Covid was always a spiritual issue first and foremost. When the C of S closed I joined a church whose minister swore he would go to jail rather than close or restrict worship. We met normally throughout. Our regular numbers are up by 400 to 500percent and we have no debt.
The only chance of a reversal is if churches are seen to be loving people rather than judging them. I presume what you mean by 'preaching the Gospel' is doing more judging, which would only finish it off more rapidly.
I went to St Albans before Christmas for a concert of film music, the cathedral was full of families. The Cathedral presented itself as a secular museum exhibiting quaint medieval religion. There was little evidence of it being a living church. They didn't bother advertising their Christmas services or an Alpha course or any outreach at all, not a poster of leaflet let alone a stall with someone to talk to or pray with. The CofE diocese has given up
Well Jeffery John, a very liberal Dean was at the Cathedral for many years prior to this, so its not that surprising that they are the state they are now. Either way, not good, as you said.
I was in the UK a couple of years ago; visited a few cathedrals. At one I asked the man-in-a-dress (a cleric in cassock) what the cathedral was doing to proclaim the gospel. I got a blank stare in return! Says it all. What a great pity. Cathedrals could be great places of gospel ministry in many dimensions, instead, as you say, they have become largely woke museums.
Why would you bother about how many people go to church. If you believe in a God then that has nothing to do with anyone else. Either you believe or you don't. The fact is if you need lots of others to confirm your belief, then you don't believe at all. In addition when you have an Archbishop who doesn't believe a word of it, then it's obvious what the result will be
I care about others and I believe only because someone else made the effort to share the gospel with me. I believe which means I must follow what Jesus teaches: Matthew 28:19-20 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them infn the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
I completely gave up with CofE a while ago and moved over to the Eastern Orthodox Church for good. It has been a great blessing to me. Christ is Risen! Glory to His Holy Name for ever and ever!
Only one of the five ancient Sees of the Pentarchy is not under the yoke of the Muslims and that is Rome. Please think about whether God's righteous judgement on heretics and schismatics might have something to do with that and return to the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church founded by Christ.
It's all very sobering and we don't seem to have bishops who are prepared to stand up, speak out and proclaim the Gospel. Watch some footage from the recent C of E Synod and you'll see what a bureaucratic, tired and uninspired institution we've become. Only prayer, repentance, fasting and the intervention of the Holy Spirit can turn this around.
We have attended Church few times since they reopened here in Perthshire. I regret to say God was not honoured and the message was more towards thanking government and obeying. We were disgusted and really don't want to go to another service. I received more advice and comfort from the Lord when I went alone. He instructed me to spread His Word and that's what I try to do.
I began my relationship with Jesus in my early thirties attending a Church of England Church.As time went by, after an amazing experience of being filled with the Holy Spirit I moved churches, a non-denominational one.This was many years ago. I no longer attend church, I long to find a fellowship to worship God in Spirit and Truth.I am 71.I thought it wicked that churches closed during Covid what sort of witness was that! I feel many churches are no different to worldly clubs.
I remember hearing Dr Martin Lloyd-Jones in 1975 leaning over the pulpit and saying regarding the formation of the URC that 'putting two corpses in the same grave does not produce a resurrection'!!
We are growing in numbers in our Parish Church, but we are also struggling due to the lack of clergy. Lay people can't be left to run Churches, that was the purpose of a Vicar.
Thank you for your straight talking Rev Dan, we need more people like you. The problem as I see it is fairly simple, nobody is afraid of God anymore. He is portrayed as nothing more than a big marshmallow, just a big all loving marshmallow. The reality is that God is terrifyingly Holy, who can stand in His presence? When I started reading scripture from a Jewish perspective I found how deeply He is respected and loved. Blessed is He.
I do wonder if the signs in front of churches are Christmas ought to be a bit more "Repent! For the kingdom of heaven is at hand" and a bit less of "peace on earth". Not that the latter sentiment isn't true, but certain aspects of the gospel message need emphasised in different times.
More and more people, like me, finding a real relationship with God outside of the church. Many churches now worship their own creation of God where sin and repentance is not part of it.
I'm a minister in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. We are facing similar trends, although there are pockets of vibrancy and sustainability. I agree with your final comments about the need for prayer. There needs to be a general call to prayer. Also evangelical denominations and evangelicals within denominations need to work together more for the furtherance of God's kingdom.
There are plenty of believers out there but they don’t have Bible based churches near them. My first Church was URC and I didn’t know anything else. It was only when I went to other churches that I found out that church is not a social club.
Exactly. Church has a community/fellowship and social life associated with it which is lovely and Godly, but it is entirely secondary. The heart of it must be the sacred space and worship and that must always come first.
@Mikhael1964 absolutely we are a bible believing church of many years standing. I wonder if our recent growth is because too many local churches are pandering to the agenda similar to CofE in respect of same sex relationships and gay marriage and our church and our Elim movement will not compromise the word of God?
