Scoffers and Apostasy in the Last Days

This is the Truth Network CNG radio, or today's culture and timeless truths come together it's recent relevant content apologetics worldview and answers to the questions that you need to know from Alex McFarlane ministries. This is true for a new generation radio and now the man who preached in 50 states and 50 days speaker, writer, and advocate for Christian apologetics Dr. Alex McFarlane what should be the churches posture and voice at a time when so many people are not only rejecting God even after professing Christianity walking away hi Alex McFarlane you're with the truth for new generation radio broadcast here at a place we can turn in the Bible invite you to turn to the New Testament book of second Peter chapter 3, second Peter chapter 3 and I want to talk about scoffers and apostasy in the last days scoffers are people who mock God. Apostasy is when people embrace Christianity and then one day walk away many of you probably saw the Christian band Hawk Nelson in the news and the Twitter verse has been in a meltdown because the front man of heart Nelson John Stein guard has come out after decades in Christian music being raised in the church, son of the pastor.

Now he says that he doesn't believe in God anymore. What you think about this because it's funny this week. Also got a call from one of the vice presidents of the major American Christian University and he was picking my brain a little bit about the state of kids that make a profession of faith. They spend years in youth group.

Maybe they you know profess to be a Christian from Christian home. Maybe Dave and winter Christian school and yet you know post high school they might while professing Christianity have wildly un-biblical beliefs, and even very un-biblical lifestyles. On the one hand, they might say that they are a Christian, but what about abortion is that wrong.

Well, no, not necessarily they might say what about homosexuality. What about transgender is what about sex before marriage. What about Jesus being the one in the way to heaven.

And we live in a very unusual time, at least in the Western church. Britain, Europe, the West America. Many people who claim to be Christian don't really have Christian beliefs and as far as that the gentleman from heart Nelson.

It's hard to to have too much empathy for somebody who has lived like a rock star since they were a teenager and now they're in there in her 30s. You know fully into adulthood. The millions of been made, the, the, you know, palatial houses been bought and now from a very posh lifestyle to sit back and pontificate and say the world is corrupt. There is no God in I think about in February of this year I was in Nashville and I saw a dear friend and colleague Johnny Erickson, Johnny Erickson and Kim Todd Johnny has been at our tree for new generation conferences and now in her 70s in constant pain, every waking moment in pain and yet still traveling the world, ministering telling people about Jesus pointing people to Christ, and Johnny said to me she said I've got one more TNG in May I I'll do one more trip for new generation, and yet for 50 years since her accident in constant pain.

Truly, truly suffering and yet a dynamic world touching representative for for Jesus Christ it's hard for a pampered American to be taken seriously when they talk about a hard life when I could take you to parts of the world. Developing nations third world countries where people truly suffer for the gospel and they love Jesus and their pricing.

Christ, we in America here during the coded the Pantene lockdown.

We've we've experienced a minor smidgen of inconvenience, but we don't really know what persecution and suffering, and bearing one's cross is like compared to so many other people throughout history that have been faithful servants of Christ who did not lapse in their faith. One poet said, this is spring time comes around. This is by Sandra Sarah Henderson hey an American poet who wrote wants God grant that I may never be a scoffer at eternity as long as April brings the sweet rebirth of growing things and as long as grass is green and knew I shall believe God looks down to upon his wide earth cold and Brown to bless this unborn mystery of leaf and butter and flour to be just smile on earth from tender skies. How could I think it otherwise. Had I been dust for many a year.

I still would know when spring is near for the good earth that pillowed me with whisper immortality and I in part would rise and seeing amid the grasses murmuring. When I look down on mother's side.

How can I doubt that this be God or when a rose smiles at me. Can I distrust eternity of always love the spring because after the cold winter and that the earth is gray and brown and barren spring when there's little buds come out. Ms. Imus like Jesus whispers to this world wake up, it's time to come back to life and you know what springtime does depict that wonderful ultimate springtime when the trumpet sounds and Christ returns.

And Paul wrote that we who were mortal will put on immortality in this corruptible body will put on incorruption and we will see Jesus and will will be like him, for we will see him as he is.

In other words, we're going to get a glorified body as he had a glorified body and so when we come back were going to read second Peter three talking about the churches posture and ministry in a time of unbelief, rejection, vacillation and selective obedience to Scripture. No, we need to take God's word as it is and remember not only the inerrancy of Scripture, but the authority of Scripture stating truth for new generation is going to be back with more after this great from, I am a watchman ministries. Here's today's I am a watchman minute.

