporting the Word of God, particularly concerning the Book of Exodus: the story of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt’s bondage. Ryan Mauro recently returned from a fascinating, secretive trip to Saudi Arabia and witnessed what he believes is astonishing artifacts and evidence that brings into new light the account in Exodus. Why has this evidence been secretly guarded and withheld from the world outside of Saudi Arabia? Ryan shares his amazing story and movie documentary with us this morning.
Exploiting Children: Part of the Left’s Agenda
Where’s our common sense? Doesn’t this attract pedophiles, child molesters and rapists? Why are so many adults just going along with all this? Evil is being called good.
Some of us saw this coming years ago, but how did we get to the point of openly sexualizing innocent children – and promoting it as acceptable? Things that were once unthinkable have become mainstream.
Comments, Questions & Answers
Mike and David read your questions and comments, but open with a commentary on the disgusting actions of the State of New York that will kill more babies and American Christianity’s collective cowardice in standing up for the lives of unborn children.
When “The State” thumbs its nose at God and proudly passes a law that will murder more children created in the image of God, and American Christianity Churches continue in their ringing silence and failure to stand up for those children, is the “church” becoming part of the problem rather than the solution?
Persecution of True Christians
Millions of Bible-believing Christians around the world live daily with the threat of imprisonment, torture, and even death because of their faith in Jesus Christ. Pray for them! But here in America with the blessing of our amazing Constitution and protection of religious freedom, few of us ever think about our persecuted family in Christ or pray for them. Some are even so foolish as to think it’s not our concern and it could never happen in America! Wow.
But with increasing attacks on Christians supported by Hollywood, the media and Democrat Party, it may indeed be knocking at our door as we see the hatred and ridicule of ramping up to unprecedented levels. Todd Nettleton of Voice of the Martyrs joins us to talk about the reality of life for Christians in nations like China, India, Iran and Africa.
And let us remember that as we spend an hour or so a week in comfortable chairs in our many churches, our brothers and sisters around the world are truly suffering for Christ—a fate that may well await us one day here in America.
Does Your Church Look More Like the World?
Mike and Crash continue to look at how a growing number of churches look more like the world instead of standing out against the growing sin and depravity of this culture. As spiritual insanity grows in America shouldn’t the church stand out in contrast all the more? But instead it seems many churches continue to modify their approach to growth by accommodating a growing sinful culture. The ‘gospel’ being preached has been sanded and watered down to the point that it is incapable of rescuing sinful man from the coming wrath of God.
This subtly creeps into the church through programs adopted and exported by churches like Willow Creek and Rick Warren’s “Purpose Driven Church” Model that is secularizing leadership in the church, creating a hierarchy where church leaders go unchallenged as expository preaching transitions into ‘life coaching’ and the gospel is presented as a holy God compromising His standards so that more might be ‘saved.’
Pastor Mike Abendroth of No Compromise Radio joins us to discuss this sad transition and also take a deeper look at Jesus’ teachings in Matthew Chapters 5-9.
Growing Moral Confusion in America
Mike and David continue to look at the growing spiritual and moral insanity taking over America and the influence it is having on American Christianity. The Bible warns us that in the final days good would be seen as evil and evil seen as good. We see this unfolding in our nation as the radical Left pushes an unbiblical worldview and establishes a new standard for supposed “morality” that completely contradicts the Word of God. And a growing number of churches embrace this unbiblical worldview in order to be seen as seeker friendly and accepting, even to the point that the church no longer has any influence on a decaying society.
Elijah Abraham is a former Muslim, now a committed born-again believer in Jesus Christ. He travels around the world teaching in churches in heavily Muslim nations equipping believers to reach people with the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Elijah talks about the moral decay in our nation contrasting how churches in areas of intense persecution approach church compared to America.
Is America Experiencing its Romans 1 Time?
In Romans chapter one, Paul explains that since men reject the truth of God, He turns them over to a reprobate mind to think and do evil in astounding ways. Their rejection and hatred of God fuels them to believe and do unthinkable evil.
Sixty million murdered children in mother’s wombs in the U.S.; homosexual marriage legalized; and gender dysphoria accepted as “normal” with the government paying for people to try to change their gender (something medical science says is quite impossible), all point to a collective depravity in a nation established under God’s Laws and moral principles. And in the meantime, American Christianity gladly allows secular culture to infiltrate and influence her to the point that churches and their members look more like the world than a unique, holy people.
