Barna surveys do not ask people to define themselves as "evangelical" but instead categorize people as such based on their beliefs. In this approach, evangelicals a subset of born again Christians. In addition to meeting the born again criteria (described below) evangelicals also meet seven other conditions. Those include saying their faith is very important in their life today; contending that they have a personal responsibility to share their religious beliefs about Christ with non-Christians; stating that Satan exists; maintaining that eternal salvation is possible only through grace, not by being good or doing good deeds; asserting that Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth; saying that the Bible is totally accurate in all it teaches; and describing God as the all-knowing, all-powerful, perfect deity who created the universe and still rules it today. In this framework, being classified as "evangelical" is not dependent upon any kind of church or denominational affiliation or involvement.
How did ya do?
Good news if you are an evangelical Christian:
The group whose people are most likely to read the Bible during the week are evangelicals. Nearly nine out of ten (88%) explore God�s Word during a typical week.:yay:
I like hearing that! We need to find the 12% that are not reading their Bible and get on'em!
PJ you reading your Bible!!!
Are you born again?
Barna�s surveys categorize people as born again if they say they "have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is still important in my life today" and also contend that after they die they will "go to Heaven because I have confessed my sins and have accepted Jesus Christ as my savior." Four out of ten adults fit this definition.
Four out of ten, I think that number is high. (We could do with out the, "accept Jesus"! No one gets saved by accepting Jesus, He needs to accept us.) But it is this group that the other group comes out of so there are some false converts out there claiming to be born again. :devil:
What was disturbing and about the % I put on true Christians in this country:
Despite the media frenzy surrounding the influence of evangelical Christians during the 2004 presidential election, the new study indicates that evangelicals remain just 7% of the adult population. That number has not changed since the Barna Group began measuring the size of the evangelical public in 1994.
God keeps a remnent for Himself that have not bowed down to ball. (not baal, ball! We build huge cathedrals to worship ball ...football, baseball, basketball, etc...) I is guilty!
Anyway I found that some what interesting and to show you copy and pasters you don't have to paste the whole article to get your point accross.
If ya want to read the whole articale:
Changes in America�s Religious Beliefs and Practices
Mr Row are you reconciling yourself to the word of God? YEP! Absolutely with out His Word I would not know Him!
Do you meditate in it day and night?
YEP!! And even dream about it when I sleep.
Do you keep it before your eyes, and in your ears and thus in the midst of your heart?
YEP!!! I am working on memorizing whole chapters and books to.
Do you pray in tongues continually?
YEP!!! I do not make strange babbling noises like what happens in Satanic worship or what crazy lunatics do, and I do not entertain with that babbling like showmen (they are not preachers) do to deceive many out of money. I pray in the English tongue so I know I am not praying to Satan or blaspheming God with my words. Do you pray in circles PJ?
PJ if you are going to challenge me you are required to answer some legitimate questions and make yourself clear!!! You have never answered mine or anyone else's questions, because as soon as you get challenged or backed into a corner you run and hide. (I wish you would really hide) That means you ignore the question or give a silly answer that does not apply to the question or you answer with a stupid riddle that makes you look like a goofball! I really don't think you can answer, because you don't have a clue! You are the male version of Clueless. So either leave me alone, or lets go toe 2 toe and get this settled so there is no confusion with where you or I stand. Or just go away and keep your comments to yourself. I had gotten to the point I was ignoring you, I only read your post for a good laugh, or an eye roll, but you keep calling me out, if you want to challenge me then MAN UP son! Quit acting like a sissy man and face your own challenge to me.
If you do not want to step up then leave, or leave me alone, cause I am holding back from making you look real silly. Why are you here anyway you have zero to none communication skills in writing? (though this is a great place to work on and practice those skills. So practice with me.)
This may be to hard for you and if you do not accept, I understand it is your weakness that is being challenging.
I want you to witness to me. We do not believe the same thing or in the same god. If you really think you are a Christian then it is your duty to convert me. I want you to try and convert me! Assume I know nothing about the Bible, (that shouldn't be hard for you). I have heard of this man named Jesus only from Christmas shows and Easter. But other than what I see on TV I am clueless (like you are) about salvation, what it means and why do I need it. Go!!! Witness to me PJ give me the good news of the gospel!!!
