The Amish, yes, I said it, the Amish.  I was watching YouTube video from the Red Elephants (in which I don't endorse him/his group) but he had a good video about the rise of the Amish communities in the country.  This one group of deeply religious people, might one day, take America back to a Jesus center culture.  Now, I'm talking about a Jesus center culture.  Not Salvationally.  Salvationally speaking, I do have some issues with the Amish's theology.  Many of them adopt a works based Salvation.  Of course there are those who have a correct understanding of Salvation but still live an Amish lifestyle.  I'm sure that there are a bunch of Amish that I will see in Heaven worshiping Jesus.  I also am sure that a bunch of Amish are going to hell thinking that they are saved through their work based Salvation.  Like in any Christian group, there are unbelievers and true believers.  In my perspective of Christianity, which is a Baptist perspective, there are going to be a bunch of Baptists that are going to hell and a bunch of Baptists going to heaven.  Anyways, the Amish might actually keep America a Jesus center culture.  Meaning, they are the group that are having kids from right to left.  The ratio of the Amish leaving the Amish is low, because many of them have an opportunity to ditch the church when they are adults but if they leave, they can't go back and see their families.  Not all Amish families and churches are like that but many of them do, in which I would say some of these Amish communities are cult like.  Some of them are cults and some of them aren't.  But what is clear, is that these Amish families are growing much faster than the typical American family/church, especially the evangelical church (in which it is in shambles).  The evangelical church in America are having 2 kids and that only replacement numbers.  As a single guy writing this blog post, I hope to one day have a bunch of kids, it may not be 7 kids but I would like to have at least 4 kids (preferably as much as possible) but I doubt that I can find a Christian lady that is willing to raise 6 plus kids.  Because that is 6 plus Jesus Freaks living out in the world and if they each have 4 to 6 kids each, then well, that number of Jesus Freaks will just grow over the years.  Now, I'm not going to force my kids to be Jesus Freaks but I would do what I can to prepare and teach them about Christianity and hope and pray that they will become believers in Jesus Christ and live for Him Alone.

References:
https://www.gotquestions.org/Amish-beliefs.html
https://www.statista.com/statistics/239553/amish-population-growth-in-the-us/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDUXX_KzISo

Bethany Christian Services (an adoptive and foster organization) is in a hard place right now, because in Michigan, the law requires adoptive services to help aid all families, this includes homosexual relationships. This won't really in pact the organization that much and I'm sure that there are more Christian marriages wanting to adopt than a homosexual couple. Even if they were forced into a situation where they must give a child over to a homosexual couple.  The law doesn't dictate Bethany to seek out homosexual couples, being a Christian organization, Bethany will seek out Christian marriages.  And this only effects in Michigan, not national/international (at least not yet).  This is one of the many signs where it is getting harder and harder to be a genuine Christian. Bethany might need to do a little bit more diligence (which I'm sure they are already doing so, based on my knowledge of the organization).

Reference:
https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2019/april-web-only/bethany-ceo-michigan-foster-care-system-lgbt-cant-back-out.html

After listening to "Defecting From Bethel" part one of a two part series of "Cultish" by Apologia Studios, I'm convinced that it is a cult.  Up until this point I didn't want to call it a cult but I knew their theology was bad much like the prosperity gospel.  It has a lot of the characteristics of the new age and other cults.  And one of the phrases that Apologia Studios or Cross Politic (I don't remember which one) made a reference in one of their other videos that some of them kept saying "A holy spirit" not "The Holy Spirit."  Because there is a vast difference between "a holy spirit" and "The Holy Spirit."  The Holy Spirit is part of the Triune God.  While, "a holy spirit" refers to any so called "holy" spirit(s).  As a devote Christian, hence the name of my website, it pains me to see many of these Christians that are going to this school thinking that it would be a school to learn more about the Bible and to grow closer to Jesus, but in reality all they are getting is an emotional roller coaster ride to hell.  And many people from all over the world come to Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry then the theology/cult spreads out to the rest of the Christian world and I wonder why we have problems with people walking away or not wanting to even come close to Christianity, especially those who have their cult radar on.

Reference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TlYGF1_kJg&t=1s

There was an article about a war against Christianity and all I can think about the article is the True Believers that are persecuted, those who put their absolute authority in Jesus Alone.  The various states and factions around the world and centuries of history have shown that those who put their exclusive faith in Jesus will be persecuted.  I'm not surprised nor should Christians should be surprised.  I'm surprised that we as Christians had it good for a couple of hundred of years in the westernized countries.  Christians aren't loyal to any earthly king or kingdom/government or authority.  Sure, some might like some leaders in their countries but I don't hold any weight to our political system.  My allegiance is to Christ Alone.  If the state wants to come after me because I am not loyal to the state or the political system that is fine.  I am to live a peaceful life in this world and not stir the pot for the sake of stirring the pot.  But to live for my Creator and to share the Good News of Jesus to all those who are willing to listen.  Sure, I have sinned and continue  to sin in this world, because of the fall of man in Genesis 3.  There will always be war against Christians because this earth is currently ruled by Satan.  So until Jesus' return, we must deal with the fact that we will be persecuted.  Here is a phrase that I took over the past couple of years, is "We/I got Jesus, so why worry."  I do fall into the worry trap but I try not to!

