Will Mainline Protestantism Disappear by 2039?

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MessengerofTruth said:
Are you a preterist?
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I'm a truthist. Many want to put titles on people to dismiss them rather than learn truth. Maybe that's true of you, maybe not. If you feel I have misunderstood some scripture, feel free to share your understanding or ask for clarification. But if you ask what I am the answer is just a Christian, seeking to know the Lord more fully each day.
 
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arthurfleminger said:
Our Protestant Churches in the USA are currently suffering from a severe decline in membership. And that decline isn't abating. These churches were the backbone of Christianity teaching, worship services, and family life for a couple of hundred years. Now, it looks like they may not be around much longer, if their decline continues.

The Mainline Protestant church is dying. Church leaders have known this for decades.:

How Mainline Churches Closed Themselves | C. Don Jones (patheos.com)
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The decline is only in membership. There is a lot of church hopping and break from tradition. People are not worried about memberships as much anymore.
 
arthurfleminger said:
Our Protestant Churches in the USA are currently suffering from a severe decline in membership. And that decline isn't abating. These churches were the backbone of Christianity teaching, worship services, and family life for a couple of hundred years. Now, it looks like they may not be around much longer, if their decline continues.

The Mainline Protestant church is dying. Church leaders have known this for decades.:

How Mainline Churches Closed Themselves | C. Don Jones (patheos.com)
Click to expand...

It's probably pretty complex, but I would guess the main reason for the decline is that going to church is losing it's appeal. I mean, church is supposed to be about stirring each other up to love and good works, and I guess some congregations do that, but it isn't obvious from the outside looking in. What people hear about the church is usually negative publicity. Or maybe they went and they found they had nothing in common with the congregation since there's typically a large age gap between regulars at church and young people. The last thing young people want is to go to church and feel a sense of subordination.

In my experience helping bring many young people to Christ, glory to God, there is no shortage of interest. The typically want something engaging, interactive, and interesting. Being involved in the discussion, able to voice their opinion, ask questions, and get answers rather than being preached at/talked down to for hours every Sunday isn't ideal.

It could also be that God is judging the church for worldliness, greed, corruption, and lies. Only God knows.

It's probably much more complex than this, but that's what I see.
 
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Cameron143 said:
I'm a truthist. Many want to put titles on people to dismiss them rather than learn truth. Maybe that's true of you, maybe not. If you feel I have misunderstood some scripture, feel free to share your understanding or ask for clarification. But if you ask what I am the answer is just a Christian, seeking to know the Lord more fully each day.
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I understand and agree with you.

Do you believe that we are awaiting the arrival of Jesus' return and the beginning of a one-thousand-year reign where He is the King, ruling with a rod of iron?
 
MessengerofTruth said:
I understand and agree with you.

Do you believe that we are awaiting the arrival of Jesus' return and the beginning of a one-thousand-year reign where He is the King, ruling with a rod of iron?
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No. I believe most of the prophesy of Revelation and the OT was fulfilled in the 1st century.
 
Cameron143 said:
You seriously want me to break down the book of Revelation here?
I'll give you one hint though...Revelation 1:1....things which must shortly come to pass...
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I knew that was a tall order. :) I thought you might have some concise version possibly to help me understand.

I understand, that verse is perplexing... Do you anticipate the Anti-Christ or the Mark of the Beast?
 
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MessengerofTruth said:
I knew that was a tall order. :) I thought you might have some concise version possibly to help me understand.

I understand, that verse is perplexing... Do you anticipate the Anti-Christ or the Mark of the Beast?
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That verse isn't perplexing at all. The simplest and most straightforward understanding is plain...it's coming soon.
I believe both have transpired and I'm awaiting the return of Christ.
 
MessengerofTruth said:
Hmmm... Who do you believe was the Man of Sin, or Anti-Christ, and the Mark of the Beast in history?
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There are several candidates for each. I can't say for sure and don't care to speculate.
I'm curious of your take of some passages. What do you understand the dream interpretation of Daniel 2 to be? What are the 4 kingdoms and are any around today?
 
Cameron143 said:
There are several candidates for each. I can't say for sure and don't care to speculate.
I'm curious of your take of some passages. What do you understand the dream interpretation of Daniel 2 to be? What are the 4 kingdoms and are any around today?
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I believe we are in the feet of iron mixed with clay. Interestingly, we are now living in the "digital age" which could also be interpreted as "having to do with fingers or toes"- Digits.
 
MessengerofTruth said:
I believe we are in the feet of iron mixed with clay. Interestingly, we are now living in the "digital age" which could also be interpreted as "having to do with fingers or toes"- Digits.
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So...the kingdom of Romans still exists today? Where?
 
Cameron143 said:
So...the kingdom of Romans still exists today? Where?
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Yes, I believe it does and it has taken on many different looks over the last two millennia's.

I believe that the Roman empire conqurered the known world and is still bringing all nations under it's Greko/Roman style governments we call democracy.

It looks a little fuzzy right now, but we will soon see this empire rise with increasing efficiency encompassing the whole world.

Soon it will become evident that this final beast is in complete control until Christ smashes the whole history of kingdoms when he returns to set up His everlasting Kingdom.
 
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MessengerofTruth said:
Yes, I believe it does and it has taken on many different looks over the last two millennia's.

I believe that the Roman empire conqurered the known world and is still bringing all nations under it's Greko/Roman style governments we call democracy.

It looks a little fuzzy right now, but we will soon see this empire rise with increasing efficiency encompassing the whole world.

Soon it will become evident that this final beast is in complete control until Christ smashes the whole history of kingdoms when he returns to set up His everlasting Kingdom.
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Ok. I appreciate you taking the time to answer.
 
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SanderB said:
Whew, White Castle. Haven't seen that place in ages, and have never set foot in one. Too greasy for me. ;) I bet a Culver's Concrete Mixer that Jesus will not return in 2026 or April 2033 and instead return on a date between now and 2026, between those, or most likely after those ones.
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As good a guess as any. Since I'm 80, and in lousy health, I expect to be watching from the other side when it all goes down.
 
arthurfleminger said:
Our Protestant Churches in the USA are currently suffering from a severe decline in membership. And that decline isn't abating. These churches were the backbone of Christianity teaching, worship services, and family life for a couple of hundred years. Now, it looks like they may not be around much longer, if their decline continues.

The Mainline Protestant church is dying. Church leaders have known this for decades.:

How Mainline Churches Closed Themselves | C. Don Jones (patheos.com)
Click to expand...
What do you mean by "mainline".
 
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