COUCH WAS RIGHT

For over four years Dr. Couch has been saying that we are moving into both the apostasy of the church, and the apostasy of the culture. "Apostasy" means the "falling away," in reference to the truth and the faith. A latest Pew Report just confirms this fact of the departure of the culture from anything even half way spiritual!    For example, now in this nation, many say they hold beliefs of the sort found in Buddhist temples or New Age bookstores. Almost a fourth of those who say they are Christians say they believe in reincarnation. A fourth say they attend services of other faiths, and a fourth believe in Eastern or New Age ideas, including Hinduism or Buddhism.    They also believe in yoga as a spiritual practice, giving spiritual energy to things like mountains and crystals, and astrology. Sixteen percent believe in the evil eye or the casting of curses or spells. Three in ten of black Protestants believe in some of the thoughts of Islam, or African beliefs. Half say they have had religious or mystical experiences whereby they received spiritual awakening or enlightenment. This phenomenon is growing in the Black communities and in the minorities who are pouring into this country, legally or illegally. They do not have as their heritage the Protestant, Reformation blessing that came through Europe and England and that was part of the founding of the nation.     Religion now is a mixture of beliefs whereby one can build their own religious belief system. Many evangelicals hold to such heresies even though their church may not believe the same things. The reason is what Dr. Couch has said: there is a departure of the teaching of doctrine. Most churches are now into feel good messages, emotionalism, heavy music, but away from sound, objective teaching of the Word of God from the pulpit. Dr. Couch has warned of this for years.    There will be no turning back. The men in the pulpit are no longer trained in systematic theology or the biblical languages. They do not know how to grasp the Scriptures doctrinally. They are conditioned to be "positive" and emotional. Television is their source of communication, and television is based on emotion and entertainment. We are moving deeper and deeper into the religious and cultural apostasy. We are shrinking in numbers as those who claim to be Christians, and, those who claim to be atheists are growing in number. The spiritual night is coming, and it is almost here!