Reference:
https://religionnews.com/2019/04/24/christian-easter-worshipers-sri-lanka/

Hitler is often linked to Christianity because he grew up in a religious house hold.  This is partially true.  Hitler's mother was a devote Catholic but his father was very much anti-religion.  And Hitler took his father's route in terms of religion.  So, he was very much against religion, he hated the Jews but also he disliked Christianity, because he saw that Christianity as a weak religion.  That is why Christianity was next in line after he went after the Jews.  One of the reasons why I'm very much pro-Jew, and want to see the Jewish communities turn their eyes to Jesus.  And there is a group of Jews known as Messianic Jews, but more "popularly" within the United States, is Jews for Jesus.  These group of Christ followers are in fact ethnically Jew but they realize that they are in need of a Savior and I personally know a few people who are Jew by blood and they rely on the blood of Jesus for their hope and are very devote in following Christ.  In many ways, they are more devote than the typical Christian because they know their history.  

References:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2019/04/20/hitler-hated-judaism-he-loathed-christianity-too/?utm_term=.251bb0f8fe35

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messianic_Judaism

​

In Europe, Christianity has been on a decline for some time, for decades this has been the case.  The United Kingdom is about a good 10 years ahead of the United States, in terms of culture.  Which is holding true.  Europe is so post Christian it might as well be pre-Christian at this point.  I know a few missionaries that are aiding the local churches in Europe to bring back Christianity in Europe.  There are some growth areas where the traditional Protestant churches have been in decline, the churches that are Evangelical and Pentecostal has been increasing over the years.  This is primary from immigrants from more conservative countries like that of the Eastern Europe and Africa.  One of the underlining reasons that Christianity is dying is the fact that it accepted Evolution as a position, that is accepted by the church.  The Church must stand on Biblical Authority because once you take out or change Genesis 1-3, so does the whole Bible.  That is what we are seeing today.  Christians in the United Kingdom and the United States, have accepted Evolution back in the late 19th and 20th century, and once you have a non-Biblical position on a particular issue, the generations after you will be take it further and further and we are here today where Christianity has backslide in Western countries.  This line of thinking has been popularized by Ken Ham of Answers In Genesis, in which I think he is correct on.  It is the fact that the church hasn't stand firm on the Authority of the Word of God, and became weak.  This is why I take no compromise in terms of Doctrine.  Sure, I will fellowship with other believers that believe that God created through Evolution, but if the conversations do come up, I must take a stance.  But if they know me enough, and hang out with me enough they will already know my position aka, my t-shirts.  So, Norte Dame is just a physical "sign" that Christianity is burning in Europe.  When I first heard about it, first thought was, that is a physical representation of what is going on spiritually in Europe.

Reference:
https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/2019/04/18/notre-dame-cathedral-fire-france-macron-god-christianity-religion-column/3488597002/

Wretched Radio and a bunch of other news outlets both secular and religious had reported on a Youth Pastor asking the kids to cut him with an actual knife to mimic what Jesus had to deal with on the cross.  This is beyond stupid, no wonder why I want to become a full blown expat to avoid the stupidity of what goes on in the American Church.  What Wretched Radio had pointed out over the years is the insane stupidity of what Youth Pastors and Leaders have done over the years.  This is one of the reasons why the Youth are leaving Christianity.  Because they see it as a joke.  A Pastor's job is to shepherd the church not make life fun for the children.  Because the world can give them a lot more fun than fooling around at church.  I'm not saying the kids can't have fun but the whole point is to literally point the kids to Jesus and be an example not an entertainer.  Word of advise, just stick with games that are appropriate and actually shepherd the church, not entertain.  Please for the sake of the Gospel and this generation's souls because it is their souls are at stake here.  Because they get entertain and never hear the Gospel and ending up in hell.  That is what makes me sad/angry about this.  These Youth Pastors and Youth Leaders are trying to entertain the kids but not shepherd them into Christ likeness.  

Why I'm a Reformed Minded Christian.  It is the only form of Christianity that doesn't fall out unlike many other forms.  Example is Calvinistic verses Arminianism.  When compared to each other I believe that Calvinism whens that round by a long shot.  Because one of the major arguments that got me to Calvinism/Reformed faith is the fact that it is God center not man center.  I initailly thought that it was the will of man, but as I look at Scripture.  Since God created (Genesis 1-2), the heavens and earth, and He is powerful enough to create everything that we see, He gets to do what He wants with His creation.  In our eyes we might have "free will" but in reality it is God that has the final will.  That is why I became an early Calvinist back in 2012/2013 when there was a "table" discussion about free will.  I wan't convinced