Good times produce decline and hard times In the hard times, God separates the wheat from the chaff. And in the end, those hard times produce strong men and women of God. Today, I am going to show you where I believe Christians and the church are at in God's refining His people for a stronger tomorrow. So lets's get started.

According to Gallup News in an entry March 25, 2024 titled “CHURCH ATTENDANCE HAS DECLINED IN MOST U.S. RELIGIOUS GROUPS”, Three in 10 U.S. adults attend religiously services regularly, led by Mormons at 67% by Jeffrey M. Jones.

Out of Washington, D.C.—As Americans observe Ramadan and prepare to celebrate Easter and Passover, the percentage of adults who report regularly attending religious services remains low. Three in 10 Americans say they attend religious services every week (21%) or almost every week (9%), while 11% report attending about once a month and 56% seldom (25%) or never (31%) attend

PROTESTANT/CHRISTIANS: 30% attend every week/13% almost ever week.

ISLAM/MUSLIM: 28% Every week/10% almost every week.

CATHOLIC: 23% Every week/10% almost every week.

JUDAISM/JEWISH: 16% Every week/6% almost every week.

MORMONS CHURCH: 21% attend every week and 9% almost every week.

BUDDHISM/BUDDHIST: 12% Every week/2% almost every week.

HINDUISM/HINDU: 7% Every week/6% almost every week.

ATHEISM/NONE: 2% Every week/1% almost every week.

The article points out that beyond Protestants, Catholics and those with no religious affiliation, that other religious groups each represent 2% or less of the U.S. population. The article reports that nearly all faiths are seeing declines in regular church attendance and that Church attendance will likely continue to decline in the future, given younger Americans’ weaker attachments to religion.

SO WHAT?

Is this a bad thing? NO. This trend is simply uncovering God's separating the authentic Christian from the cultural Christian-a separation of the wheat from the chaff. Unfortunately, for some churches this might means less tithe or income monetarily speaking.  

THE POINT

The central point of today’s entry is this: God is sifting so called “Christians” in America and the West before rebuilding an authentic, Christ centered, conviction based, biblically literate church. If we look more carefully, we can see that He has already started doing so in many Islamic countries throughout the world. Examples of explosive, authentic, church growth includes countries such as Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, China among others. Sadly, the West, especially in America, churches are filled with soft, cultural Christian teaching and medeocre, saltless Christians. Christians in America, understandably more often than not take their freedom of religion, access to unlimited Bibles and biblical materials for granted. As a consequence, most people who confess to be Christians are more cultural then authentic.

THE CHAFF-THOSE WHO BUILD THEIR HOUSE UPON THE SAND

When the culture comes immorally unraveled as we see today, the established Christian moral and ethical standards comes under fire and challenged as the norm. As a result, Christians fall into "APATHY" under "FOTU" (Fear Of The Unknown). And today's cultural Christian is unprepared to face the immoral, evil attacks on Christians and all mankind due to their being biblically illiterate. "49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.” (Luke 6:49).

THE SECULAR FLOOD OF ADVERSITY

When the flood of the secular world, government and culture rise, the cultural Christian fails in their faith or what they considered to be an authentic faith to begin with. In many cases, those falsely assumed to be authentic Christians are not only shaken out but washed away into the godless-cultural landscape of the modern culture And sadly, in many if not most cases, their faith dimmishes and their lives often fall apart.

THE WHEAT-THOSE WHO BUILD THEIR FAITH-HOUSE UPON A ROCK

On the other hand, the authentic Christian (the wheat) who build their house on a firm foundation, digging into the Word of God and building his or her house deep, laying their foundation on the ROCK of God and His Word, when the floods of cultural compromise and immoral failure come, the house is not shaken because it has been build well and on God’s Truth. Consider the following:

46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? 47 Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.[a] 49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.” (Luke 6:46-49).

IN CONCLUSION: It’s a fact that throughout history, good times produce atrophy and human decline which lead to hard times. But it's in the hard times that God separates the wheat from the chaff. In the end, those hard times produce strong men and women of God. I believe that we are well into the cycle of hard times which is clearly separating the wheat from the chaff. The numbers are in and according to Gallup News in an entry March 25, 2024 titled “CHURCH ATTENDANCE HAS DECLINED IN MOST U.S. RELIGIOUS GROUPS”, it's become clear that three in 10 U.S. adults attend religiously services regularly. As for PROTESTANT/CHRISTIANS: Only 30% attend every week and 13% almost ever week. Interestingly, ISLAM shows that MUSLIM only go to Mosque weekly 28% of the time and almost every week 10%. This seems to indicate that the secular, material driven culture in the West and throughout the world is effecting all relgions. Even for CATHOLICS, only 23% attend church every week 10% almost every week.

