Thursday, January 23, 2020

Is 75% of North America really Christian?

Is 75 % Of North America Really Christian?
 About 75% of North America claims to be Christian.  If you compare that to say India, only about 2% even claim Christianity. So, is North America more likely to go to heaven because they claim Christianity compared to India? Jesus never said that we would enter the Kingdom of God simply by claiming Christianity or claiming that we believe in Him. Jesus said that in order to enter the Kingdom we have to be born again. I want to read to you what He said to Nicodemus in John chapter 3. “Most I surely I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘you must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” If you truly have been born of the Spirit of God, you do not go where you wish, you do not live by your own opinion or your own personality.  Because you have received the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit guides you. He shines through you, and what people see through you is the Spirit of God, not your own personality or your own opinions. Do you suppose that because 75% of the United States or North America rather, claims to be Christian, that they are going to heaven? Of course not! One time I was on this mission trip and I happen to ask the pastor about his testimony, how he became a Christian. His response to me was that he was always a Christian, he was born Christian.  So, then I asked him the rude question, well if you were born, say for sample to a different religion, maybe Muslim would you today be Muslim?  Everyone found the question to be rude, he didn’t respond to me.  But the question still remains:  Are you only a Christian because you were born Christian?  Because being born Christian means ZERO. Jesus even said to Nicodemus who was a leader of the Jews that he had to be born again. All of us have to be born again if we are going to see the kingdom of God and enter into His presence. We have to receive the Holy Spirit we have to repent of our old life. We cannot just believe things about Christianity, just accepting doctrines that the church puts before us. We have to have a real encounter with Jesus Christ and be changed, have a change of mind and a change of heart. We have to become a new person. Have you been changed, are you truly born again? Or are you part of that 75% of North America that claims Christianity but who hasn’t been born again?  May the grace of Jesus be with you.