Did you know there are many similarities in the times in which the prophet Amos lived and in our times today in Amos's day. There were many places of worship, but few were what they should be in Amos chapters 4, five, eight and nine we read that the places of worship were well attended, but God was not impressed. In chapter 4 we read their worship added to their sin. In chapter 5, God hated their feast and would not accept their sacrifices.

God wants his church to reflect his passion for reaching the lost. Sharing his word and extending his mercy and grace. God has high expectations for his people. He wants his people to live well and finish well for him that the I am watchman ministry help you on this journey.

Be bold, be faithful, be a watchman, I am a watchman.com and I'm just not afraid to ask hard questions we care about a lot of things. We are engage magazine.net an online group of millennial's, brought together by a common goal to share truth apply Scripture and to get involved in are lost and hurting world engage magazine.net host discussions that help you apply biblical worldview to your daily life engage magazine.net. The Lord is a 100% track record in keeping his promises and he lovingly offers to help everyone prepare for life and for eternity. Join Alex McFarland at the cold busy shares from the Old Testament book of Daniel in the New Testament book of Revelation. The two most well-known books of Bible prophecy each reveals things about world history and the future that only God could no, their prophecies could be a source of motivation warning and assurance. They can also be an apologetic persuasion for nonbelievers get clarity on which events today may relate to these two prophetic books equipped to answer the big questions and objections about prophecy Daniel and Revelation how God wrote history in advance with Alex McFarland July 27-31 at the Billy Graham training center at the Cove. Find out more and register@thecove.org at liberty University. You are in more than a degree in the satisfaction of seeing what you can accomplish and what God can accomplish three more than 600° options from associate 100% online more discover God's truth through every degree at liberty University where we train champions for Christ good at liberty\exploit: that's liberty\exploit: for apologetics, resources, books by Alex McFarland and to find out where Alex is speaking to visit Alex McFarland.com mobile Mac program Alex McClelland talking about how can the church minister in times of apostasy and unbelief from second Peter chapter 3 and let me reiterate a conversation I had this week with one vice president of a major American Christian University. He was asking me about the incoming students, many of whom no claim to be from a Christian home, but really it in class.

Very often he said, like during orientation where they talk about being a Christian University in Christian beliefs and living as a disciple. Sometimes the students will will really push back against some of the clear teachings of God's word like Jesus being the one and only Savior, and people of non-Christian belief systems are people that reject Christ do not go to heaven and and let me be clear on his questions are one thing, I mean we've done Q&A in front of hundreds of audiences tens of thousands of people. I love honest Q&A. I even love a little bit of spirited debate, but what's really problematic about the times in which we live are you are the good people that are in church claiming to be Christians warning the name Christian.

The promise of heaven, but chafing repeatedly at things that are clear teachings of the word of God. Second Peter 33 says, knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts and saying, where is the promise of Jesus is coming for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they are willingly ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were involved in the earth standing out of the water and in the water, wherein by the world then was, being overflowed with water, perished. That's the flood of Noah, but the heavens and earth which are now, by this same word To in-store the words. The same God that spoke the world into existence.

The same God that sustains the world by the word of his power. That's Colossians 1 God is keeping the heavens and the earth running till the time of Christ return and its In-store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. The condition means destruction, not now, here's my conversation with the leader of this major Christian University. He said you know we've got so many students that are products of American youth ministry and they might've made a profession of faith, but they really aren't thoroughly biblical in their worldview, whether it's trusting God's word about creation trusting God's word about the severity of sin, trusting God's word about the exclusivity of Jesus the one and only Savior trusting God's word about morality and things that are that are clearly condemned as CN and sexual immorality by the word of God and just really surrendering one's life fully to the Bible and we begin to talk about apologetics and doing courses in content that you know present the evidence for the Christian faith. But I said look it's it's fine to do courses about the reliability of Scripture.

But we also need to impress on the hearts of all people, the authority of Scripture.

I think about it we can defend the old and new Testaments is historically reliable, preserved friend, you have the word of God in the Bible that the holy writ.