Going back to May 14 of 2019, The Christian Post wrote an article called "God is separating the wheat from the chaff in our country" (United States) by David Hoffman, Voices Contributor wrote: "Speaking of Jesus, John the Baptist, Matthew 3:12 says, "His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He is clear His threshing floor, gathering His wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire". This this particular verse has eschatological significance, in application, it's valid on some level as to what God is doing in our modern culture in the United States and beyond. 

Many Christians find themselves in the dilemma, having to face the truth of their faith and if they will chose to stand up for Christ or stand down and get absorbed into the godless, secular culture. Those who are committed to Christ are committed to living "righteously" and committed to an actual, pure and undefiled life according to biblical leading and the Holy Spirit. Now, more than ever before, the lines of separation are being drawn, God is purifying His church in the United Stated and in Europe.

God is now revealing people's hearts., As he does this, a separating similar to what is seen in Matthew 3:12 is occurring right before our very eyes. We can be assured of one thing which is that God is not finished working in our nation. We can also be assured that He will not use a compromised church. God does not use the compromised, sinful, or egotistical to display His power. It now becomes clear that the current state of the church in America and Christians all across the country are finding themselves having to choose. Look around you. Can you see the WHEAT from the CHAFF?

We took the boys camping and fishing up to Linville Gorge, NC this past weekend. FLY FISHING not just any old fishing. It was wonderful to see my son really take to a sport that demands a high level of patients as he was the last boy to catch a fish, the only boy to wade into the water for hours, and who ended up catching the largest fish of the day. He said, “Dad, I am going to catch a fish if it takes me until 11pm tonight!”. He sat with Tripp, our senior leader who spent time showing he and the boys how to prepare the line, cast, fish, and the art of patients.

As a take away, I am reminded that our Heavenly Father sits patiently, preparing us through His Word to do His mission; namely the Great Commission found in Matthew 28. For all the reasons God puts us on this earth, leisure is a by-product and a secondary thing to doing His work, enjoying Him, and leading others to Him as the true meaning of life. The term “Fishers of  men” is a phrase used in the New Testament to describe God’s mandate given in Matthew 28 through Jesus as the last thing He left us upon descending into heaven. But that was the Great Commission to “Make disciples of all the earth” which includes being fishers of men. The actual term "fisher of men" started when Jesus started His public ministry. Simon called Peter and Andrew, were casting  their fishing nets into the Sea of Galilee but caught nothing. They had been fishing ALL NIGHT and as very, very experienced and seasoned fishermen-still had caught no fish. Jesus came along and asked them to cast out their nets to one side of the boat. At first, they (as professional fishermen) attempted using human logic to communicate to Jesus that there were no fish to be caught in that area at that time. Jesus persisted, was patient and told them to put their nets down. They finally put their nets down and caught so many fish, the nets nearly broke from the weight of the fish. Then, Jesus called them to follow Him and told them that in doing so they were to become “fishers of men”. That famous phrase is mentioned in Matthew 4:19 and Mark 1:17 (…He said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19).

With all the crazy things going on in this world, I am reminded through these boys that God is in control. This was reflected in the youthfulness, hopefulness, patients and faith of these young Christian men. I am proud of my son and all the boys. But as a human father, I am elated to see my son’s patients, faith, dependence on God, and desire to become and develop into a godly young man, and a “fisher of men”. I am thankful for Tripp, our faithful, senior leader who took the "time" out of his life and away from his family to sleep in a tent and teach these boys how to fish and much more about life in the process. What else can I ask for?

The world is changing rapidly and will become something very different than we have known it to be or can even imagine it can become. Despite such a scenario, God is the same because he never changes. Neither does being a fisher of men-that never changes either. It cannot be emulated by AI or administered through some government agency or any organization. It boils down to good old fashion relationships and taking the time to share the Word, Love, and Truth of Jesus Christ. But, it's up to you, me all Christians to be fishers of men for the next generation. God will get the job done as the Ultimate Fisher. It’s a blessing for us to be servant fishers of men in His service.

So, driving back, tired as can be after sleeping in a tent, on a sleeping pad for two days, I was reminded through the fellowship of other godly servant dads and these boys, that life in the present is good in Him. And to see these young men become future “fishers of men” is better than all the riches in the world. And that, I am grateful for. All of a sudden, the craziness of this political season and nuts world seems silly in light of eternity. It more like a bunch of young boys and girls fighting at recess over control of the play ground. Let’s pray for these young men-that they, along with other godly young men and young ladies will lead America and the next generation back to a more stable, biblically based state, dependent on God, and unwavering in their mission to become “fishers of men and women” around the world. “Dad, I am going to catch a fish if it takes me until 11pm tonight!”. PATIENCE. I think that says it all:). Have a wonderful and blessed week-Steven

(SPECIAL THANKS TO TRIPP GABRIEL AND CHRIST COVENANT CHURCH IN MATTHEWS, NC for hosting the Trail Life Troop 0413. The church leadership is very involved with the troop and has given my son and many other young men great mentoring, leadership training, and godly character development. I want to to recommend that anyone with a son as young as five years old up through Highschool to pleas visit the troop one Thurday evening at 7:00 pm.)