Here are some rules and helpful hints. It has to be understandable and make sense. You can not just scramble words together and expect people to understand what you are trying to say and you do that ALL the time! Go to you email program and use word spelling and read, reread and then read it again and do at least 3 to 4 edits before you post it to make sure you say it the way you want to say it. If you need read out loud like you are speaking with someone. But it has to be understandable and you are not easy to understand most of the time. I surely hope you can talk better than you write cause I would wonder how you made it this far in life if you spoke like you wrote.
Your presentation has to include: What is salvation? Who needs salvation? Why do I need to be saved? Why does anyone need to be saved? When do they need salvation? Where do they get salvation? How are they saved? Who gives salvation? How does Jesus save? What happens after I am saved? What do I need to do to be saved? What will it cost me? (remember Jesus said, "count the cost") (pretend I didn't know this)
Take your time and make this a good clear presentation of the gospel. Give the gospel message as concise and as complete as you can (I know that is really hard for you, but I think you can if you really tried).
I'll be leaving tomorrow to go out of town for the week end. I know you will miss me, but it will give you plenty of time to write out the good news of the gospel and this will be an excellent exercise for you to work on your writing skills. And when I get back if you have followed through on this challenge, I'll ask you to present to me a challenge on what ever subject you want me to articulate to the forums. Deal??? If you choose to turn this down then leave me ALONE! And stay away from my post!
And yes PJ I will critique this and it will not be a sin to do so, but if you put a honest effort in presenting it I will not be condescending with my critique. And I am sure our experts around here will chime in as well if indeed you put out an honest effort.
Mr Row, I have gone my rounds with PJ several times in the past and stopped coming around this area of the chat forums largely because whatever is posted is ALWAYS wrong and not up to standards and yes...the circles got me confused and well, we all know confusion is not of God.
Anyway, I read your post to him and if your going to publicly humiliate him because he speaks in tongues that I will turn you in to the administration. We are all different denominations here and should not be condemned because of our beliefs. I will not go rounds with you or anyone else to back up why I believe in praying in the spirit.
I understand you 2 have an ongoing thing here and maybe in anger you posted that junk but please, have some respect for others.
I wonder, Mr Row, why a man who claims to have such a command of the vernacular would have so little to say in his profile. I believe your argument with PJ here is not intended to be a "bringing along side" nor is an attitude of discipleship being expressed. I have to admit that sometimes I get lost in the "circles" too but I appreciate that PJ is making the effort and he has had some pretty decent posts here from time to time.
I'm not trying to come to his defense as much as I am trying to make you aware of your offense. There is little need for this kind of unconscionable behavior. I would appreciate it if you would keep the rules of this forum in mind and show some patience and long suffering because it is sometimes necessary here and it is required by our Lord.
I wonder, Mr Row, why a man who claims to have such a command of the vernacular would have so little to say in his profile.
I am not here for the same reason as others. I find these forums fasinating for some reason. Here I am exposed to the country buffet religion, where people pick and chose what they want to believe regardless of what the Bible says. Some errors I understand, but others smash in some pertty outragous things. It is interesting and educating so when I am out on the streets witnessing I have a better understanding of what I am dealing with. If there is anything you would like to know I will be happy to share with ya.
ThunderofGod said:
I believe your argument with PJ here is not intended to be a "bringing along side" nor is an attitude of discipleship...
You are correct it niether of those were my intentions. Good observation.
ThunderofGod said: ...but I appreciate that PJ is making the effort and he has had some pretty decent posts here from time to time.
I to see his effort but never have I seen a decent post by PJ. Ever! I am hopin since everyone else has failed, that maybe a little advise with an edge about editing his post so they can be understood would help. Only time will tell if I also failed as have a long line of others. I had PJ on the ignore list but he wanted to call me out, so I came out and all he has done is circles. I want him to explain a number of things he claims to be enlightend about. Again You can't get PJ to ever answer a legitamite question with a clear concice answer that first off is inline with the question, second that can be understood.
ThunderofGod said: I would appreciate it if you would keep the rules of this forum in mind and show some patience and long suffering because it is sometimes necessary here and it is required by our Lord.
I do, I have and I will, but please explain this to PJ also.