God's revelation of the human race has been accurately preserved wheat we can defend the reliability of the Bible, but we could have the works of Shakespeare reliably preserved but that would not necessarily make them authoritative for life. We need to impress on people everywhere, and especially young people, the authority of Scripture that God's word is as so many of the old.doctrinal statements would say God's word is the rule for faith and practice. It is God's word and as Jesus said in John 1035 AMI think about this the Scripture cannot be broken when Jesus said that the virgin born sinless son of God. The only person in history to rise from the dead, and so back to second Peter 33 that in the last days scoffers are going to come. The fact that so many people nowadays that claim to be Christians and dabble in church brazenly live counter to the word of God, the scoffers, and that the lifestyle of the professed church that is ungodly tells me that we must be in the last days, and one more word about John Stein court of hot Nelson. While we do need to pray for him and we pray the spirit of God will prevail over his heart and mind to give him the gift of repentance from his current state of apostasy. But here's the thing, all set.

Think about all the millions of young fans impressionable young minds that he's influencing my goodness gracious if if he did turn to unbelief and repudiate the God he wants served. Yeah I would think long and hard before I would influence a watching world and millions may be even more than a billion people reading about it online and trust me about the unit twentysomethings and younger. I mean all it takes for many millennial's to have a faith crisis is to read some blog site.

Somebody else will have a screen name like goth gamer and they'll have a blog site trashing God and that alone is enough to cause some young people to go into just a real faith crisis. I was watching one of our one of our webcast was being in a really critiqued by somebody and you know who knows where you know just saying blasphemous things against God and their screen picture little emoji for their screen image was a pot leaf and I think about my friend Gary have amassed Gary have amassed me. There is no living human who has studied the resurrection of Christ is much as Gary have a mass you know you've got a lifetime of scholarship the world expert on the resurrection, he can defend Christianity. 10 ways to Sunday and yet some blogger living in a basement somewhere can write heinous blasphemous things against God and and just off of one website five decades of world-class scholarship can be forsaken by somebody who is kind of on the fence and so to 1/2 Nelson front man that decides to pounce to size of said just, you know okay if you don't want any part of God. Fair enough. But be careful before you turn millions of impressionable millennial's away that it only takes just one little bit of false information to push them over a tipping point of unbelief. Anyway in the last days scoffers, mockers will come what should the church to staging because when we come back on to give you five points to think about in terms of being a Christian in a time of apostasy truth for new generation radio is back you know Alex is writing for many years, and one of his classic books is still great.

Today is a basic introduction to the Christian faith. It's called stamp courtrooms must know for the unshakable faith.

This book will help you help your teens get off the roller coaster of doubt in onto solid ground will read about the six pillars of biblical Christianity.

They are one inspiration of the Bible to the virgin birth. Three.

The deity of Christ for atonement. Five. Christ's resurrection and six.

Christ's return know Alex mixes it up with humorous stories gleaned from decades of working with youth and encourages things to build a foundation of faith that will stabilize their lives and help them take a stand for Christ. Simple and straightforward stand courtrooms. You must go for an unshakable faith available wherever Christian books are so if you're a Christian parent. You of course want to instill a biblical view of life in the hearts of your children, your pastor, you want to offer ministry that draws young families to your church. This is Alex McFarland encouraging you to check out my new book and video curriculum.

The 21 toughest questions your kids will ask about Christianity.

I interviewed hundreds of children ages 5 to 12 and we address actual questions from actual children. The spiritual issues that are on the minds of your kids the book and video lessons are great for groups of any size and was produced with the goal of equipping kids to stand strong for Christ in any situation. The 21 toughest questions your kids will ask the book study guide and video series. You'll find it@afastore.net that AFA store.net in the midst of a culture obsessed with relativism. Alex McFarland is a voice you can trust to speak the timeless truths of Christianity in a timely way.

You're listening to the truth for a new generation radio well-connected program we're talking about how the church can minister in times of apostasy, times of falling away and were going to look at several things that the church can do to minister effectively. At this time but I do want to thank the good Shepherd Church of Greensboro for hosting the broadcast, in part, I'm on their Wednesday nights at 6:45 PM and Sunday mornings at 1015 website good Shepherd Church of Greensboro.com. I want to encourage you. Also Monday, Wednesday and Fridays at 11 AM on my Facebook page, which is rev. Alex McFarland, that's our easy rev.

Alex McFarland on Facebook. I'm on live Monday Wednesday Friday were talking about apologetics Christian worldview. Quite a number of topics, and I appreciate the more than 550,000 people that are on our Facebook page and I encourage you to share. Listen if you watch the Monday Wednesday Friday Facebook live webcast and you share your automatically entered and we give way book every Friday.