Gary Kah of Hope For the World joins us to talk about these issues and discuss globalism, Israel, the political divide in the U.S., and a report that President Trump will be unveiling a peace plan for the Middle East that seems to have Israeli officials very nervous.
Listener’s Show: Your Questions and Comments
Here are some of the questions and comments from this past week:
The large company I am applying for proudly supports the LGBTQ agenda and contributes to related causes. I was excited about the opportunity before I learned this, but now am conflicted. What do you think?
My daughter just told me she is bisexual and I’m in shock. She grew up in church, went to a private Christian school and attends a Christian college. What angers me is the church generally accepts LGBTQ lifestyles now.
Please clarify a Scripture you shared on a recent podcast, 1 John 4:3 about spirits that deny Jesus came in the flesh and are not of God.
You said American Christianity is looking more like Babylon these days than the church Jesus shed His blood to redeem. I sense this as well but could you expound on it please?
Here in Canada, we don’t have anything like your show and the sell-out by the church to government has already happened. Please continue warning Americans!
My husband and I are heartbroken. Our 12 year-old son just announced he is really a woman. We’re completely caught off guard and don’t even know how to confront this.
The Difficulty in Finding a Biblical Church
There are still some sound biblical Christian churches in America; a “remnant,” to be sure. But a growing number look more and more like the world than they do an assembly of God’s called-out people. A difficulty arises when you have been a member of a historically sound church, but it has been in the midst of a transformation where it is adopting the beliefs and values of this fallen world. This gradual shift is often so subtle that you cannot see the drift away from God and toward secular humanism.
Pastor Randy White has studied this trend and joins us to discuss how this drift of the church away from God has transpired, how we can spot it, and how to find a biblical church in a sea of growing heresy and apostasy.
What Happened to My Church?
Many Christians in America are asking that question these days as we see a growing number of churches change. The Gospel of reconciliation being replaced with consumerism and our “best life now”; moves of the Holy Spirit being replaced with emotional manipulation through loud music and fog machines; and churches that look more and more like the world Jesus told us would hate us and that we should hate.
But the changes introduced into American Christianity have been so subtle that many people do not even notice them until one day we suddenly feel like a stranger and alien in the very church we attended for years.
Jan Markell of Olive Tree Views and Understanding the Times Radio joins us to talk about the growing concerns of serious Christians about what they see happening in many of our churches these days.
The Dangers of Masculinity
The American Psychological Association recently released a study calling out what it perceives as the dangers of traditional masculinity warning that it leads men to hating women and LGBTQ people. As men are “marketed” to by corporate America we see confusing messages on what it means to be a man these days.
Are we to be the strong, silent, rugged, macho guy? Or the sensitive, nurturing, submissive guy who sits back quietly and just accepts things the way they are?
If we listen to the world we will be continually confused about what it means to be a man. But not surprisingly God’s Word has a lot to say about what real men are.
This morning, Mike discusses this issue with Dave Wager of Nicolet Bible Institute. What does it mean to be a man of God in today’s world?
We also look at an interesting perspective from a Christian musician who says that youth these days are being conditioned to worship their own self-image, and since the world is sending wrong messages to our youth about what their image should look like it is leading to dire consequences for an entire generation.
The Feminizing of American Christianity
God created men and women equal but uniquely different. In His master plan, men are to be strong and loving leaders and wives are to respectfully submit to their husband’s leadership. The Christian church in America needs real godly men, but at the time when they are needed most many are confused about what it means to be a true man of God. The world and its institutions that hate God have successfully minimized and redefined manhood, reducing many men to confused, quivering bowls of jelly instead of principled, strong leaders for the church and their families. And some believe that church leadership is also responsible for accommodating this feminizing of Christian men because they are not teaching us what it means to be Godly leaders of wives, families, and communities.
Pastor Carl Gallups joins us to discuss how society’s emasculation of men is infecting American Christianity, leading to dire consequences.
Any Question Answered, No Topic Off Limits
Questions and Comments from this week include:
Our youth past or had the kids close their eyes, empty their minds, and meditate on whatever came into their minds. This is not a biblical form of meditation, is it?
Did one of your guests say that Jesus became a man to show us a good example of how to live by the law and be sinless?
