George Barna is the foremost researcher of modern Christianity in the country.
He recently spoke about a two-year research project studying why modern-day pastors and churches are so silent regarding political issues. The result of his research only confirms what I have been trying to tell people for years. But there was one thing his research uncovered that did somewhat surprise me. OneNewsNow.com covered the story:
�On Thursday, George Barna�research expert and founder of The Barna Group�shared with American Family Radio�s �Today�s Issues� about new information he�s compiling at American Culture and Faith Institute over the last two years, gauging where theologically conservative pastors are at politically.
��What we�re finding is that when we ask them about all the key issues of the day, [90 percent of them are] telling us, Yes, the Bible speaks to every one of these issues. Then we ask them: Well, are you teaching your people what the Bible says about those issues?�and the numbers drop�to less than 10 percent of pastors who say they will speak to it.�
�When researchers ask those pastors what else they are willing to do to get their people active in the political process, Barna said �it�s almost nothing.�
��So the thing that struck me has been that when we talk about the separation of church and state, it�s that churches have separated themselves from the activities of the state�and that�s to the detriment of the state and its people,� stated the researcher.�
That 90% of America�s pastors are not addressing any of the salient issues affecting Christian people�s political or societal lives should surprise no one�especially the readers of this column. It has been decades since even a sizeable minority of pastors have bothered to educate and inform their congregations as to the Biblical principles relating to America�s political, cultural, and societal lives. But the part of the research that did somewhat surprise me was this statement by Barna: �What we�re finding is that when we ask them about all the key issues of the day, [90 percent of them are] telling us, Yes, the Bible speaks to every one of these issues. Then we ask them: Well, are you teaching your people what the Bible says about those issues?�and the numbers drop�to less than 10 percent of pastors who say they will speak to it.�
Did you get that? Ninety-percent of America�s pastors say they KNOW that the Bible speaks to all of these issues, but they are deliberately determined to NOT teach these Biblical principles. That is an amazing admission!
It would have been one thing if the pastors had said that these political issues were not relevant to scripture, and, therefore, they didn�t feel called to address them. But the pastors are admitting that, yes, they KNOW that the scriptures DO relate to our current political issues, but they are deliberately choosing to NOT teach those scriptural principles. Holy heads-in-the-sand, Batman!
I confess: this statistic caught me off-guard. So, we can forever dismiss ignorance as justification for pastors remaining silent.
Now, all of the church members out there who have been forgiving of their ministers for not speaking out on the issues by saying things like, �He really doesn�t understand what�s going on,� need to reevaluate their leniency�if they are intellectually honest, that is�and if they truly care about the future of their country.
Church member, admit it: that pastor of yours who refuses to speak out on the issues KNOWS the Bible speaks to these issues, and he is DELIBERATELY refusing to teach those Biblical principles to you and your family.
So, we are not dealing with IGNORANT pastors; we are dealing with DELIBERATELY DISOBEDIENT pastors. They are PURPOSELY CHOOSING to remain silent. Will that make any difference to the Christians in the pews who say they want their pastor to take a stand but are willing to overlook his �ignorance?� Probably not. But, at least, we now know what the real issue is, don�t we?
The report goes on: �Why the disconnect? According to Barna, the answer is simple. He suggests asking pastors how someone would know if their church is �successful��which he did.�
��There are five factors that the vast majority of pastors turn to [when asked that question],� he explained. �Attendance, giving, number of programs, number of staff, and square footage.��
There you have it: pastors are more concerned about being �successful� than they are being truthful. They believe if they tell their congregations the truth, their churches will not be �successful.� And it is so refreshing to see Barna directly ask pastors what �success� means to them. So, now we know (as if we didn�t know before; but, at least now there is definitive research to back it up). The vast majority of pastors believe church success lies in:
*Attendance
*Giving (money)
*Number of programs
*Number of staff
*Square footage (of facilities)
Shazam! Where did pastors come up with this definition of �success?� You know where: from men such as Joel Osteen, Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, et al.
