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A reoccurring message in retail stores this Christmas is "BELIEVE."
Contrary to what Barrack Obama and other far Left voices would lead us to think---most of us do believe in the teachings of Christianity.
A new Pew Research Survey finds that 66% of us believe in the Virgin Birth---and a majority of us believe in the angel's announcement of that birth, the divinity of Christ, and the narrative of the Gospels.
In June 2006, President Obama made a speech in which he said, “Whatever we once were, we are no longer a Christian nation – at least, not just. We are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Buddhist nation, and a Hindu nation, and a nation of nonbelievers.”
This statement was followed up in his inaugural address when he said, ”For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and nonbelievers…”
Many have come to believe his innuendo that "nobody much believes in biblical Christianity anymore"---or that Christianity has no more significance than say, Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim or atheist in America.
Because America is great, people of all religions are welcome here. Welcome to become American in the truest and most free way.
The big lie of the Left, however, is that Christian influence is all but gone. And this impression is reinforced by the relentless assault on Christianity by the press, the entertainment industry and public education.
And a timid Christian church obsessed by being "relational" rather than transforming.
Dr. Thomas Williams said yesterday in his article on the subject, "Despite the notorious decline of religiosity in recent years, a majority of Americans still believe in the essential elements of the Nativity story surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem..."
Religiosity is indeed in decline. This generation is weary of a church that isn't even asking the right questions, much less giving transformative answers.
They are sick and tired of a church that can hardly be distinguished from the collapsing secular world around us.
The Christian church in America---in too many cases---smiles and says join me while giving no compelling reason to do so. Too many churches are consumed with affirming same-sex relations as "normal," same-sex "marriage" as marriage, and abortion as a rightful "choice" not the act of murder that it is---all in the name of being "inclusive" which they claim is a Christian virtue.
This also seems to fall under the banner of "God Loves Us All" (John 3:16) without the explanation that He loves us so much His Son died for us so we could be forgiven, delivered and restored from our sin and brokenness.
While the pretense of religion may be in decline---deeply held sincere biblical beliefs may not be.
In the introduction to their survey, PEW says, "Shrinking majority believe the biblical account of the birth of Jesus depicts actual events."
While Pew emphasizes the "shrinking majority" narrative, their findings show that a majority of Americans believe the Bible---and I believe more of them would if they heard the Truth.
Their own survey affirms that most Americans hold biblical Christian beliefs regarding the story of Christmas and the New Testament Gospel narrative. And that's significant.
The survey finds that 66% percent of Americans believe in the Virgin birth, 68% believe the wise men brought gifts to Jesus, 67% believe that an angel of the Lord announced Jesus' birth to shepherds and they told them Jesus was in a manger.
A majority of Americans---57% believe in the "full biblical account of Jesus' birth, with all the elements related by Matthew and Luke in their gospel narratives."
Even among millennials, the group everyone says is walking away from the "church," Pew found that more than 50% believe in the four components of the Nativity account.
Pew, and others who have studied the survey, are also emphasizing that the survey found that fewer people care that certain aspects of the Christmas story are not emphasized as much as they once were in the culture.
People may be weary of the constant attacks on Christianity, but not so regarding the true message of Christmas.
Interestingly, Pew also found that 65% of Republicans say they will attend church this Christmas, while 45% of Democrats say they will.
And they found that more "white evangelicals and white mainline protestants will attend church this year" than in previous surveys.
There is no question that many young adults are walking away from the Christian church.
However, to equate that to America rejecting biblical Christianity may be overly optimistic on the part of secularists and atheists---and misinformed by those who are not paying close attention.
Heaven and Nature are singing praise to God---and so are tens of millions of Americans.
Be Informed. Be Discerning. Be Vigilant. Be Encouraged. Be Blessed.