The pandemic has done a similar job on us here in the Catholic Church. I think shutting the church during the pandemic was a fundamental mistake and we should have defied the secular pressure and kept them open. Now on top of that, we have Pope Francis's latest antics which can only discourage and demoralize the faithful. My own parish was doing quite well before 2020, but right now is a very challenging time.
My Anglo-Catholic church hasn't reinvented the ancient faith to be 'seeker friendly'. It doesn't offer a poor replica of modern music. Our priests wear silly hats and lace-trimmed dresses. The pews are hard. The building is freezing - yet the congregation is growing at pace. So much so that we are planning to replace rows of pews removed in the 70s. 60% of the congregation is under the age of 40. Singles, families, black & white all gather for something they cannot get anywhere else.
Read J Johns 'A Lament for the Church of England', You have been on this path for years. And when Synod passed its most recent decrees on blessing same sex relationships, it just made the hammer come down even harder on the last protruding nails of the Anglican coffin. Stop blaming Covid
It would be interesting to know how´much if any decline happened to other religions in Britain in the wake of covid. My own perception is that the decline is really only losing nominal members who realised that church attendence was pointless. Done out of habit. May also include genuine believers whose woke or liberal church was not worth attending anymore, it is pointless if you are a sheep trying to be fed by a goat!
You are on the money there but the impact of covid closed church doors. The C of E exhibited it's knee jerk reaction. That is moral cowardice. They acquiesced to the bogus narrative.
St Gregory the Great Catholic church Cheltenham on Sunday's are packed to almost overflowing there's room for 400 people lots of family & children its wonderful to see. It's the same on Saturday. Our Priest is doing a brilliant job.
I attended St Marys South Perth over 20 years ago. Its in the heart of the CBD. Noel Chin and his wife took over when the congregation was 14. Through much prayer and house visiting and a determination to preach the gospel every Sunday the attendance grew to over 100, all age groups, including a youth ministry (the children come with the families, the youth come because their peers share the gospel - surprise!). It was multicultural, mainly Chinese congregation with bilingual services in Mandarin and Cantonese. Noel had to retire about 15 years ago but the momentum was maintained. Two years ago I went back and it was still thriving.
Not surprised with apostasy ripping through coe and many other denominations. - glad to say I went to Carol service at a coe in bangkok, evangelical preacher complete with a strong gospel msg including a local giving a testimony
Junior Church at our beautiful and historic parish church (which we have now left for another!) sometimes declined to just one attendee (our son) - from 20 or even more ten years ago. Despite links to a large CofE junior school on the doorstep there was nothing done to attract any new families. Once the mainly elderley remnant congregation have passed on, there will be nobody - literally - to carry on.
All true. As a former Parish Organist and choirmaster, I suggest the issue may be addressed by the bishops supervising far more closely what is happening in their parishes. There are some truly self-interested, unpleasant priests out there. One decided to remove every memorial he could in a church stating “the only person memorialised here will be me.” Another decided unilaterally to remove all fees…for everyone other than himself, of course.” I moved across the Tiber to Roman Catholicism…HUGE mistake. The priests there make CofE ministers seem like amateurs in the self-serving stakes. Now, my relationship with God is far healthier with no ‘middle-man’. “When you pray, go into your closet alone…”
Got my church open first week after the Welby/Mulally bad lockdown 95% returned as we spent £££ on covid safeguarding. I was a year from retirement but watched whilst lazy clergy in parishes around just shrugged and went online. What the senior Staff did was wrong and the first time the churches had been forcibly shut for 800 years despite many worse pandemics. Remember labourers are few. In Scotland where lockdown was enforced more it’s worse. Keep going… the tide has turned before when the church was led by fools and God removed them… 🙏🏼
Well spoken, and well done! I am a Reader in an evangelical, open-and-orthodox parish; and this period is seared into my memory. It was the only time when I had a serious disagreement with my church superiors. But the church where I spend most of my time (one of three in the parish) is back to full attendance. Were any such edict to appear again, I would refuse to obey; and they would have to drag me out of the open, well-safeguarded building, and jail me. NEVER again! And I know that, within my diocese and within my parish, I am not alone in thinking thus. A senior member of the diocese wrote to the bishop, accusing the Church of England of the most profound dereliction of duty - to the faithful, to those outside the church seeking solace in a time of anxiety and uncertainty, and to the nation as a whole. Thank you for your example!
Andybarton234. Stand by you,wish more clergy would have done the same as you. Hope they will realise the serious error of their faith in allowing same sex marriage and demonic behaviour in our churches is unacceptable,we who believe in God's word have been left without a church or Reverends, since the Woke and Satan took over. I for one have to watch online service, not the same as being in church and taking communion, but until the churches wake up from all this nonsense, their is nothing else for us. Thank you for sharing the news and pleased at least one Church is fighting back.🕊️🙏✝️🇬🇧
Be careful calling those who followed instructions and the law / government guidance as lazy. Its an unkind and untrue judgement. Creating online content, regardless of if you agree with / line it or not, was tiring work. Most of my colleagues were exhausted by the extra work covid created despite not being in the building.