Friends in our church say Jesus laid aside His deity in order to become a man. Would you please address this?
My son-in-law is an active Baptist, but because he is a government union employee, he always supports and votes for the Democrat Party. How can a pastor address this?
Thank you for calling out Rick Warren’s ‘Purpose-driven church’ model. My wife and I have been concerned about our own church ignoring sin and the pursuit of holiness, and watering down doctrine in the hopes of growing in numbers.
There is no such thing as ‘Christian yoga’ as it’s roots are from Hinduism, but this is a hot topic because many churches offer yoga and relaxation meditations.
We left our church of 11 years due to an over-emphasis on grace, denying God’s Spirit to convict believers of ongoing sin and the pursuit of holy living. It morphed into a complete misrepresentation of God’s nature.
Thanks for having Jay Seegert on to discuss God’s role in creation, Genesis, and the age of the earth.
We asked our pastor why there was no preaching on Bible prophecy and he said there are too many views on it and it would only lead to more confusion in the church if he taught on it.
After 10 years, the message at our church last week was we are wasting our time trying to understand the Old Testament, so focus on the gospel and words of Jesus. What is the end goal of this approach?
Pastors: Shepherds and Watchmen? Or CEOs and Cheerleaders?
Today, Mike and David continue to look at an article titled “Why is Christianity Failing in America?” We look at the role of pastors, comparing the duties laid out in God’s Word against the modern trends of American Christianity. If many of today’s pastors have become cheerleaders and CEOs instead of teachers and watchmen and protectors of the ‘flock,’ is it because we as narcissistic people prefer it that way? Do we prefer a church where we are assured of how wonderful we are instead of being challenged to grow in the knowledge and grace of Jesus Christ? Does modern American Christianity feed the flesh, or challenge us to pursue holy living
In our first segment, we visit with Aaron Marshall of Ratio Christi Ministries to discuss the challenges of campus ministry when many colleges are trying to squelch Christian ideas, values and free speech.
A Redefining of Christianity in America
This morning, Mike and David continue discussing how that which calls itself “Christianity” in America is becoming anything but biblical Christianity more and more. We look at a Lip Sync event at Luther Seminary in Minnesota to show just how far off the rails one denomination has fallen. We also look at a recent statement by the National Evangelical Association supporting the LGBTQ movement in its special rights under the guise of “equality.”
In our first segment, we talk with Art Ally of The Timothy Plan to discuss biblical generosity and how the money Christians invest in corporations and stocks is being used to either glorify God or support those who oppose biblical Christian values.
The Failure of Christian Churches in America
Mike and Crash continue to look at how Christianity in America is failing, some would say collapsing. The clearest sign is how the secular culture is infiltrating the Church instead of the Church affecting the culture.
This morning, we look at the facade of church growth and how Christianity is increasingly irrelevant in America and even in the lives of many professing Christians.
In the first segment, Don Veinot of Midwest Christian Outreach joins us to discuss how a United Methodist Church in Chicago offered a strange Christmas celebration focusing on the Islamic account of the birth of Jesus from the Quran while ignoring the biblical account. We also look at how the Occult is subtly influencing how many professing Christians look at God.
Are We Losing an Entire Generation to the Enemy?
As public education, media, and government have become clearly opposed to God in the preceding decades, we have reached a point in time when Christianity has gone from the prevailing belief system in our nation to one that is under intellectual assault at every turn.
Our children are immersed and indoctrinated by a public education system and entertainment industry that claims to offer them hope and truth when in reality, it is leading them to confusion and hopelessness. Yet many of us are concerned that the Church, which should be a beacon of light and truth set apart from the despair of this world, is actually being conformed to this world instead of being set apart from it.
This has been the result of rampant biblical illiteracy among a growing number of professing Christians that actually believe Jesus sinned while He was on earth. And if we believe Jesus actually sinned, what does that say about our belief in who God is and what He expects from us who claim to be His children?
Jay Seegert of The Starting Point Project travels the world defending the faith, talking about the truth of God’s Word and how we can combat the propaganda and lies being spread. Much of it comes back to the Genesis account in Scripture. Jay joins us this morning to talk about the state of biblical illiteracy infecting American Christianity and the effects it is having on young people—the future leaders of our nation and churches.