“THE SIX STAGES OF ALL GREAT & GODLY EMPIRES-Explained Biblically”

What happens when a great and godly generation passes away on a younger, undisciplined and godless generation takes over?

In the infamous book, “The Fourth Turning”, the answer is given in great detail within the framework that difficult times raises up strong people which produce good times, which produce a lazy undisciplined people who usher in tough times. I recommend everyone read that book. Today, I am going to show you through the biblical Book of Judges, the six basic stages that Israel went through and that all nations proclaiming the God of the Universe as their God go through from a spiritual, biblical and freedom perspective. And this is especially true of the present state of the United States-so let’s get started.

NOTE BENE: The United States and Europe are not Israel, but God's ways are consistent and I believe accurately portrayed in today's episode in application.

The United States has gone from being the best cheese on the block to Swiss cheese-riddled with holes to the point of being hollowed out-held up by a mere framework of Christians who are hanging on as the remnant and by many who are intellectually wanting in light of having a faith driven primarily by emotion. While God has both intellect and emotion and has bestowed that upon his created beings-namely the human race, we are called, as those made in His image, to toughen up and do the mission He has called each of us to and stop crying in our apathy. We ought to reduce or our complaining about what we have lost and start doing the mission on the ground level. It’s ok to feel scared, lonely and worried about the future-but that must be kept in check as we muster the courage in God’s strength the do the mission He has called us to. Isn’t that the purpose of life?

The book of Judges provides us with a sixth turning if I can call it that and in today’s episode, I will share where I see the United States and where I see Europe in terms of which stage. Let’s go into today’s lesson with the understanding that all nations rise and fall as great civilizations. The good news is that once a nation falls, it can being to heal and return as something new but different-but not what it was prior. Today, I am going to summarize this in five short verses (and then beyond)-starting in Judges 2:8-12. Let’s jump in by reading Judges 2.

JUDGES 2:8-12 - “And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110 years. And they buried him within the boundaries of his inheritance of Timnath…And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who DID NOT KNOW the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel. And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals. And they abandoned the the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt.They went after other gods, from among the gods of the poles who were around them, and bowed down to them. And they provoked the Lord to anger” (Judges 2:8-12).

You can read the passage for yourself and perhaps break down the stages yourself. For now, I am going break this passage down into six parts-showing your the stages that Israel repeated time and time again in their rise and fall, based on their obedience to blessing, and then forgetting God and disobedience which led to their fall and being taken over or invaded by foreigners until they repented and returned to the Lord once again. Let’s jump right in.