Sarah Mullaly was bishop of Crediton in Devon at the time of the lockdowns and had nothing to do with them. Justin Welby has since acknowledged that the instruction to clergy not to enter churches was wrong. I think calling clergy lazy is a lazy accusation.
I'm new to all this. I watch videos on RUclips local church's services, some USA and Australian preachers( plus preachers who have passed Spurgeon, Bishop F.Sheen, RC Sproul Ravencroft ...) I am reading the bible, and am amazed at the variety...... so many versions, I have bought ESV, KJV, NKJV, NASB 95, RSV 2nd Catholic Edition, Douay-Rheims and CTS new Catholic bible. If there was more focus on the word, and less of the world I think the church could grow. I meet the entry requirements, I am a sinner, I seek a church that is biblical, honest, open and christian, not just on a Sunday but 168 hours a week that holds me to account and guides a way so I might live a better life, in accordance to the word, not a world view of wishing to fit in and cause no offence.
I have the Keys of the Kingdom Holy Bible translation by Chris Sparkes, too. It does seem more accurate and, frankly, holy compared to KJV. We are approaching the end and need to square ourselves to be received by Christ. Come on you ministers, get your armour on and beat out the sermons in the streets before your flock is rejected. Reject Islam and Communism disguised as inclusion. We want Revelations! Ephesians!
Hi Stuart. Don't worry too much about all the different English bible translations: they are all from the same original Greek manuscripts. I use the ESV as a very faithful translation. Keep searching. You're absolutely right that Christianity is a whole life thing. In terms of preachers, maybe try listening also to: Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones (dead), Alistair Begg, Tim Keller, or Christopher Ash (who taught me), all still with us. Any questions, just ask, happy to help! Mike, UK
I am in my mid 60s and I try to attend my local CofE Church (Bath and Wells) as often as I can but fear my disability and general poor health prevent me from making it, particularly in recent months between operations and hospital visits. 🙏🏻
Teaching the gospel in modern ( rather than medieval ) language that they speak and understand Is not telling people something is not sin full anymore. @@alanhowe7659
Some Vatican II Catholic parishes back home in Rural Ireland are having increased Mass attendance figures, especially of young people, the latter part of which is hugely encouraging - what’s happening in the C of E here is very worrying as clearly, something is going very wrong
It seems to me that one of the last real believing Anglicans was C S Lewis. Now it seems that they are mostly Frederick W Macran who was described anonymously in Surprised By Joy (Chpt,13 "The New Look") as "an old, dirty, gabbling Irish parson who had long since lost his faith but retained his living." I left the Episcopal Church (American equivalent of Anglican) for the more "Born-Again evangelical" type because THEY STILL BELIEVE the faith.
It's a shame this is happening because regular Church attendance in a local community is an excellent way of making new friends and it gives one a chance and a purpose to bring the love of your fellow people and sanity back to not only your life but others you meet.
It's the wishy-washy happy-clappy effect. I was raised RC in Glasgow after WW2. When 'missionary' priests came to perform Mass the churches were full to the gunnels. They were even standing in the street. Missionary priests were all blood-and-thunder who screamed hellfire and derision at us from the pulpit. The people loved it.
It's hard for me to watch videos like this,read studies on this and see what's going on in the UK socially right now. I pray for all churches in the UK,all denominations no matter how big or small. Christianity needs to hold up!😢✝️🙏🏼
Wanted to learn more about the gospel message with my teen where we live so went to the local Anglican church, a bigg-ish one in the area. They don't have anything for teens. The young cleric expressed the thought that teens and church is a tough ask and that people in their 20's are a more likely age to learn about the church.... I'm not so sure. Nor was the cleric, really. They had a small class for kids aged 5-10, but that's it - no interest in teens at all. The congregation was older people, the service had lots of beautiful elements (smoke, candles, chanting) and talk of the Mystery of Christ - very beautiful - but in no way engaging teens in the sermon, nor did I particularly understand much of the service nor what the Gospel actually was. Listened to some more sermons on their web page prior to attending, still none the wiser as a beginner. hmm... Next went to the Baptists - they have dynamic youth programs for all ages, teens meet on a week night for dinner, social gathering and a chat, combined with regular outings - it's a big group with a great sense of energy. They call it being in a community.Teens are calm and engaged in whatever it is the youth pastors are doing with the group - in short, it's the highlight of my teen's week. The Sunday service speaks to the heart of life's issues and the message of the gospel. Heard the phrase "gospel", which wasn't abundantly clear in the Anglican services. Finally learning what that message is. Practical, non-woke and relateable - seems like a good place to start with teens.. and adults who come from a non-church background.
