Yesterday Franklin Graham announced he is calling on "thousands of families, pastors and churches to join him for a 'Prayer March' in Washington DC on September 26"---"Because our nation is in trouble...We need God's help."
A new survey shows just how deeply our nation is in trouble.
Barna has found that a majority of "Christians" no longer believe that "Jesus is the path to salvation and instead believe that being a good person is sufficient."
That belief completely undermines the two documents upon which this nation was founded.
Be informed, not misled.
A new urgency.
Franklin Graham believes God is calling this nation to prayer because "Our nation is in trouble and we need God's help."
In fact, he says: "I'm announcing today that on September 26, I'm going to be in our nation's capitol to pray---& I hope thousands of families, pastors & churches will join me! Our nation is in trouble & we need God's help."
I’m announcing today that on Sept. 26, I’m going to be in our nation’s capital to pray—& I hope thousands of families, pastors, & churches will join me! Our nation is in trouble, & we need God’s help. Make plans now to come for #PrayerMarch2020. For more: https://t.co/XSqMiRVUlM pic.twitter.com/9BpvpmV6z4
— Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) August 8, 2020
Jack Graham, the pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas responded immediately saying "I'll be there," and he's inviting every pastor and church in his Southern Baptist Conference to go.
Prestonwood is the largest protestant church in America at this time.
Others will follow.
On September 26 from noon to 2 PM, believers will march from the Lincoln Memorial to the Capitol building covering 1.8 miles while praying for the nation during "extraordinary times."
In a video message, Franklin says: "Our only hope for this country is God."
He said, "It's time to fast and pray and break the back of COVID. We must see a divine reversal. We must see a turnaround."
I believe there will be more calls by more leaders.
A falling away.
Sadly, BARNA is reporting that a majority of Americans no longer believe that Jesus is the path to salvation and instead believe that being a good person is sufficient.
Unfortunately, 68% who embrace that false idea identifies as "Christians" including 56% of self-described evangelicals and 62% who identity as Pentecostals. And 67% of mainline Protestants and 77% of Catholics also embrace that belief.
Slightly over half of the Christian respondents said they believe someone can attain salvation by "being or doing good," a figure that includes, 46% of Pentecostals, 67% of mainline Protestants, and 77% of Catholics.
In addition, 58% of Americans believe that no absolute moral truth exists and that the basis of truth is factors or sources other than God. And 77% said right and wrong is determined by factors other than the Bible, while 59% said the Bible is not God's authoritative and true Word and 69% said people are basically good.
Barna told the Christian Post:
"If you look at some of the dominant elements in the American mind and heart today, as illuminated by the inventory, most people believe that the purpose of life is feeling good about yourself."
In an attempt to be accepted by the culture, the Christian pulpit has moved away from preaching the Gospel--- God's Word, to laying out formulas on how to have a good day. Everyone prefers a good day to a bad day, but that isn't why Jesus died on the cross. And rose from the dead.
Barna also notes that:
"Most people contend that all faiths are of equal value, that entry into God's eternal presence is determined by one's personal means of choice and that there are no absolutes to guide or grow us morally."
This is a recent and profound shift in beliefs in America.
Barna, who has been surveying the public for a long time said this:
"That philosophy of life contradicts a fundamental basis of what may be the two most significant documents to the longevity and success of America---the Bible and the Constitution of the United States. Those documents agree that this nation will only be healthy and fruitful if it is populated by moral people. By abandoning our moral standards and traditions, and replacing them with inclusive and conditional preferences, we're losing the foundations that have enabled the 'American experiment' to succeed for more than two centuries. We can only hope that our critical moral institutions---particularly the family and the church---will wake up and help the nation to get back on track."
The takeaway.
Pray for those holding worship meetings across America. Join Franklin Graham and others who are heading up prayer events---and join as you feel led in fasting and praying for America.
I underscore Barna's sentiment that our moral institutions---the church and the family will wake up and take their rightful place in God's design for human events.
The great preacher Charles Finny spoke prophetically to our times from his own times.
THE PULPIT IS RESPONSIBLE: Brethren, our preaching will bear its legitimate fruits. If immorality prevails in the land, the fault is ours in a great degree. If there is a decay of conscience, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the public press lacks moral discrimination, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the church is degenerate and worldly, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the world loses its interest in religion, the pulpit is responsible for it. If Satan rules in our halls of legislation, the pulpit is responsible for it. If our politics become so corrupt that the very foundations of our government are ready to fall away, the pulpit is responsible for it. Let us not ignore this fact, my dear brethren; but let us lay it to heart, and be thoroughly awake to our responsibility in respect to the morals of this nation. –Charles G. Finney, December 4, 1873.
Be Informed. Be Discerning. Be Vigilant. Be Prayerful.