Listener Questions and Comments
It’s Friday! That means we get to discuss many more questions and comments sent in by Stand Up for the Truth listeners.
What is the name of your forthcoming book and can it be pre-ordered?
I was deeply disturbed by what the pope said, elevating Mary above Jesus. Can people be truly born again, if they remain part of an unbiblical church?
The Catechism teaches we are saved by faith in Jesus and God’s grace. I think you are taking what the Pope said out of context.
I left and recovered from the seeker-friendly, purpose-driven, NAR-ish, Christian country-club type church and teachings. Thank you for calling for accountability and sound doctrine!
Is it a lack of faith to believe something other than the pre-tribulation rapture?
What one or two disturbing trends in the American church do you think is the most dangerous?
Any concern about the direction of the modern contemporary Christian music industry?
My brother in law has become obsessed with not celebrating Christmas and Easter, arguing they are pagan holidays, and is causing strife in our family. Any advice?
Our pastor is a very nice man but I cannot recall one church service mentioning confession of sin, repentance, and aligning our will with God’s will. We have realized his sermons are more like cheer-leading sessions instead of challenging us to grow in Christ.
Between blatant heresy and simply watered-down preaching, at what point does a person decide it’s time to leave a church for a more mature body of believers?
Why Christianity is Failing in America
It’s important we look at a recent study that discusses the many ways professing Christianity is not only failing our nation, but many who attend church services every week. As the professing church continues to conform and compromise with the world Jesus told us we are to hate, a growing number of churches sacrifice the pursuit of holiness for entertainment and secular growth programs.
Mike and David touch on this dangerous path a growing number of churches and denominations are currently on – leading people away from God rather than drawing them nearer to Him and equipping the saints for ministry. Just as disappointing, we will address recent comments from Pope Francis’ January 1 “Mary Mother of God” Mass, including “we can do no better than to put our hands in hers and to acknowledge her as our life.”
In our first segment, Julaine Appling of Wisconsin Family Council shares a tragic decision by the State of Wisconsin to provide “gender reassignment” coverage for people under state Medicaid.
Lemay & Fiorazo: The Future of Christianity in America
2019 will bring powerful and unique challenges and opportunities for the Christian Church in America. Satan’s battle against the Church will intensify as he acquires more and more allies to join him in his plan to neutralize the Church by making it look more like the secular culture it is supposed to resist and oppose.
We start this new year by looking at the prophetic signs of 2018 that might be pointing to the return of the Lord, along with the increased persecution of true believers around the world. Is this persecution a preview of the life coming for true believers in America?
Your Questions & Comments
At the end of the week, Mike answers your questions and comments live on the program. This week, Crash is filling in for David to discuss:
Difference between apostasy and heresy
Eternal security of the Believer
Are we hypocrites when we admonish homosexuals while pretending we have no sexual sin in our lives?
More discussion around our victory in court earlier this month
Does our program share more Scripture daily than some local churches during their services?
Andy Stanley’s call to “unhitch” from the Old Testament
A New Age Invasion into Christianity
When we do not hide God’s Word in our heart and think on it regularly it is easy for false teachings and dangerous movements to find a place in our minds and hearts. Things that might sound good are actually dangerous beliefs that can lead us away from God and His Word, leading to all sorts of problems. While it is a broad term, “New Age” Philosophy is one of these dangerous belief systems, and we see it subtly infiltrating the hearts and minds of a growing number of professing Christians. James Walker of Watchman.org joins us to discuss the subtle dangers of New Age Philosophies.
In our final segments, Mike and Crash look at some news items that should grab our attention including China’s new way of identifying and arresting bible-believing Christians and Amazon’s embracing of Orwellian style surveillance systems cleverly cloaked as “security and convenience” for its customers.
Gathering for Worship at Christmas
Christmas Eve and Day are the most widely attended church gatherings every year in our nation. From committed believers to professing Christians fulfilling an “obligation”, millions gather to hear about the birth of Jesus Christ, God in the flesh. These church services vary in scope, with many just focusing solely on the birth of Jesus but others using the opportunity to hear the full gospel message, including His death, burial and resurrection. And many of the beliefs we have come to embrace about the Christmas celebration are a combination of scripture and man-made beliefs and traditions.
Pastor Randy White joins us this morning to discuss some facts about the time of the birth of Jesus we might not be aware of.