I left the C of E for a baptist church years ago . Our church is vibrant and on fire for God. It is growing, not just numerically, but spiritually. People are hungry for God. Last year, we had over 20 believers' baptisms, and we have already had two baptisms this year so far. The Word of God is preached faithfully in the power of the Holy Spirit and everything we do is founded on prayer. Families are joining almost weekly. We have various groups and programmes running each week for the youngest to the oldest and every effort is made to go and serve the local community. Tonight, we begin another Alpha course for thirteen people. Our God is a great big God!
It doesn’t really matter what demonization the church is, if they are a Baptist, Presbyterian or Methodist church who is not teaching the Gospel it will fail. Again compare that too my church which is preaching the Gospel and growing
@Dan I am currently in correspondence with Canterbury Cathedral regarding the reason event. I live in Canterbury. I am aware of RC Cannon Laws but not Anglican Cannon law. I believe this event could be unlawful in a consecrated site. We need to protect these types of sites and identify what it is that makes them different. This is not confused in Eastern spirituality.
I did an Alpha course a couple of years ago, as after 45 years of wandering round the now idiotic new age movement, I'd come to the conclusion that all new age stuff was nonsense, as were pretty much all non-christian religions. Great as far as it went, but at the end of the course, there was no direction in progressing towards any Discipleship group in any local parish. This needs to be fixed as a matter of course. Paradoxically, this left me to do a lot of my own research and searching, and I have landed on Trad Catholicism, and intend to join the SSPX (Society of Saint Pious the 10th), rather than this ridiculous "New Cathommunism". The Catholic church is also under attack from Modernists, and other Woke nonsense. Paradoxically, the traditional Catholic movements are seeing their attendance rise, where "progressive Novus Ordo" churches are declining for the same reasons. As for the current Pope Francis and his head Dogmatist, Card. Fernandez, they have both outraged the Church with their obvious recent suggestion that Gay couples can be blessed. Then retract this, in a way that says, 'gay people can be blessed - but not blessing their arrangement, just giving them both a blessing while they are standing next to each other, in a church, in front of the altar. Its not a wedding. Nothing to see here...' Card. Fernandez caused uproar with being the author of two books, the latter recently discovered to have such gritty pornographic detail, it seems he was writing it for the Kinsey Institute. But no. he's a cardinal, and Cardinals have no business writing sex manuals. The scandal is growing today. The Catholic Church is now functionally in schism again, as Pope Francis has, with this one document, "fiducia supplicans", he's destroyed half a century of trying to reunite with the Orthodox Church, and all of the African catholic bishops have rejected it in no uncertain terms. Equally, people having these gay blessings are wanting an official certificate proving they are... what? Married in a Church? The Pope cannot change fundamental dogma and tenets of Christ, and the Church cannot and will not bless mortal sins, as these are SINS, that will get you to Hell if you don't repent and change your behaviour - as Christ himself was very clear on, yet everyone has now conveniently forgotten. Those are the rules and not even the Pope can change them. These 'blessings' are meaningless, and actually heretical for the priests to perform, mean nothing except as a 'participation trophy' to gay couples who, lets be clear here, want to have the appearance of a wedding, but will not abide by the law of the Church and yet STILL think of themselves as Catholic. Its like someone insisting on drinking 5 pints then driving up the M5 in a rainstorm. I believe that its all this pandering to political fads that is destroying the Church - all denominations. The Church in its widest sense must be seen by the World as standing up for something, even to the point of clerics being arrested and possibly even killed. Christians in Nigeria are getting killed. The oldest Christian communities on earth in Armenia in Nagorno Karabach are being displaced - true ethnic cleansing, by Muslim Azerbaijanis. Not a peep on the media. Stand up for something. Its everywhere - Chinese Christians. Indian Christians - from a church community founded by St 'doubting' Thomas himself, are getting killed. Do something. Evangelise! There is one fix - return to aggressive evangelising, and a strong reliance of faith and service, rather than trying to please everyone, especially the 'Squeaky wheels' in the church that get all the attention. I'm sure that all the progressive movements in all Christian denominations, especially those that concentrate on people-pleasing by doing such things as women priests and bishops, and the whole 'feel-good Jesus' rather than concentrating on what Jesus actually taught. Stop trying to be popular and start being right again. The Church MUST hold the moral line, or (to quote Stephen Fry) "What on earth are you for?!" Even Jordan Peterson points this out that people are crying out for spiritual truth, so why are the Churches so timid about it? Peterson's wife is now Catholic, and I think he is almost 'coming out' as Catholic himself. Sidenote: C of E types may not be aware of this, but there is a growing awareness in the Catholic Church that a lot of Catholic Visionaries over the centuries have prophesied these times, especially the Queen of Heaven herself. Mary has appeared over the last few centuries