Linkathon!
What Germany did to families of resistance members…
Newsboys Michael Tait accused of sexual assault…
Trump may be loosing his grip on MAGA preachers…
Complete sham Sean Feucht callas report accusing him of sin “complete sham”…
Are members of the clergy miserable?
Walter Bruggemann’s gift of disruption…
The Anabaptist vision of politics…
The improbable revival of the cloister…
The spiritual tradeoff of skipping church…
American Worldview Inventory 2025…shocking research on what American Christians actually believe
1.Most Americans believe in a supreme power, but not the God of the Bible…
2.Americans minimize the role of God in their lives…
3.Most Americans, including Christians…reject the Trinity!
4.Millions of Americans could be persuaded that God exists…under the right conditions…
5. Shifts in faith allegiance and moral confusion…
6.Americans hold contradictory and unbiblical views about moral truth…
Why are young men flooding into the church? Fascinating talk with an Orthodox priest…
Great article on wolves by Steve Brown. Love that guy and his writings.
“American Worldview Inventory 2025…shocking research on what American Christians actually believe”
1. in particular:
The findings are extremely lamentable, but based on recent discussions here, not totally surprising. If goodwill permits, the survey provides fodder for useful discussion.
None of the recent discussions cast doubt on any cardinal doctrine of Christianity as stated in the early creeds and confessions.
They may have challenged other assumptions, but the faith once delivered was untouched.
“One reason fascist-like governments do these things is to frighten dissidents into silence and would-be criminals into law-abidingness. “Look what we do to families of people who do bad things.” That is a sure sign of something terribly wrong in the mentality of leaders. Enlightened people do not do that. Good people do not do that.”
From today? Could be.
— Written by Anne Frank
June 13, 1843
1943!
Well, well, well…Jack Hibbs knows at least a little bit of truth.
Franco of Spain and Pinochet of Chile had the minor children (under age 5) of the “enemies” they had executed adopted out to their friends. There are still adults in both countries trying to locate their birth families. It’s disgraceful. With the number of people being deported, we are going to have a number of children being raised by the state or by adoptive parents. I find it concerning.
For all the lip service given to the “Judeo-Christian” heritage…I’ve never seen such callousness and cruelty from people claiming to know Christ in my lifetime.
It is almost demonic.
Hibbs in ass covering mode. What a sick pr spin. I hope the rest of whatever this was lifted from has ownership by Hibbs et al calling Trump ‘Cyrus’, ‘God’s chosen’ and cajoling, demanding, mandating and calling it SIN to not vote for Trump.
Where’s the Charlie Kirk sizzle reel? Where’s the rah-rah? “Is this the end of the dynasty?” You mean the one you’ve been trying to establish and prop up?????? You’re best qualified to answer that, Jack. Did some pillar of the dynasty conk you on the noggin???
This clip is ridiculously self serving – ‘how did this all happen???’ and the pivot to ‘It’s because Israel policy’. C’mon, man.
For a one minute clip, Hibbs served up everyone else but himself.
He should have said “Man, I screwed up and got caught up in godless hype” he rolls out with this???
I hope there’s a mea culpa in the remainder of that PR but I can’t sniff it out in that clip.
Once again, watching an “expert” immolate their credibility is rough when they’ve attached themselves to the Gospel and syncretized their monetizing to the Gospel is BRUTAL.
I’m somewhat animated by this. Jesus help me, Holy Spirit don’t let me become embittered. Redeem the garish obscenity this politicization has been on Your Good Name, Father God.
Hibbs has made a fortune promoting anti-Christ attitudes and people.
When the dust settles the gravy train will roll on.
In the meantime, real pastors trying to emulate Christ in front of their congregations are losing everything, including their sense of vocation.
Most signed up to be shepherds and teachers…not prophets.
Prophet is all that is left and what is necessary, but we know what they do to prophets…
I have zero sympathy for grown adults who sit under guys like Hibbs.
Not to mention forking over their hard earned moohlah to him.
The American Worldview Inventory 2025 research reveals just about what we thought it would – that American contemporary theology is an inch thick and a mile wide. The question is, who or what is responsible this disaster? We could blame the clergy, but it goes deeper than that. What about the seminaries and Bible colleges that are training them? What about the church leadership that allowed this to happen? Make no mistake about it, this is a multi- generational disaster…
Regarding the video, I want to comment that Something IS Happening.
When I first visited my parish 25 years ago, there were so few in attendance that there were talks of shutting the parish down. There were Sundays when Fr. G came out with the Chalice and there were no takers so he turned around and went back into the altar. This morning my husband estimated that there were more than 60 people in the Communion line, baptized Orthodox Christians who had been to Confession and had kept the Eucharistic fast. Apart from that group, there was a group of inquirers and catechumens, mostly young men, who were working up towards being able to receive Communion. So the congregation went from five people to 100 people (estimation) in 25 years. No programs, no outreach, just Fr. G being faithful to his calling as a priest.
Something is happening. This is the situation in almost every Orthodox Church I am personally aware of. There is a parish in southern California that baptizes over 100 people each year, people who had attended a one-year catechumen course, and, mostly young men but also, as in our case, young families with babies and toddlers.
Glory to God for all things!
We are all a little dumbfounded. We don’t know how long it’s going to last but as Fr. Andrew said in the video, the moment we start getting triumphalistic about it and taking credit, it will sour.
I some of these young men chose my husband for their godfather, a most excellent choice. When I ask them, and the other young men who show up, what brings them and they say they want serious Christianity that expects something of them. Well, that was my reason, too. I think the current cultural chaos has caused young men to look for stability.
Duane,
I knew things were bad…but not as bad as that survey shows.
This is why Packer would always say the greatest task in front of us was to catechize…
“When I ask them, and the other young men who show up, what brings them and they say they want serious Christianity that expects something of them.”
I think there is something to be said about this…Christianity is not about passively receiving information…
Xenia,
Could you elaborate on two things:
1. What does EO expect of Christians that Evangelical churches do not?
3. What stability does EO offer young men that Evangelical churches do not?
Thanks!
Hi Jean, an Orthodox Christian should have morning and evening prayers, keep the 4 yearly fasting periods (Lent, Apostles’ fast, Dormition fast and Advent) and the Wed and Friday fasts, and attend Liturgy regularly. They should go to confession and receive Communion with a clean conscience. Almsgiving is an expectation. Additionally, they should follow the Lectionary to keep up with Bible-readings. How well the Christian follows these guidelines is between him and God but following them really helps to keep a person in the faith. People will ask “Do you think these things make God love you better?” No, but they help me love Him better.
Stability. Well, there are few, if any, novelties in an Orthodox service. Theology will never change. No one is ever going to install video screens up front. The music is ancient and quite different from the music most people are used to. Teenage boys are seen carrying around a copy of the writings of St Maximo’s the Confessor. No electric guitars or drum sets, barely any need for electricity at all. This is how it has been for centuries. It’s predictable, it’s Christianity. We’re not going to change anything to accommodate a degraded culture but come and be changed by the power of the Holy Spirit!
Xenia,
“People will ask “Do you think these things make God love you better?” No, but they help me love Him better.” Amen! And I would add: And trust Him more.
“We’re not going to change anything to accommodate a degraded culture but come and be changed by the power of the Holy Spirit!” Amen! I imagine this contrast will only grow as culture further degrades.