The megachurch phenomenon of the last several decades transformed how pastors think and behave. Pastors read the �successful church� books and publications; they attend the �successful church� conferences; they watch the �successful church� videos, etc. They, then, try to mimic the tactics and strategies they have been taught. And if there is one constant theme promulgated by the likes of Osteen, Warren, and Hybels, it is pastors must avoid controversy like the plague. Again, one must realize that the goal is NOT being faithful to Biblical principles; the goal is building a �successful� church as noted above.
It is time for Christians to acknowledge that these ministers are not pastors; they are CEOs. They are not Bible teachers; they are performers. They are not shepherds; they are hirelings. It is also time for Christians to be honest with themselves: do they want a pastor who desires to be faithful to the scriptures, or do they want a pastor who is simply trying to be �successful?� BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF, CHRISTIAN FRIEND.
Barna�s research blows the �ignorance� excuse out of the water. Again, it is not ignorance; it is deliberate disobedience.
Barna goes on to say, �Now all of those things [the five points of success listed above] are good measures, except for one tiny fact: Jesus didn�t die for any of them.� Wow! You nailed it, George!
See the report here:
Barna: Many Pastors Wary Of Raising �Controversy�
Where do you find anything in the New Testament that measures a pastor�s success by the number of people attending his church? Or by how large his offerings are? Or by how many programs his church has? Or by how many staff members he has? Or by how large his facilities are? In fact, the early New Testament church didn�t even own property or buildings.
When the Apostle Paul listed his ministerial pedigree, here is what it looked like (II Cor. 11):
*Stripes above measure
*In prisons frequently
*In deaths often
*Beaten with rods
*Stoned
*Perils
*Weariness
*Painfulness
*Hunger and thirst
*Cold and nakedness
I don�t see attendance, offerings, programs, staff, or square footage in that list at all, do you?
When Paul wrote his own epitaph, it read, �I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.� (II Timothy 4:7). He didn�t say, �I had a large congregation, we had big offerings, we had a lot of programs, I had a large staff, and we had large facilities.�
In the world of Osteen, Warren, and Hybels (and 90% of America�s pastors), the Apostle Paul�s ministry must have been a dismal failure. And how many church pulpit committees would even consider the pastoral r�sum� such as the Apostle Paul wrote above?
Please understand this: America�s malaise is directly due to the deliberate disobedience of America�s pastors�and the willingness of the Christians in the pews to tolerate the disobedience of their pastor. Nothing more! Nothing less!
Oh, and get this: according to the survey conducted by Barna, guess what the number one reason is why pastors choose to be �successful� and not �controversial?� You guessed it: fear of the IRS 501c3 tax-exempt status. Who would have thought it? (Yes, that question is deliberately facetious.)
The release of this research by George Barna could not have come at a more opportune time. I announced just last week that we have officially launched the Liberty Church Project, whereby we will be helping people around the country to establish non-501c3 churches. I invite folks (pastors or laymen) who are serious about starting new non-501c3 churches�or helping to resurrect patriot pulpits within existing churches�to fill out our online application. We already have several groups that we intend to help and are looking for others. If you are someone who is serious about such an endeavor, and seeks our assistance, please fill out the online application here:
Liberty Church Project
And, in case you missed it, here is my column announcing the launch of the Liberty Church Project:
We Are Launching!
I want to commend George Barna for his research. I suspect that the vast majority of pastors and churches will ignore it, but, at least now we know the painful truth of the matter: by in large, pastors are deliberately choosing to not teach Biblical truth to their congregations for the selfish goal of being �successful.� But as we come to grips with this reality, we must also acknowledge that pastors are simply (and shamelessly) putting their fingers to the wind and finding that the people in the pews are more interested in their churches being �successful� than faithful to the teaching of Holy Scripture. As Barna noted, it is the churches, themselves, that have chosen to separate from the political affairs of their country.
In the end, it always comes down to We the People, doesn�t it? If you want a church where the pastor is willing to teach the Biblical principles that relate to our everyday lives�including our political lives�you might have to vote with your feet and go find one. That is, if that kind of thing is truly important to you.