to many people, and her warnings are getting more and more specific about the Great Apostasy in the Church, and the warnings of Fatima and Akita are the same - ie., that this apostasy has been engineered by satan himself, and very traumatic times are ahead, and seemingly quite close. Even the Catholic Church now downplays the role of Satan directing people's lives - and Pope Francis and Fernandez are engineering dogma so that ALL Marian apparitions whare Mary herself has appeared to people and given these warnings are now all suddenly nonsense - nothing to see here - move along. Mention of satan this has disappeared from Anglicanism completely. Does the Anglican Church ever talk about sin and satan anymore? Frankly, without the concept of sin and satan, what's the actual point of Jesus? By the way, it is understood in Catholic circles that there will very soon be "The Examination of Consience" or "the Warning", where "3 days of darkness" will be manifested upon the earth and everyone will get to see a 15 minute preview of what God thinks of them. This is NOT the Rapture, which is some weird Baptist nonsense, or something. Have your blessed beeswax candles and Rosaries ready, people. This seems to be the real point. "Modern Society" (excuse the catch-all term) now thinks of itself as so sophisticated, what with having been to the Moon, and Smartphones, etc., that the relevance of Christianity diminishes daily. We all actually live in a spiritual realm, not a physical one, and unless this is understood, no physical remedy will work. This is the view of one Fr Donald Calloway, who similar to Bishop Fleming, went from deadbeat teen tearaway to a sudden Marian conversion experience. His conversion experience Via Mary is inspiring, as he went from a teen petty criminal to instantly catholic. (As a young American youth in Japan in the 90s, he went through Japanese girls like a Combine Harvester with the throttle stuck down, apparently). And as a reformed drug dealer, mule and petty criminal with the Japanese Yukasa, and rehab dropout, he knows that we all suffer from being stranded in a spiritual desert. Equally astonishing is the instant Damascene conversion of one Zachary King, who actually was a former High Wizard of the world church of Satan (YES, they do exist and do Satanic magic for huge money from the very powerful who run the planet for their own profit and convenience. Its always a human blood sacrifice, and inevitably a child aborted at the point of birth. Further details are horrific, so Google them yourself), who became 1000% Catholic after an encounter with an awkward customer in his shop. But you can look that up for yourselves - its on YT. He bitterly regrets the 146 ritual abortions he did for satan, and now has dedicated the remainder of his life to stopping all abortions in the US. Perhaps another Blessed Bartolo Longo in the making? This is not confined to Christianity. Iran - yes, where "all the terrorists live", has gone from 99.8% Muslim at the time of the revolution to only some 35% committed practising Muslims today. The evilness of the regime has backfired, and not only is Iran now some 25% agnostic/atheist, there is a huge underground church movement sparked by Evangelical Christians, and its estimated that Iran is now 25% Christian, and this is growing strongly. So why not in the West? Also, following this trend, Islam has a strong social grip on its adherents but its reckoned by some muslim groups that 25% of young Muslims are either MINOs (Muslims in Name Only) and are public about this, but this figure of MINOs might even be as high as 40-50%. And Muslim organisations are as equally horrified by the prospect. Don't be alarmed by the "Jihad by population" ethic that Muslims have - their kids are rejecting Islam too. And on a final note, one visionary, St Dominic Savio, prophesied that England (UK?) would one day become Catholic again. And maybe that in itself is actually the way forward, as Graeme Ashenden confirms. And as the Queen of Heaven says, "In the end, my immaculate heart will triumph". Pick up those Rosaries, people. And do not fear.
Amen to all you said here brother and congrats on deciding to join the SSPX - it really is the last remnant here on Earth of Our Lord's One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. Where abouts are you located (UK I assume) as I can point you in the direction of an SSPX Mass if you've not already found one?
We can trust God, Christ rules now and will see Gods Kingdom on earth in the second coming. It’s not to worry but be people of prayer and ask for God to bring revival. Stay strong. God bless😊
I’m thinking what is needed isn’t ‘Children’ but wholesale waking up, repentance and turning back to God and obeying Him!! Have we looked at what’s being taught in the churches recently? What’s been ‘allowed’ in, the compromise and in some things wholesale disobedience! Yes we NEED a move of God.. but we must be willing to repent too and turn ad follow God wholeheartedly, NOT compromising or allowing things contrary to God’s true word, the bible… let’s get on our faces and seek the Lord and be willing to change and return to Him.. we will be persecuted.. some groups won’t like it.. but only that can save the CofE and the Presbyteryerian.. I know this is a harsh word.. but those whom God loves He disciplines.. sometimes the truth isn’t nice.. and please don’t accuse me of hatred actually I love you enough to say the truth! God bless all
Thank you for your comment. I completely agree. It's not just the coe, but the entire worldwide Church of Jesus Christ has fallen into a great apostasy. They have placed their faith in the secular word of man and replaced it with God's Holy Word. You can't have it both ways and expect to be blessed with increase by God.