So even to during this time of pandemic. We've enjoyed just a great, robust and growing online ministry seeing people come to Christ and people equipped to defend the faith. One final thing I said to want to thank the Cove, the Billy Graham training center at the cove where I will be July 27 through August 1 doing Daniel and Revelation Bible prophecy how God rights history in advance and if you would like to go. You can be a part of that. I'd love to meet you I love you to be there and you can register@thecove.org and we would love to have you there. July 27 well were talking about a time of unbelief, a time of selective obedience on the part of the church and some things that we need to keep in mind at this time. Number one. The church needs and we need to project and teach a solid grasp of biblical truths we need to talk about the reliability of the Bible, but also biblical authority how we have a solid grasp on what we believe and why God's authority. Christ the head. The head of the church and were not free to reinvent truth because Christ is the head, and we need to talk about the church's mission. The church is Christ's body and we've been given a great assignment. The great commission. Secondly, we need to have a clear understanding of conviction versus preference. When we say things like, Jesus is deity, the son of God.

That's not mere subjective preference that is biblical truth and so much of what now some people look at selectively as if we are free to just cafeteria style. I accept some of the Bible and reject others.

That's not how Christianity works. There are biblical realities that we cannot get around heaven and hell in Jesus and the atonement on the cross and the resurrection and only Christ can save these are not mere preferences are just arbitrary things people of pulled out of thin air. This is the revealed word of God and we must amend our lives in the light of God's word because God is not obligated, nor will he amend himself in light of our misconceptions or unbelief.

Number three.

We need a consistent commitment to the right things. I came along in youth ministry at a time when conferences were were all about the games you could play a not, that's fine. I've played so many games of volleyball and and you know all of the church, the amusement park and I know that a certain amount of outreach to young people has to include a part of a fun quotient. But here's the thing we've gotta make disciples, as Spurgeon said and I quote it so often we are called to feed sheep, not merely entertain goats and so you know the old saying if the horses died dismount. If what we're doing is not really making disciples. We've got to change gears and I would say this that are ministry nowadays ministry in the Western world has got to be based in intercessory prayer we have to pray and we have to have the anointing of God and what were trying to do what it really won't amount to anything so solid grasp of biblical truths in a clear understanding of conviction versus preference a consistent commitment to the right things and then we need number four wisdom to ask the right questions and sometimes you know in business.

They do what's called a swot analysis SWT strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats may be in your ministry in your church, maybe even in your family you got asked some hard questions is what were doing biblical is what were doing fruitful is what were doing obedient to the great commission is what were doing effective and are we achieving our assignment, which, as we all know Matthew 28, 18 to 20 make disciples of all nations, and then the final thing I would say at least in this time together.

There has to be the humility really the courage to change where appropriate. You know the deal. Joking, you've heard it. I'm sure for the seven last words of the church. We've never done it that way before. End of quote. Well, you know, even trees for new generation, my goodness.

During this pandemic 24 speaking events around the country were taken off the books, including a mate, the Southern Baptist convention in Florida that Dr. Dobson and I were going to do in June and yet you know we saw in late February or early March that all of those things were going to have to be put on on the side and we quickly scrambled to begin increasing our radio coverage and implementing live webcast which were doing and we thank God that they're touching thousands of lives, but often times we have to be nimble. We have to be flexible. We have to be innovative, but I would say this, we have to be proactive and prayerful.

You know, I live in North Carolina and the very first English colony in the New World was here in North Carolina.

Roanoke Island Sir Walter Raleigh. Our state capital is named for him.

Raleigh Sir Walter Raleigh wrote in his Bible. Even such as time, that takes in trust are youth our joys.

All we have and pays us but with age and just who in the dark and silent grave when we have wandered all our ways shuts up the story of all our days, but from this earth. This grave this dust, my God will raise me this I trust he lived 1552 to 16, 18, look there is an eternity there may be scoffers than they be doubters, but life is this brief dress rehearsal for eternity. So no Christ and make him nine and TNG will help you equip you to present explain even defend the gospel play God bless you. Keep us in prayer let us hear from you. You can go to my website Alex McFarlane.com and then finally let me say stand strong for God and country TNG radio is made possible by the friends of Alex McFarlane ministry, PO Box 10231, Greensboro, NC 27404.

That's PO Box 10231, Greensboro, NC 27404 call us at 877 yes God one that's 877 yes, God, and the number one or give online@alexmcfarlane.com while you're there, listen the program archives. Read Alex's blog invite Alex to speak at your event or contact Alex with a question or comment, Alex McFarlane.com.

Thanks for listening today and join us again next time.

As we bring you more true for a new generation fund TNG radio