Evangelicals Will Be Extinct Within Ten Years

[WarriorAngel]

What’s 10% of 1.5 billion?
That’s how many practicing Catholics are left.
150,000,000 …and growing again. Plus the talks with the EO to reunite.

 

[graceandglory]

**That is not a trusted website.
THE COMING EVANGELICAL COLLAPSE:

MILLIONS OF EVANGELICALS WILL QUIT. THOUSANDS OF MINISTRIES WILL END.
Consumer megachurches,
dying churches, and new churches whose future is fragile.**

DENOMINATIONS WILL SHRINK, EVEN VANISH, WHILE FEWER AND FEWER EVANGELICAL CHURCHES WILL SURVIVE AND THRIVE.
Two of the beneficiaries will be the ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH and ORTHODOX communions. Evangelicals have been entering these churches in recent decades with more effort aimed at the conversion of evangelicals into the Roman Catholic church (in which they belong).

I totally agree with this, trusted website or not.

I was a part of a mega church with a radio pastor. When attending there, “we” built our megachurch, complete with in-house bookstore, restaurant, and recording studio.

When the pastor is out of town, the numbers of attendees is MUCH smaller than other Sundays. They flock to his entertaining stories and humorous monologues that are Biblically based. In order to continue a MEGA church, you have to have the same draw.
The main attraction is the man on the stage. When that man dies, his ministry dies with him. (Those are thoughts I had on my way out of the megachurch movement towards the Catholic Church, which is going to be around no matter who is the priest.)

I wonder what will happen with the mega church building. I can imagine it being used as a warehouse.

 

[WarriorAngel]

Excuse me you actually think people are targeting Catholics in Saudi Arabia and North Korea ?

The B.C. Catholic

Another threat the country faces in the aftermath of the war, according to Archbishop Sleiman, is an influx of missionaries who want to evangelize Iraqis.
Members of evangelical Protestant sects come from places such as the United States, Korea, Egypt and Brazil, he said. While they offer money and assistance, Archbishop Sleiman said, they are a double threat.
By encouraging Muslims to convert to Christianity, he said they provoke Islamists and they divide the Christian church. **Many of the people they “convert” are Christians already, he said. **
"If they want to help, they can do it through the churches who are there already," he stressed. "What they are doing is not ecumenical."

 

[OneTrueCathApos]

Excuse me you actually think people are targeting Catholics in Saudi Arabia and North Korea ?

Not only there but also in Africa, Turkey and everywhere else because people hate the Catholic church because we are the largest denomination in the world and people don’t like that. The Catholic church will never die but many have died for this church established by Jesus Christ. At the time of the Holocaust, there were 6,000 priests working in Poland alone. They killed 2,000 of them, and tortured or made it hard for the others to practice. It is a known fact that the world targets the Catholic laity and priests. Pray for them these people who dedicate their whole lives for God.

 

[atheist1]

The difference between Evangelicals and Catholics

The Catholics went to the hardest most canibalistic savage nations and converted the ppl to Christ.

Evangelicals go to where the Catholics are and converted ppl from the Church.

Who did the hard work?
The Catholics.

Evangelicals can only convert Catholics because it’s easier to convert a type of faith that’s already established.

NOW - i fully invite them to go to Pakistan or Saudi and the other Middle Eastern countries to convert ppl.

Can you name one country where Catholics evangelize and Protestants don’t?..

 

[Robert_in_SD]

Since I don’t believe in god I have no credibility? Okay…gosh that’s certainly…illogical.

Anyway, I didn’t say anything bad about your church.

Welcome to the forums A-1. Speaking for myself, I welcome all points of view, provided that they are charitable, and their motive is a good faith discussion. This includes atheism. Even though I do not share your belief in “no-God” I welcome your presence here and look forward to reading your posts explaining why you have made the decision to affirm that God does not exist.

And your point about Catholic mass attendance is a valid criticism. What good are statistics like 1.5 billion if the persons identifying themselves as “Catholic” are not really practicing and living lives of faith working in love?

Seems like an exercise in futility, if not outright pridefull arrogance, to simply count “heads” on the baptismal roll, when we should be counting “hearts” - that are really only known only to God.

Peace,
-Robert

 

[a_burger]

If you couldn’t keep him dead you certainly will not keep him from returning whenever he wants.

 

[OneTrueCathApos]

Can you name one country where Catholics evangelize and Protestants don’t?..

Atheist1, there are thousands of missionaries, far more than any other denomination in the world that are Catholic all over the world. There are over 2400+Archdioceses and there are over one million members of the Knights of Columbus. The Catholic faith do more for the poor than anyone else in the world. They were also the only ones around who helped rescue Jews during the Holocaust. Before the 15th century, there were no Protestants to see the light of day. The whole European world and North America were Catholic. We only have all Catholic holidays. None of which any Protestant named a holiday. Easter, Christmas, St. Patrick’s, St. Valentine’s etc…all Catholic.