I was raised Christian from birth now I'm an Atheist. Mind you i never went to college but I have watched Aron Ra and Neil De Grasse Tyson on StarTalk.
The problem is the heretical leadership that has taught by example in many cases, the opposite of what the Bible teaches and even denying God. Rejecting His Word is rejecting Him. They have brought in other religions tantamount to bringing in 'strange fire' and preaching by acceptance all that goes against the Laws of God. This is a time of judgement and seperation of those who teach heresy and those who believe. It is time to get right with God with repentance not empty words. God says Choose Life and that is not the the path that many in leadership have chosen, fearing man and reputations instead. The only reputation we should fear is our own in God's eyes. This in not just in the Cof E but all denominations across the board. It is not a time to play 'nice' with the worldly way of thinking as time draws to it's end before the return of Jesus to collect His Bride. All the signs are around us now. It's time to fall on our knees and repent and seek His face and His forgiveness.
The Anglican church lost me in 1991. The women deacons did not feel right. After having been to an Anglican church school that felt like a private school owned by a church. If you had money you could go. About 5 years ago I discovered Eastern Orthodoxy! Now I hardly ever miss a service.
My son goes to a C of E Church and says its really good and really sound. Buildling Jesus Church without him... now that is unlikely to work ... I prefer Love Jesus, Love people , Love prayer.
Amen. Succinctly put. Thank you! I'm working on something very big which has been put on my heart as my calling which addresses more most critical points. I suspect I won't be the only one. I think we should all pray, regardless of denomination for us to be flooded with the Holy Spirit, wisdom, courage and guidance.
Just a passing thought. The church which I attended before converting to Catholicism was in serious decline and ripe for closure. A succession of poor appointments to the parish, failing to understand the needs of that church and its community was at the root. It's a traditional "old fashioned" high church in a medium sized town with a poor to middle income parish of about 10000. An appointment was made 2 or so years ago and the church has grown and grown. The priest is an old fashioned traditional high churchman with a radiant love of God and mankind and if I did not have so many fundamental arguments with current CofE theology, I'd happily go back and support him too. His teaching is utterly out of step with current CofE teaching and we often chatted about the freedom I had to convert which he sadly did not feel he had. It's a message of love for all in a world they know is as broken as we do, giving them a sense of community and care. There's nothing frothy or trendy, just meeting people where they are and giving them hope.
For 10 years we (evangelicals!) organise a Christmas carol singing in a 800 person's Catholic church. It's always packed full. Only when we evangelicals come! . Surely not at normal meetings for mass. Then it's 10 to 20 very old people who attend. But there are some smaller parishes who have better church life.
We spend too much time on the "need" to go to a church service - as our "raison d'être" = what we do. we need to be more active in terms of doing things, creating environments where people want to worship and share .....as many of the more Charismatic house churches do What could they do if they had access to buildings the Anglican church maintain - for an almost non existent congregation.
I don't think you can just blame Covid. I left the Church of England because of its going away from biblical teachings, eg gay blessings. I joined an independent church which IS growing. Don't think it pays to conform to society!
The Death Express When The Death Express rolls up to your door, the things that you’re doing, right or wrong you can’t do anymore! Life on earth is short at its best, for we all are facing the acid test. So when writing the poem (of life) make it rhyme, and it must be written on the shores of time. We must write it by faith, though we all like to see. But we can’t write this poem in eternity, so don’t sit on your seat until you hear the beep, get up and start now, awake out of your sleep! What am I sending on the other side Before The Death Express comes (those wheels) to give us our ride. So get busy, do good, and get involved. And when The Death Express comes, your problems will be solved. Slow down; slow down, so that you may learn, don’t run ahead of our leader, you don’t know where to turn. Learn how to give, how to bear, how to share, Learn how to do good to men everywhere. Now you can watch for the signs as we go. Stay under the blood of Jesus, that washes white as snow. . When The Death Express rolls up to give you your first ride, who is your escort, with a heart full of pride? Too proud to listen, too stubborn to hear, But Wait! Those wheels, those dreadful wheels are rolling near. There’s an escort for every one and who will yours be? I want Jesus in the Holy Ghost to escort me! Speaking of space, there’s room to spare, for this train picks up men everywhere. It transport the rich and it transports the poor. It drops off one generation and returns for more. Those wheels, those dreadful wheels, those death wheels. Let’s face the facts now, and turn around. For why would you let sin forever hold you down? Repent, quit, be baptized in Jesus Name for remission of sins, receive the Holy Ghost and He will escort you in! Remember, Only What You Do For Christ Will Last! Only what you do for him, will be counted in the end, only what you do for Christ will last. