In this sin sick world we live in today, society sees things from almost 180 degrees from where it did 50 years ago. When I was a kid, Christians were looked up to and the church was the social point of the community for those that were in the country, like we were. Back then, Things were looked at totally different than now.

Today, what we used to consider good is looked at as bad. What was wrong then, is accept day as being good or accepted. Contrary to many Mega-Church perceptions, things are getting worse instead of better which, the Bible says would happen in the last days. Regardless of what Society rejects today, we as Christians must still hold fast to Biblical truths and to be a testimony to others. We are still to be witnesses for Christ. Here are some reasons that Christians today are not the powerful witness nor why the church as a whole has failed these past 50 years or so.

1. Lack of Courage:

Many people do not witness any more because they are afraid to. They are afraid because of:

a. Being persecuted by society or be labeled as a religious fanatic. This is understandable due to the failures of the likes of James Jones, the fall of PTL with Jim Baker, and others over the past years. Greed and Pride were the basis for these failures. Greed for money. Greed for Power and influence over others.
Living lavish lifestyles at the expense of their congregations and those who are deceived by their craftiness.
Prestige and Power became their motivators and they fell because of their own deceitfulness.

b. sometimes, being afraid that someone will ask a question you can't answer. Sometimes we do not study
the scriptures as we should and we do not know how to answer. Sometimes there is no clear cut answer
to some of these questions. For example, why does God allow tornadoes, small children with terminal
diseases, Tsunamis to happen, etc. We must remember that our ways are not God's ways and we cannot
understand these things. We see the pieces of the puzzle but, God sees the completed puzzle. I wish I
had an answer that would fully satisfy those that asked these questions but, I don't.

c. We fear rejection, confrontation, embarrassment but, I still believe God is in charge of things. I still believe
that He will make things right someday and all the rejection, intimidation, all the hatred towards Him and
Christianity will be done away with because He is the Supreme Judge, not Washington or the Supreme
Court of the United States. "Every knee shall bow, every tongue shall confess that He is Lord".

II. The lack of preparation: vs 15

a. "Always be ready to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you"
No-one can explain why you are a follower of Christ, better than you can. You do not have to know all
the 66 books of the Bible, who the writers all were and know a zillion scriptures. Just tell others how
you were saved and what the Lord has done for you. People can deny the scriptures if they choose but,
they can not say it isn't true what happened to you because who knows this event better than you!!!!!!!!

Many people remember me years ago as a drug using, alcoholic, biker and they saw the change. There
was a change in my lifestyle, there was a change in my vocabulary, there was a change in my outward
appearance, there was a change in where I went, what I said, how I talked, how I lived, and how I treated
others, Why? Because there was a change in my heart. Your internal effects the external and the Eternal
but, that's another message. This was an example of the scripture "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he
is a new creature, old things are passed away behold, all things become new" 2 Cor. 5 vs 17. If a person
says they get saved and they continue to live as they always have, there is something wrong somewhere.
This is why we are "to let our light so shine before men, that they might see our good works and glorify our
Father which is in Heaven".

III. The Reason:

a. Only Christianity has the the answer to Sin, Death and Eternal life.
There are many "religions" in the world today but, few have the promise of Eternal Life. There are those
believe in sins being forgiven but, they do not have a guarantee of Eternal Life with God. There are those
who believe in an existance somewhere "out there" but, there is no assurance of Heaven as we as Christ-
ians know. There are those who teach that we are recycled over and over again through life "till we get it
right". Sinful man will never "get it right". This is why Jesus came and gave His life on the Cross that we
can be made RIGHTious in Him. We become "right" when we accept his blood atonement for our sins,
He is invited into our hearts and lives as our Savior and Lord. Why does anyone think that are other ways
to God when Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the Life,. No Man cometh unto the Father, but by me"
John 14 vs 6. "By Grace as ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God, not of
works, lest any man should boast." Eph. 2 vs 8-9 and, If Eternal Life is a gift of God, where do all these
other isms and schisms come in and promise eternal life outside of God Himself?

We as Christians today, need to be a witness and a testimony for the Lord Jesus, We can be a witness by how we live. The world does not read the Bible but, they read the Christian, every day.

Let me say this in closing. There is a difference is "Profession and Possession"!!!!!!!! There are many different "religions" or "denominations" out there, professing to be Christian but, watch out and check out, what they believe and teach. It's kind of like the cereal called 'Grapenuts"!!!! They are neither grape or nuts in it. Many of these "religions" are not based on, nor do they teach, the God of the Bible, of Jesus virgin Birth as the only begotten Son of God, His sinless life, His death, His burial, His resurrection and, His Ascension to the right hand of His Heavenly Father in Heaven, where He is making intercession for us who have placed our faith in who He is and, His finished work on Calvary for us, as lost mankind.

May God Bless this message and give us the courage, the preparation and the reason for being a witness for Him. Have a great week.

Oldbiker