 

[SpiritMeadow]

As an atheist, I don’t expect you to say anything good about the church. Your credibility, since you believe in nothing is er…nothing to anyone.

Excuse me for butting in, but first, I don’t know any atheist who believes in nothing. They usually believe in a good many things. And second is it your “considered” opinion that all atheists lack credibility on any issue because of their lack of religious belief? On what do you base this?

 

[SpiritMeadow]

Welcome to the forums A-1. Speaking for myself, I welcome all points of view, provided that they are charitable, and their motive is a good faith discussion. This includes atheism. Even though I do not share your belief in “no-God” I welcome your presence here and look forward to reading your posts explaining why you have made the decision to affirm that God does not exist.

And your point about Catholic mass attendance is a valid criticism. What good are statistics like 1.5 billion if the persons identifying themselves as “Catholic” are not really practicing and living lives of faith working in love?

Seems like an exercise in futility, if not outright pridefull arrogance, to simply count “heads” on the baptismal roll, when we should be counting “hearts” - that are really only known only to God.

Peace,
-Robert

I tend to question the 1.5 billion figure, but I suggest that all faiths probably have the same general problem. They count every baptism and probably subtract all burials under their faith, and arrive at the number. That has little to do with real numbers I suspect. If only 1/3 of all baptized and still living persons are attending their church, then their true numbers are 1/3 of the their reported ones. Like I said, I suspect this is pretty much true of every denomination.

 

[atheist1]

Atheist1, there are thousands of missionaries, far more than any other denomination in the world that are Catholic all over the world. There are over 2400+Archdioceses and there are over one million members of the Knights of Columbus. The Catholic faith do more for the poor than anyone else in the world. They were also the only ones around who helped rescue Jews during the Holocaust. Before the 15th century, there were no Protestants to see the light of day. The whole European world and North America were Catholic. We only have all Catholic holidays. None of which any Protestant named a holiday. Easter, Christmas, St. Patrick’s, St. Valentine’s etc…all Catholic.

None of the above answers the question I asked.

Additionally, Catholics weren’t the only ones to help the Jews. You seem to have an extremely naive view of your faith.

 

[orange_man]

The difference between Evangelicals and Catholics

The Catholics went to the hardest most canibalistic savage nations and converted the ppl to Christ.

Evangelicals go to where the Catholics are and converted ppl from the Church.

Who did the hard work?
The Catholics.

Evangelicals can only convert Catholics because it’s easier to convert a type of faith that’s already established.

NOW - i fully invite them to go to Pakistan or Saudi and the other Middle Eastern countries to convert ppl.

this is NOT true across the board (though it is in some cases). For the most part areas denominations like Pentecostals operate in had no prior Catholic presence (or at least no prior significant Catholic presence). What you say might be true in Latin America … but since the Catholic Church has existed in Latin America for centuries (since Franco Cortez spread it by the sword to the indigenous population) the tenor of your statement is neither a good or proper characterization of Protestant efforts in these areas.

Moreover, there is something awfully disturbing about the way Catholicism is practiced in some of these third world regions. For instance the church tolerates indigenous traditions like witchcraft and idolatry to continue (and even allows these customs to be interwoven into Christian worship).

Like I say about Catholicism … it’s achilles heel is scripture. Once people truly read it and study it (and begin to understand it) … it becomes exceedingly difficult to remain Catholic.

 

[whizkid43]

Has anybody read these? These are about Willow Creek by Willow Creek…

blog.christianitytoday.com/outofur/archives/2007/10/willow_creek_re.html
christianexaminer.com/Articles/Articles%20Jan08/Art_Jan08_oped1.html

I can dig up more articles if you want… From Willow Creek, SaddleBack, etc.

I was raised Catholic. I’m one of those 40 somethings Michael Voris talks about, all I learned in CCD was how to make felt banners, yep, that was me…

I left the Catholic faith for a Church that was a Willow Creek wannabe Church. Even attended the Willow Creek Leaders Seminar they hold every August. All the Bible study and spiffy marketing did was bring me back to the Catholic Church.

I’m also a technical professional, all I saw in this “seeker sensitive” Evangelical Church was a hi tech startup. The senior pastor served as the equivalent of the CTO, the Church staff was sales and marketing, the product was the Bible, the goal as many tithers as possible… slick marketing, watered down message to attract people…

Maybe I’m an anomoly but I lived exactly what the linked articles claim…

I’m back home back in the Catholic Church, one year this Lent Best thing that ever happened to me…

 

[orange_man]

What’s 10% of 1.5 billion?
That’s how many practicing Catholics are left.
150,000,000 …and growing again. Plus the talks with the EO to reunite.

IMO practicing Catholics are the only people who can be considered Catholic. Only the RCC makes the assertion that practicing or not … if you were baptized Catholic then you’re Catholic (and they count you in their numbers). Protestant numbers are at least honest assesments of our faithful. Catholicism is no longer the largest world religion in any true sense. There are probably more practicing Pentecostals than practicing Catholics worldwide.

