Ask any saved, Bible believing preacher you want what per-centage of his local church is saved and listen to his answer. You’ve got to remember though, that just as seventy five percent of the church is not saved, a full fifty percent of the preachers are not either.

So, be careful who you ask. What brought on this sad state of affairs in Christ’s church? Why will any Spirit filled preacher tell you most of his congregation is lost? How did all this happen?

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, with-out natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, in-continent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." (2 Timothy 3:1-7)

Give those words careful thought! They are heavy. Yet, they describe our times perfectly. The local church is in deep apostasy.

The fault lies with the pulpit and has for almost 200 years. We all know we are living in the post-Christian era and have been since America deserted God’s Word and turned to the "new", easy to understand editions.

Leaving the Word Of God and preaching "easy believism" (really "Decisionism") has produced a church full of unconverted men and women.

Actually this break in Biblical evangelism dates back to Charles G. Finney in the 1820’s. Finney was the first to preach "decisionism" instead of the biblical conversion experience.

I have called the new way of getting saved "easy believism". In simpler words, all a person has to do to be saved is to "accept Jesus Christ as your Savior". Walk down the aisle and tell the preacher you have accepted Christ.

He takes your word for it and admits you to church membership. Show me that condition of being saved in God’s Word? But what started with Finney in the 1820’s and picked upon by Pastors, Missionaries and Evangelists through the years has resulted in the Local Church being filled with people who are not "converted", and thus resulting in the deplorable conditions that exist in our churches today.

What deplorable conditions, you ask? Take church attendance for instance. Before the easy believism doctrine became popular, you were expected to attend church faithfully once you joined. And that was true in the 17^th, 18^th, and 19^th century churches. But look at what has happened to the church in the 21^st century.

First, Sunday School was dropped. Then came the evening church service, then came the dropping of the tithe and of course, the person stopped daily devotions and bible studies. Most churches today have stopped the evening service because it was so poorly attended.

But that was not the greatest change in church worship. The most damaging change was the music. The hymnbook gave way to the computerized putting of some "choruses" and "songs" on the screen. No need of the Hymn Book anymore.

Look at your hymnbook (if you still have one) and read the verses of the hymns. See the praise, adoration, love for the Trinity, thanksgiving to God for his Salvation and blessings, worship, and honor paid the Trinity.

How can we prepare the heart of man to worship without our hymnbook. But instead we have verses written by some modern man really glorifying man rather than God, causing one to want to dance, gyrate the hips, tap dance.

Scream in the mike, run all over the platform and cause a crazed mob to follow their every command. Sit down, stand up, put your hands together and give praise to Jesus, can I have an amen on that?

On and on I could go. Selfish, human emotion that will vanish as soon as they leave the building.

Don’t lose sight of the object of this editorial. Do we have a church full of people who have simply made a "decision" to follow the Lord, folks who have "accepted Jesus as Lord" or those folks who have actually been converted by an act of the Holy Spirit?

Big difference, folks. Huge differences. The difference in being "born again by the Spirit of God" or simply decided to "accept" Jesus.

Decisionism has been preached so long the church is filled with people who seek "self gratification" instead of laying down our lives for the Lord. I mean dying to self, taking up his cross and following Christ no matter the cost.

Why am I writing this article? I want you to be saved, not just have joined a church and think that is salvation. Real Christians know what it is to worship the Lord, not their fleshly desires.

Real born again men and women lay aside self-gratification and seek to serve and worship the Lord in sacrifice, and if necessary, even to death. (The Cross).

Now, follow me closely. I am going to complete this article by laying down a clear biblical definition of a truly born again person. One that is "converted" to the Lord by an act of the Holy Spirit as against one who has "accepted Jesus" as their Savior.

Why are we here? Who put us on this earth? What is our major objective in even being a part of God’s creation?

"Thou are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." (Revelation 4:11)

There you have it in one simple verse. We were created to give pleasure to our Creator. No other reason. Are you giving him pleasure? Are you serving him according to his commandments? Are you living for him or for yourself? Are you involved in HIS CHURCH or the world?

How can you please the Lord? According to his word there is only one way:

"For without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11:6)

Are you living by faith or are you living by your own definition of the Christian life? Now, one more verse please:

"And he that doubteth is dammed if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin." (Romans 14:23)

Did you know that all your worship is sin if you are not worshipping in and by faith?

The Christian hymns lead us to our Creator and Lord whom we worship by Faith. Faith! My dear friend! Faith! If you don’t understand now, please call me as soon as you can. (305) 294-3411