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Mark 8:36-37 KJV If it ever was a time for one to consider there end, and seek the Lord with there whole heart, it is now that time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. Jesus is soon to come! Allow the main thing of the main thing to be the main thing in our lives, so we can indeed be vessel’s unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use and prepared unto every good work. 2nd Tim. 2:21 KJV Why We Must Be Born Again The Way Back To Pentecost When Jesus told Nicodemus, except a man or person be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. St. John 3:5, he was telling him who needed to do it. Now, watch it. Matthew told what to do, Mark told why to do it, Luke told where to do it and John told who to do it. What’s missing? Didn’t nobody tell how to do it, until the great day called Pentecost when Peter stood up to preach. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:38 KJV What to do? - repent and be baptized. Who? - everyone of you. How do we do it? - in the name of Jesus Christ. Why do it? for the remission of sins. What’s the result of doing it? - and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. The Jews did it. Look at the 8th Chapter of Acts, verse 4, “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the Word.” Verse 5 “Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.” Verse 12, “But when they believed Phillip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” 14. Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15. Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 16. (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Acts 8:14-16. In Acts 2, the Jews did it. In Acts 8, the half Jews did it. In Acts 10, the Gentiles did it and in Acts 19, the Baptist folks did it. They all did it because God said that’s the only way to do it. Of the 66 books in the entire Bible, there’s only one that don’t fit in with any of the groups. That book is the book of Acts, because the book of Acts is the only book in the Bible that tells you how to get save. And, until Jesus Christ returns in the clouds to call his church away “1st Peter 2:9-10,” this gospel is to be preached by us to every nation and is still in force today till that great getting up morning when the dead in Christ shall rise first, we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air, so shall we ever be with the lover of our souls. Will you be saved today, according to the Holy Scriptures? Acts 2:38 KJV is still in force today till God’s body, “the Bride of Christ is completed.” No, Not One! 1 King 8:60 says that the Lord is God, and that there is none else. So check him out: There is none with him, none like him, none beside him, none above him, none beneath him, none before him, none after him, none good, none other, and none else. He is great and in a class all by himself and his name is Jesus. Acts 2:38; Know This! Deuteronomy 6:4 KJV If you want to know God - know the father, If you want to see God - see the Son, If you want to feel God - get the Holy Ghost, The father is eternal, the son is external, and the Holy Ghost is internal. To wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them: and has committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Isaiah 9:6; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Acts 1:8; St. Luke 24:39-53; Acts 2:36-38; 4:10-11; Ephesians 4:5; Colossians 3:17 KJV
In those days many Catholics and free church Protestants used to sit through Church of England services to avoid being fined (which they couldn't afford) and then go to attend mass or worship in secret. You can take a horse to water....
Dear Rev Dan, I hear that the clergy and bishops are extremely progressive as opposed to the bulk of worshippers. Where does this leave orthodox Anglican believers? Is it the case that believing Anglican Christians who just want to (as NT Wright says:) "get on with it" are having their Sunday services made virtually un-attendable by progressive and heterodox clergy? Also, what is it like being a faithful Christian priest ministering to the average congregation? How much trouble is caused by the progessive minority that sadly does exist in most churches? And lastly, are there associations that faithful Anglican laity can join so they can let their voice be heard by the heterodox bishops and bureaucrats?
@HouseofBishops: "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place-unless you repent." Revelation 2: 5
We must reach out to all the children We know they're precious in Your site So they will grow up knowing Jesus Then they will know His way is always right Help us to try and teach the gospel In ways that they can understand So they will grow up knowing Jesus And why he sits at God's right hand.
🇻🇦 I have been to some parishes where the congregation is aging and the community slowly growing smaller. I have been to other parishes where there is not enough room in the pews, and some of the faithful must stand during the entirety of the mass. This problem is not universal.
I wonder if there is any religious organisation not facing this trend? In New Zealand we are increasingly becoming a secular society. People still like the teachings of Jesus but have developed a distrust in Churches. One study reported - The decline in formal religious affiliation continues, but we are also seeing a rise in the breadth of spiritual practices and an increasing appetite, especially among younger people living in Aotearoa New Zealand, to explore issues of spirituality. People being seen to positively live their religion would be the biggest factor to reversing this trend; in effect living the Gospel while not forcing their beliefs on others.
The message of the Cross is being watered down in many Churches to make it more appealing to the “World”. The message of our sinful nature and only complete faith in Jesus Christ will save us is not being emphasised. Also,not enough is being done to educate the ignorant on Christian history,the importance of the Reformation and the Biblical Truth our salvation is all of God and our receiving of undeserved Grace a gift from God,all for His Glory.
No doubt a committee will be formed and someone will have a bright idea and we will try that. When will we understand that we need God to fix this. When those people who call themselves by my name, will HUMBLE themselves and pray and call on me and turn from their wicked ways , I WILL HEAR FROM HIGHEST HEAVEN AND COME AND HEAL ThEIR LAND.