Let me say this I am equally as offended by the people that get on here and brag about a spiritual gift that seems very unfruit of the spirit like in self control, among other things. It mostly comes from a letter of rebuke to a church and is not found in any of Pauls later more important letters like Romans, so I do not see the same enfisuos in the Bible being put on this gift as some people put on it today. I desire faith, wisdom, knowleage, descernment, not the show gifts, and to claim I need this gift to show I am saved is double offensive. I am not alone in how I think about this so called gift, I am just bold and brash enough to call it what many think it really is. If that is offensive to some people maybe less braging would curb the desire to rebuke. Ignoring it may make it go away, but it ain't going to change how I think about it. I had pretty much decide to drop talking about it since I stired up a fire store with my post about it a while back until PJ challenges me with it and I will say right now if I am asked I will not hold back I will call it what it is.
I'll agree with ya Mark. Thunder, you earn a lot of respect.
UGGG!!! I am with Ella on this one! I hate these forums and wish they would get undated! I hit submit button before pasting my edited, spell checked version. So here is what I REALLY wanted to say, not the above post.
ThunderofGod said:
I wonder, Mr Row, why a man who claims to have such a command of the vernacular would have so little to say in his profile.
I am not here for the same reason as others. I find these forums fascinating for some reason. Here I am exposed to the country buffet religion, where people pick and chose what they want to believe regardless of what the Bible says. Some errors I understand, but others smash in some pretty outrageous things. It is interesting and educating so when I am out on the streets witnessing I have a better understanding of what I am dealing with. If there is anything you would like to know I will be happy to share with ya.
ThunderofGod said:
I believe your argument with PJ here is not intended to be a "bringing along side" nor is an attitude of discipleship...
You are correct, neither of those were my intentions. Good observation.
ThunderofGod said: ...but I appreciate that PJ is making the effort and he has had some pretty decent posts here from time to time.
I to see his effort and would like to see him improve more so in many areas, but never have I seen a decent post by PJ. I am going down a road well traveled with PJ, and I am hopin, since everyone else has failed, that maybe a little advise with an edge about editing his post and being understood would help. Only time will tell if I also have failed. It is just a different approach to get through a brick wall. I had PJ on my ignore list, but he wanted to call me out, so I came out and all he has done is his circle dance. I and many others want him to explain a number of things he claims to be enlightened about, but never does. You can't get PJ to ever answer a legitimate question with an answer that, first off is in line with the question, second that can be understood.
ThunderofGod said: I would appreciate it if you would keep the rules of this forum in mind and show some patience and long suffering because it is sometimes necessary here and it is required by our Lord.
I do, I have and I will, and I agree with you, but please explain this to PJ also.
Let me say this I am equally as offended by the people that get on here and brag about a spiritual gift that seems very unfruit of the spirit like in self control, among other things. It mostly comes from a letter of rebuke to a church and is not found in any of Paul's later more important letters like Romans or from any other writer, so I do not see the same focus in the Bible being put on this gift as some people put on it today. I desire faith, wisdom, knowledge and discernment, not the show gifts, and to claim I need this gift to show I am saved is double offensive. I am not alone in how I think about this, I am just bold and brash enough to call it what many think it really is. If that is offensive to some people maybe less bragging would curb the desire to rebuke. Ignoring talking about it may make some hurt feelings go away, but it ain't going to change how people think about it. I had pretty much decide to drop talking about it since I stirred up a fire storm with my post about it a while back until PJ challenged me with it and I will say right now if I am directly asked I will not hold back. I do have much to say about this, but will bite my language on it here.
I'll agree with ya Mark. Thunder, you earn a lot of respect.
Nice post, MrRow. I just think all we need to remember is: "do unto others as you would have them do to you", not "do unto others as they do to you". It would be much easier to teach someone if we led by example instead of jumping in the same boat with them. Be kind when someone offends you and it will "hopefully" eventually put their unkindness into stark contrast. People have to realize their error and change their character on their own, we can't do it for them very often. You're right that errors/wrongs need to be pointed out, but we should point it out by doing things the right way, not by doing the same thing they do. It's REALLY hard to do though:laugh:. I don't even count how many times I just erase entire posts and start over. I have a hard enough time trying to be nice on here...I'm afraid I wouldn't be too nice in person:dunce::devil::boxing:.