This article originally appeared at Chuck Baldwin Live.
I had written about the so called 'church' and the 501-C3,being the motivation for the self called pastors not to be telling the people the truth about ANYTHING going on in this country.
When i had written about the 501-C3,i was told i was not right,yet this George Barna sees a problem yet he might not address the issue.
IF the self called 'pastors' were to tell the people what is going on,the so called 'church' would lose the 501-C3 tax exempt status,thus the government and banksters would probably ask/DEMAND their tax money be given to them retroactive.
The 501-C3 allows the so called 'churches' to by property AND to SUE others,yet this violates the Word of GOD.
1Corinthians 6:1 Does anyone among you, if he has a matter against someone else, dare to go to court before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?
1Co 6:2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if by you the world is judged, are you unworthy of the most insignificant courts?
1Co 6:3 Do you not know that we will judge angels, not to mention ordinary matters?
1Co 6:4 Therefore, if you have courts with regard to ordinary matters, do you seat these despised people in the church?
1Co 6:5 I say this to your shame. So is there not anyone wise among you who will be able to render a decision between his brothers?
1Co 6:6 But brother goes to court with brother, and this before unbelievers!
1Co 6:7 Therefore it is already completely a loss for you that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded?
1Corinthians 6:8 But you wrong and defraud, and do this to brothers!
The self called 'pastors' have been LIED to by the lawyers,saying the 501-C3 is good and necessary,yet once the 'church' ACCEPTS this LIE from the enemy,the people become under the authority of the state not GOD Almighty.
The the self called 'pastors' LIE to the people that the tax exempt status is good and necessary in order to by property,AND the people could write
off their 'tithes' in order to have a tax refund.
What does GOD Almighty say in His Word about pating taxes, ( Remember we SAY,we believe the WHOLE Word of GOD,{ except for paying taxes}).
Rom 13:6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are servants of God, busily engaged in this very thing.
Rom 13:7 Pay to everyone what is owed: pay taxes to whom taxes are due; pay customs duties to whom customs duties are due; pay respect to whom respect is due; pay honor to whom honor is due.
Rom 13:8 Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another, for the one who loves someone else has fulfilled the law.
America is going down fast,and the self called 'pastors' have been part of the problem,and the people have been swallowing the lies,like the a thirsty camel drinking water.
One day you will wake up and the tanks and brown shirts will be at your doorstep knocking it down.
BUT WHAT DO I KNOW, i drive a tractor trailer,dropped out of high school,and am considered out of my mind by those in the 'church'.
When this country is taken over,will the so called 'church people' want to proclaim the Gospel,or will they hold out their right hands to take a mark,name or number in order to buy what they will be needing.
Just the thoughts from reading the Word of GOD Almighty.
"When this country is taken over,will the so called 'church people' want to proclaim the Gospel,or will they hold out their right hands to take a mark,name or number in order to buy what they will be needing."
George I meet "christians" daily that do not know the word of God. Oh they know some stupid devotional they bought that waters down the message though!! I fear they will fall for the traps hook ,line ,and sinker that is to come. IDK about you but I talk till I am blue in the face to people that give me glazed eyed looks and I sense are thinking that I am some crazy lunatic conspiracy theorist. All we can do is keep seeking Jesus first and above all and let him use us. The world we live in is so messed up that sometimes I cant help but literally sob. I herald the truth because my hearts aches for the lost and dumbed down.
The problem within the 'church' is,the people have no idea who Yeshua is,nor do the 'pastors; Neither the 'pastors',or the people know what Messiah is like.
Both the 'pastors' and the people are alike they both do not mind being entertained,nor do they want the truth.
I had taught Sunday class yesterday morning,the people like that i have all the people involved.
One man said it was different as all the people were involved,i said that is how it should be.
Most people have never experienced the Word of GOD in action when they meet together.
Most 'pastors' pass over this section of Scripture,for if the people had any understanding of this,they would ask the 'pastor' to either sit down or leave for not telling the truth.
1Corinthians 14:26 Then what is it, brothers? When you come together, each one of you has a psalm, he has a teaching, he has a language, he has a revelation, he has an interpretation. Let all things be for building up.
