A disturbing study from the Barna Group came out this week highlighting the religious beliefs of Americans:
* 71 % of Americans say they are more likely to develop their own set of religious beliefs than follow defined beliefs of a particular church.
* 61% of born-again Christians pick and choose from the beliefs of different denominations
* 82% of born-again Christians under the age of 25 pick & choose
* 50% of Americans believe that Christianity is now just one of many faith options people can choose from
* 44 % disagree with the above perception
* 50% of those interviewed do not believe in the existence of Satan
* 33% believe Jesus sinned while on earth
* 40% say they do not have a responsibility to share their faith with others
* 65% of American Christians saying that people of other religions can find salvation and eternal life (It is unclear if other religions includes other denominations)
* 47% of Evangelicals think that many different religions can lead to eternal life
* 80% of these Christians cited one non-Christian faith as a route to salvation while 61 % named two or more
How would Jesus respond to these beliefs?
I am the Way, the Truth and The Life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and Son and the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Matthew 28:18-20.
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29
