While church members worldwide live various lifestyles, it does make one wonder what kind of christians have crossed their path. As Christ illustrates throughout the Bible, His lifestyle should be preferred. While people in general have various opinions about what they believe and understand in regards to those “core values” that you mentioned, many of their believes are like what the “heathen world” accepts and lives daily.

An easy example would be that a lot of people believe that it’s perfectly ok to live their lifes anyway they see fit regardless of the consequences. With this kind of believe and attitude it is easy to see how many individuals regardless of church background are confused and have obviously not been taught some basic Bible principals. Theology aside, without a belief and faith in God, Christ and the Holy Spirit, nothing else that is learned will be of any benefit to those that think just like the heathen world does.

As many individuals and families have adapted to accept worldly principles that favor their own desires for riches, pleasures and everything else that is in conflict with what the Bible teaches us to desire and accept as believers in Christ, there is little wonder why churches nationwide are having very little effect on it’s own members.

The answer to this problem is not an easy one. Those individuals and whole churches at times have to be willing to admit to themselves and to God that they have misunderstood what these “core values” are and repent so that the Holy Spirit might have the opportunity to work in their lifes. While this might be difficult and some times impossible for some to do, it’s the only answer that will survive God’s judgement.

Will the church survive with this kind of belief and attitude? Certainly many individual churches might fail and fall away, but Christ’s “church” will survive!

Great thoughts, and thanks for the important reminder, Clark.

I’m curious as to how many of those surveyed are regular church attendees, regular Bible readers, etc. and how many are people who maybe only go to church a couple of times a year, if then. I’m not suggesting a belittling of those who don’t regularly attend, but I think it would make a difference to the survey. There are a lot of people who call themselves Christians, but only because they were brought up in a Christian household/community and they sort-of/kind-of still believe to one extent or another.

Just now released digitally… The oldest Christian Bible on earth. Written over 1600 years ago and was seperated in 4 different countries until brought together for this web site. The site provides scans of the document, the original writing, and translations of that writing in 4 different languages.

It’s very impressive. I thought you’d be interested. I think it will be interesting to research verses and see how they differ from the NIV version bible I use today or, hopefully, how they don’t!