I’m always amazed when I pull up the statics on how many people are Christians.  

According to Pew Research, in 2019, 65% of Americans were claiming this title, which is down from 85% in 1990.  

The term “Christian” has become very vague over the years and is probably the biggest reason the drop in Christianity.  People claim to have “tried” it, but it didn’t work, or they don’t see the importance of it.  

And it’s no wonder.  

We Christians have offered up a watered-down Christianity.  We tell everyone God is love and He is, but He is also a jealous God wanting our attention.  

Exodus 20:5 – “You shall not bow down to them or serve them, (idols) for I the Lord your God am a jealous God,…”

We tell everyone that all you have to do is call on the name of the Lord and you will be saved, and you can.  

Romans 10:13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”  

But you must have a changed life once you have accepted Jesus as your Lord.  

Romans 12:2 states – “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”  

Only those that accept the changes, by doing the will of God, will enter heaven.  

Matthew 7:21 states “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”  

Why do you think Paul says to put on the full armor of God?  

In Ephesians 6:12 it says “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms?”  

We must realize that our salvation is free, but to maintain that salvation, it will cost us everything.  We have to fight to protect ourselves and other Christians. We are supposed to be doing God’s will and in doing so we must fight, and we can do that thru the love of God.  

In Deuteronomy 6:5 – “Love the Lord with all your heart.”  

How can you love someone, if you’re not doing any of their wishes?  Did I want to do the things my husband wanted as in fishing, hunting, going thru museums for hours, etc.  Not necessarily, but I did them, to be with him; to show him I love him.  

Why would you think God would expect something less?  

So, you might not want to go to church Sunday morning.  Are you telling God you love Him by staying at home? My husbands love language is spending time with Him.  

I think that must be God’s as well.  God wants us to pray to spend time with Him.  God walked with Adam in the garden because He wanted to spend time with him.  We must be wiser than Adam to overcome this world.  

Revelation 3:21 states “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. …”  

The verse goes on, but you get the idea.  

Matthew 7:19 states – “19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”  

To be fair, Paul is talking about false prophets in the verse before these two verses, but I think the sentiments would hold the same for Christians as well – they will know us by our fruits.  

Go show the world what fruit you have, and your salvation will shine thru.

 

Karen Y. Stevens is founder of Orange County Christian Writers Guild