I think there are so many issues which relate to this question that we could have a 7-week meeting and still not scratch the surface.
In general, I think Christianity is still having a great impact on the world, but not everywhere. I see great things happening in parts of Eastern Europe, and I hear similar stories from China and India and Africa.
Christians in the U.S. still have positive impact on occasion, but yes, I think we get distracted once in a while. I think in other ways, we get compromised. However, I don't attribute the rise in secularism and atheism to this, but instead to a long, carefully-planned agenda by anti-Christian educators to secularize our children. This has been compounded by pop-culture. That said, remember that God is still in control. No such thing can happen without his knowledge. This new age of secularism is not the end of the world. In fact, I take it as a challenge to awaken and renew my own faith. I don't think that we so much caused it as we have been chosen to address it.
I believe we in the U.S. have been charged with a new opportunity: to spread the truth into a foreign culture, our own. It will challenge us to awaken from our self-centeredness, and to be more outward focused.
No, I don't think we've had any shortage of impact. I simply believe that God is challenging us to look beyond where we've been having an impact and to recognize that there are other areas of life where he expects us to focus also. We've had a generation that has been focused on our families, which is beautiful. But this same generation has abandoned the idea of developing a sort of Christian worldview through which to view the reality. As a result, the things we are seeing come as a surprise to many. I don't find many surprises today, and can see where it all came from, but Christians have been somewhat isolated. I don't think it is a matter of being lukewarm, nor being completely self-centered (though there has been some of that), but instead we've been focused on ONE good thing, instead of carrying a broader picture of how Christ wanted us to impact the world. It is time to start thinking (and praying) outside the box.
2007-06-10 10:11:23
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answer #1
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answered by skip742 6
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True Christianity has always had little impact on the world. That's why the world is the way it is...... and getting worse. These "isms" have been here for a while. This isn't because of lack for a stronger church but for lack of goodness in man"kind". The luke warm and apostate "church" is a result of things to come. Satan's plan is beginning to work so well that even those in the "church" are buying into the lie everyone else has been from the days of Eden. This "falling away" has long been under way. And it's necessary for enabling of the antichrist in fulfilling his role of his own impending destruction. Although Christianity will be preached to all the world, not all will heed. So when this chapter comes to it's close, there will be no excuses. Those who've been seduced by the "Who&e of Babylon" will share in her plagues..
2007-06-10 08:17:13
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answer #2
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answered by F'sho 4
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The rise of humanism, secularism and especially the theory of relativity is what is causing the impact of Christianity. So is having more than 30,000 Protestant denominations where people who reject legitimate authority are allowed to go off and do their own thing becuase they can give God's own word their own interpretation. To have so many denominations is tantamount to having anarchy within Protestantism. No-one likes authority -- so they get rid of it and create their own. Its a tower of Babel all over again. No-one in communion with the others. Even the Baptists, Lutherans, Epsicopalians and other groups are further splintered. Many churches today are facing schisms over gay marriage, women's ordination, gay ordination, abortion, euthanasia, etc. There is no final authority except in the Catholic Church. Obviously its not in the bible because everyone reading it would come to the one and same conclusion. Truth is One....not whatever you want it to be and definitely not 30,000.
2007-06-10 08:01:42
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answer #3
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answered by The Carmelite 6
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The last days are supposed to be like in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah, men will become lovers of themselves, violent, homosexuality running a muck, people doubting more than ever before. This is how it is supposed to be with the exception of an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the midst of all the chaos. The out puring will probably be drowned out by sin and only a few will convert. It is ,(according to the Bible itself), going to get worse and worse, the good will be called evil and the evil called good, it is the prophecy. Deal with it.
2007-06-10 08:06:20
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answer #4
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answered by Anonymous
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and you know thisssss, Maaaann!
(Friday, the movie, Smokey)
thus saith those with eyes open! and in the last days before the end of Krustianity, people shall gain access to the false prophet tool of Gates and Gore called dee inta net. They shall all gaze in wonderment when some suspiciously gay men create a search engine tool called Goo gal shall they begin to be filled with the knowledge of truth and hocus pocus gobble de ****. Upon learning that our religion is not original but stolen from other cultures, a great falling away shall happen saith the Lawd
the anti christos or a-theist shall do many wonders and power point presentations to show the fallacy of our sacred and confusing scriptures saith the gawd of man and the lukewarm money hungry believers shall get tired of empty claims of a rapture and join Club Hedonism and reject it all together, saith the lawd of web hosts
2007-06-10 07:58:26
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answer #5
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answered by voice_of_reason 6
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No. I think the media simply ignores the positive impact of Christianity around the world. Since I live in America, I see little evidence publicized of good works here or elsewhere. But since I dig deeper, and am involved in a work in Central African Republic, I know better. Most people aren't willing to find out what's going on when society ignores it. But it's out there.
2007-06-10 07:55:27
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answer #6
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answered by Anonymous
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I think that as times have changed, the church has changed. It is not as "forceful" and perhaps that has contributed, but I also wonder if those that DO come to believe in God, has had to make that choice themselves and so it has more impact on them personally.
2007-06-10 07:57:37
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answer #7
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answered by Anonymous
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Certainly... those of us of The True Christian Faith have always been in the minority and will remain a diminishing minority until God decides it is time to end this mortal world. This is the way it is... The so-called "luke warm" church was for-told and will continue to get colder... But... The Flame of The True Christian Faith.... The Church... will always prevail... even as the smallest minority. Because our "Faith" is based upon The Truth. And The Truth shall prevail
2007-06-10 07:58:19
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answer #8
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answered by idahomike2 6
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An interesting question. Prophecy is being fulfilled in what you are describing. But I would say that Christianity is becoming more impactful on the world not less. Only it is less obvious because governments are becoming atheistic so that the whole power of nations is not being overtly used to spread the gospel. But the gospel *is* spreading.
2007-06-10 07:56:11
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answer #9
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answered by Anonymous
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This is very similar to the situation, in the U.K. regarding
England, Scotland and Wales.
The rise of secularism etc., is the same as the rise in nationalism, in Scotland and Wales, much to the detriment of England and Christianity, respectively.
In England, the sleeping Giant is showing signs of awakening.
I have no doubt that Christianity will follow suit and many groups will wish they had not been quite so voluble.
2007-06-10 08:00:32
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answer #10
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answered by Anonymous
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