 

[Robert_in_SD]

this is NOT true across the board (though it is in some cases). For the most part areas denominations like Pentecostals operate in had no prior Catholic presence (or at least no prior significant Catholic presence). What you say might be true in Latin America … but since the Catholic Church has existed in Latin America for centuries (since Franco Cortez spread it by the sword to the indigenous population) the tenor of your statement is neither a good or proper characterization of Protestant efforts in these areas.

Your understanding of the rise of christianity in Latin America is false. It would be easy to believe that Cortez spread the faith by the sword, but the reality is that it was Our Lady of Guadalupe’s appearance to St. Juan Diego that ignited the conversion, so that while up to 5 million Catholics were being led astray from the faith in Europe, more than 6 million indigenous people in the Americas were converting to the Catholic Christian faith. It wasn’t Cortez’s sword. It was Juan Diego’s Lady.
OM:

Moreover, there is something awfully disturbing about the way Catholicism is practiced in some of these third world regions. For instance the church tolerates indigenous traditions like witchcraft and idolatry to continue (and even allows these customs to be interwoven into Christian worship).

Another naive assesment of Catholic practice. While it may be the case that some have used the Catholic faith as a thin veneer for their pagan religions, the large majority of conversions to the Catholic faith can be presumed sincere. And it is true that the Church “tolerates” indigenous “traditions” it is only because the Church lacks the authority to actively suppress such practices. Your cause for “disturbance” is like blaming the Episcopalian Church for not suppressing the “holy rollers” or snake-handling protestant sects.
OM:

Like I say about Catholicism … it’s achilles heel is scripture. Once people truly read it and study it (and begin to understand it) … it becomes exceedingly difficult to remain Catholic.

I’ve spent a good part of the last 10 years studying scripture and it has only strengthened my Catholic faith. What you probably find inconsistent with Scripture is your own misunderstanding of the Catholic faith. I invite you to start learning what Catholics really believe, as opposed to what you may have been told we believe.

Peace,
-Robert

 

[Robert_in_SD]

IMO practicing Catholics are the only people who can be considered Catholic. Only the RCC makes the assertion that practicing or not … if you were baptized Catholic then you’re Catholic (and they count you in their numbers). Protestant numbers are at least honest assesments of our faithful. Catholicism is no longer the largest world religion in any true sense. There are probably more practicing Pentecostals than practicing Catholics worldwide.

Many protestant denominations count their members by the baptism roles as well. It’s not just the Catholic Church. Protestant numbers are just as meaningless. In the end you can count up as many people as possible, but only God knows the true state of one’s heart.

Peace,
-Robert

 

[OneTrueCathApos]

None of the above answers the question I asked.

Additionally, Catholics weren’t the only ones to help the Jews. You seem to have an extremely naive view of your faith.

Not true, but you have no faith. I tend to have knowledge about my faith, you don’t. Please name the other people who have helped the Jews, more than Pope Pius who saved 800,000+ from their deaths. Go ahead.

 

[Lil_Cat]

Not true, but you have no faith. I tend to have knowledge about my faith, you don’t. Please name the other people who have helped the Jews, more than Pope Pius who saved 800,000+ from their deaths. Go ahead.

Weren’t you the one who started a thread defending the bishop that denied the Holocaust and now you are asking for proof that someone saved more Jews than the Pope?

I don’t get it.

 

[orange_man]

Many protestant denominations count their members by the baptism roles as well. It’s not just the Catholic Church. Protestant numbers are just as meaningless. In the end you can count up as many people as possible, but only God knows the true state of one’s heart.

Peace,
-Robert

well, you should know the state of your own heart also??? However, I can only speak for my Presbyterian church, we publish numbers like our membership roles (not baptismal records) and average weekly service attendence. We really do try & provide an accurate count of our congregations. When applying for a church office or position (whether volunteer or paid) the elders do want to know whether you’ve been attending service. So when we tithe we write our names on envelopes and that information is kept on a spreadsheet in our admin offices (in fact we even receive an annual accounting of our tithes throughout the year for tax purposes).

 

[atheist1]

Not true, but you have no faith. I tend to have knowledge about my faith, you don’t. Please name the other people who have helped the Jews, more than Pope Pius who saved 800,000+ from their deaths. Go ahead.

I was Catholic once so I am at least fairly knowledgeable. Maybe more knowledgeable than you, maybe less.

Regardless, you said, and I quote:

They (Catholics) were also the ***only ***ones around who helped rescue Jews during the Holocaust

which is ridiculous. Now you move the goal posts and I am supposed to somehow prove that someone helped the Jews more than Pius.

I called you on your use of “only” because it is patently false that “only” Catholics helped the Jews during the holocaust and did not mention Pius at all.