1Co 14:27 If one speaks in a language, let it be by two or three at the most, and in turn, also let one interpret.
1Co 14:28 And if there is no interpreter, let him be silent in the assembly, and let him speak to himself and to God.
1Co 14:29 And if there are two or three prophets, let them speak, and let the others discern.
1Co 14:30 But if a revelation is revealed to another sitting by, let the first be silent.
1Co 14:31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be encouraged.
1Co 14:32 And the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.
1Corinthians 14:33 For God is not of confusion, but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the saints.
In the 'church',the preisthood of ALL believers has been usurped by the self called 'clergy' in order to keep the truth from the people about who Messiah says His people are.
SO did Yeshua give His life so we could be entertained,and silent,OR did He set the captives FREE in order to worship in spirit and in truth,with their VOICES,as the Holy Spirit has empowered His People.
George did you see the video clip of the pope saying its dangerous to have a personal relationship with Jesus? Ya!!! Well there are how many who are under the RC roof? hmmm about 1.4 billion!!! Thats alot of people that are following an false prophet. Scary eh?
The pope,how about those in the Toronto false blessing.
The same with the Brownsville false revival.
How about the name and claim,the make me fell good Pentecaostals,and Charismatics,which say Messiah wants His people to be healthy, wealthy and wise,ye the reject any notion of tests, trials,and tribulations,they say these are not of GOD Almighty.
They say these are from a lack of faith,NO these come as the RESULT of FAITHING into Yeshua.
John 15:20 Remember the Word which I said to you, A slave is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted Me, they also will persecute you. If they kept My Word, they also will keep yours.
Mat 10:16 Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore, be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
Mat 10:17 But beware of men. For they will betray you to sanhedrins, and they will flog you in their synagogues.
Mat 10:18 And also you will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them and to the nations.
Mat 10:19 But when they deliver you up, do not be anxious how or what you should say, for it is given to you in that hour what you should say.
Mat 10:20 For you are not the ones speaking, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
Mat 10:21 But brother will betray brother to death, and the father his child. And children will rise up against parents and will put them to death.
Mat 10:22 And you will be hated by all on account of My name, but the one enduring to the end shall be kept safe.
Mat 10:23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For truly I say to you, In no way will you have finished the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes.
Mat 10:24 A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above his lord.
Mat 10:25 It is enough for the disciple to become as his teacher, and the slave as his lord. If they called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more those of his household?
Mat 10:26 Therefore, you should not fear them, for nothing is covered which will not be uncovered; and hidden, which will not be made known.
Most of the false teachers,and false preachers are within the 'church',every Sunday they deceive the people,with the words of men,not the Word of GOD.
The people are entertained by singing some songs picked out by a man,the people are like robots being told when to sit,stand,pray,give away, money,etc.. NO one has a mind to understand that they are being taken advantage of because of their spiritual immaturity,and lack of the Word of GOD.
When a person has been awakened by the Holy Spirit to the peril the 'church' ,and when they want to warn others,The self called 'pastor' looks for every opportunity to have that person removed,even calling them a heretic,and unbeliever.
The people are traveling down a slippery slope,the incline is so slight the people cannot understand that they have traveled very far from the Word of GOD Almighty.
The 'church' has embraced the religions of the world,in the name of being tolerant.
I was in a meeting this past Sunday,there was so much confusion,one person supposedly speaking in a tongue ( no interpretation),one person was singing,a 'pastor' was supposedly preaching a deliverance message ( i do not know what that is ). The 'pastor was screaming at times,i guess the devil did not here him,by the time this guy was finished i believe the devil was deaf,and would need this guy to repair the devils hearing so the devil would be able to here IN JESUS NAME being screamed at him.
No wonder this country is in such a mess.
The 'church' brings shame to Messiah each time they meet according to the words of men,and not the Word of GOD.
This is the message that the 'church' needs to hear.
Mar 1:15 and saying, The time has been fulfilled, and the kingdom of God draws near. Repent and believe in the gospel.