1. STAGE ONE: CONSERVATIVE LEADERSHIP DIES/PASSES AWAY: “And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110 years” (vss. 8-10). It’s typical for civilizations and great (and small) nations to place their full faith in their leadership. But when that nation get’s comfortable and fails to remain sharp and disciplined in living a godly life, seeking God’s word and ways, they eventually forget God and become detached in relationship with Him. We saw this for example with President Ronald Reagan in America and Margaret Thatcher in the UK.
2. STAGE TWO: THE REST OF THE GENERATION PASSES AWAY: (“And all that generation also were gathered to their father” (vs.10). Like America seeing it’s leader Ronald Reagan who spoke about America as the city being a light upon a hill for the rest of the world, after his death, naturally many godly leaders grew old and passed away after him until a generation of godly leaders were gone. This seems to be a short time ago in America and in Europe.
3. STAGE THREE: THE NEW, YOUNGER GENERATION TAKES OVER NATIONAL  AND CULTURAL LEADERSHIP: “And there arose another generation after them…” (vs.10a). What does “another generation mean? It often means a generation who had an easier life filled with pleasure, recreation and lack of difficulties as compared to their parents generation. As a result, they often lose their edge theologically and with regard to their resolve to stand strong on God’s ways which more often than not-not popular with secular world characters and leadership who have other ideas for the direction of the world. As a result, they get away from God which leads to stage four.
4. STAGE FOUR: BUT THAT GENERATION TURNS THEIR BACK ON THE LORD-THE TRUE GOD OF THE UNIVERSE: (vs.10b) “…And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel” (vs.10). This is the stage I believe America is in today more so than even Europe who I believe is in stage five. America has been and is turning their back on the God of the Universe in record numbers. I compare the American church American culture in general (but not all churches of course) like Swiss cheese in that the church is still strong in part, but is being hollowed out with tunnels of emptiness and secularism. Don’t forget that like Swiss Cheese, when something is hallowed out, I’m not reformable because it simply does not exist. Emptiness is nothingness. That doesn’t mean the remnant cannot cry out to God and return to His Word and Ways, which is the last stagnate-only that the emptiness is just that, empty. And nothing exists in a vacuum, so that emptiness is filled with secularism which is always very temporary, Islam, which is very long term, or socialism and communism, which is secularism. This leads us to stage five.
5. STAGE FIVE: THE NEW GENERATION REAP WHAT THEY SOW IN THAT THEY ABANDONED THE LORD THE GOD OF THEIR FATHERS: “And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals. And they abandoned the the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, from among the gods of the poles who were around them, and bowed down to them" (vss.11-12a). This is where Europe has been for some time and where the United States is heading and in some areas already is. We are starting to increasingly sow what we have reaped after abandoning the Lord the God of our fathers, especially to the degree we have done that over the past few decades. And this leads us to the sixth and final stage.
6. STAGE SIX: FINALLY, THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE PROVOKE THE ANGER AND JUDGEMENT OF THE LORD WHO ABANDONS THE POEPLE AND NATION-ALLOWING THEM TO BE PLUNDERED BY THEIR ENEMIES TO THE POINT OF GREAT DISTRESS: “And they provoked the Lord to anger. They abandoned the Lord…So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel and He gave them over to the plunders, who plundered them. And He sold them into the hand of their enemies, so that they could no longer withstand THEIR ENEMIES. WHENEVER THEY MARCHED OUT, THE HAND OF THE LORD WAS AGAINST THEM FOR HARM, AS THE LORD HAD WARNED, AND AS THE LORD HAD SWORN TO THEM. AND THEY WERE IN TERRIBLE STRESS” (vss. 12b-15).

Stage Six is where the United States is today. My sense is that Europe has began to already turn from stage six back to God and His ways to some degree if not a much greater degree. As for the United States, we have a bit to go in that we are just feeling God’s hand of blessing withdrawn from our country, allowing us to be PLUNDERED by our enemies. This is evident in China’s flooding the United States with Fentanyl, killing 100,000 young people a year. The boarder ending with 10-Million migrants, many of which are from China, Africa and many Muslim countries, and none of which are educated, skilled in most cases, often with ill intent and no resources to live. Many of those non-Americans are being hired by police departments and into the military in exchange for U.S. Citizenship. I won’t go any further because you get the point.  “So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel and he gave them over to plunderers, who plundered them. And he sold them into the hand of their surrounding enemies…” (Judges 2:14).

OUR HOPE-WE ARE CLOSE TO A NEW TURNING

“But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel, who saved them, Othniel the son of Kenya’s, Caleb’s younger brother. The Spirt of the Lord was upon him, and he judged Israel. He want out to war, and the Lord gave Cushan-Tisha Thais king of Mesopotamiainto his hand. And his hand prevailed over Cushn00rishatham. So the land had rest for forty years. Then Othniel the son of Kenya’s died” (Judges 3:9-11). And upon Othniel’s death, they went back to stage one. BUT, the good news is that God delivered Israel’s and He can deliver us today if we are as a nation, people and individuals obedient to and return to Him!

CONCLUSION

The good news is that once a nation falls, it can repent and ask God for healing, and return as something new but different than it was prior. So this is what happens when a great, godly generation passes on and leaves the kingdom-land to the next generation. They often get sucked up into false god’s and secularism due to their leaning on the leader God provided them as opposed to God himself. In the infamous book, “The Fourth Turning”, which in its first printing (1997) by William Strauss and Neil Howe opens with a single page with a Bible verse in the King James, which I show in the ESV which says: "That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away" (Ecclesistes 3:15). 

I recommend reading “The Fourth Turning” in its newly released form which was published around July of 2023. Today, we learned through the Book of Judges, the six basic stages of all great and godly nations that rise to power and then fall, due to their forgetting the true God of the universe and then what they can do to eventually return to prosperity through obedience to God, invoking His blessing and provision. Folks, this is where the United States, Europe, and much of the West is today. I hope you will study the Book of Judges for yourself and think about what this means in your own God given personal mission as history beings to move along in this new age. Please be encouraged that the only constant is change, and God is in control. As such, we have a purpose in this lifetime beyond a comfortable, affluent and recreation filled life. We are here to glory God and do the work He has called us to, despite the circumstances. To me, that’s exciting if we keep our perspective Christ and biblically centered. So, let’s get out there and do the mission and enjoy the ride He has called us to.