Why would anyone attend the C of E? It’s nearly unanimously abandoned Christian theology. Gay marriage and LGBTQ+ inclusion, women Bishops and priests, and a focus on social concerns rather than the gospel. People wanting to find the Christian faith will obviously leave the CofE in search of a place where the Christian faith is still the concern of the Church. Without writing a book in the comment section, someone wanting to find a valid Church with apostolic succession that still teaches and practices Christian tradition can no longer look to the CofE with any shred of legitimacy. Really, to fill all of those boxes, Orthodox Christianity is the only option.
I absolutely agree with you! I’m about to leave a c of e church of over 200 to join a local Orthodox Church where at least I feel my soul is fed and someone cares for the state of my spiritual welfare, where I am confident the priest is a man of God who prays and the Divine Liturgy is God-honouring, Christ-exalting and Holy Spirit inspired without needing smoke and lights in the worship with people-pleasing entertainment thrown in. God have mercy on us!
You will be very welcome in the Orthodox Church, we are open for everyone to come and see and hear the Gospel preached as it has been since the day of Pentecost.
Even as a Christian, I'm still stunned every time by God that the people he should hate the most ( because of sin ) he loves and wants to turn to him and help them turn round. Also the this world and the people can be so evil and from our point of view there is no obvious path to redeem it , but God is still dead set on his plan hasn't budged and done what's the obvious thing from our point of view and smited us all. The thing about the Gospel and Christ is that he and the Gospel only get more relevant as does the power of God the worse things seem to be, and the more miraculous the turn around. This is what I look forward too.
Well if any one thinks Christian teachings are over all harmfull to society they will be in for a huge shock when they realise what islamic fundermentalism and sharia law are all about ?
The 'churches' that are declining tend to be those who just teach, be nice to everyone. It would be interesting to know what are the figures for churches that follow God's Word fully?
Dan we are in the Laodicean stage of the church, Jesus spews them out of His mouth - i.e. they are no longer in the body of Christ. He still stands at the door of their hearts and knocks and if anyone invites Him in He will return to that person. Otherwise Tribulation for the Church. Are we really surprised? Peter wrote 1 Peter 4:17 'For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?' Paul said 2 Thessalonians 2:3 'Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first...' The church leaders top to bottom, save for a few, are rebelling against God's teaching and ways.
I’m very fond of the CofE - despite being an atheist all my life - because of the amount of music that I’ve been involved with in the church over the years. Occasionally I attend our local church because I enjoy the experience of going to a service, whatever my feelings about the “truth” of the message. However, I have to say that I haven’t attended for several years now. The experience became less and less rewarding. Why is attendance dropping generally? Well, obviously because people no longer believe in God, but also because the church doesn’t offer a good reason to attend. I don’t think those inside the church realise what they look like from the outside. More and more people grow up with almost no experience of the church, and consequently they view it dispassionately. What they observe isn’t persuasive or enticing. The message of the church seems unreal, unbelievably and irrelevant. When they observe the world, where is this God? And now that we are so culturally mixed, why should they believe the claims of the Christian faith over any other faith?
I hardly ever see a dog collar on a priest when I’m out anywhere. I think it’s a great advertisement of the Church as a living thing. Admittedly I’m in NZ so this might not reflect the UK, but I do think there might be a reluctance for various reasons. Your thoughts?
I have never seen a CofE vicar evangelising on the street, or in the marketplace to this day. Paul used to witness to people in the marketplace (Acts 17: 17) but too many church leaders over complicate ‘evangelism’ and either discourage evangelists or turn the practice into manageable program. Yet Paul told Timothy as an individual to “do the work of an evangelist” (2 Timothy 4: 5) All a Christian needs is a Bible and the willingness to speak the truth of Jesus Christ to anyone and everyone. It’s so simple.
@Mikhael1964You don't think Following where the Evidence leads is reliable yet believing in fantasy is somehow better? Not only were we apes but Humans are Apes still. Tell me how we are Not Apes? Tell me what makes All of scientific discoveries including the very discoveries that allow us to communicate right now unreliable?
The Archbishop and his senior clergy around appear to be more interested in politics and politics that are not in line with teachings of the Gospel than their neglected flock who are calling out for help and guidance. I believe the Archbishop has slammed shut the church doors in the face of his flock.
The root problem is belief in “so called” science that is dogma. You can’t even question it. If there was no Adam there is no death through sin. Without sin there is no need for a savior and so no need for church. Why believe in God if we don’t believe what he says about creation? If children start out believing but everyone asks, “Did God create us?”, then the children will fall away.
The C of E was always 'His Majesty's Department of God' from Day One when it requisitioned the Church of Rome's intellectual property, staff and real estate back in the time of Henry VIII, and has only had any spiritual clout or 'Christian' integrity for as long as there's been anything vaguely 'spiritual' or Christian about the British Establishment that controls it. No more comment necessary.
Rajjassal123 absolutely right. Their against God's teachings of his word. Absolute disrespectful to our faith and our God.Unacceptable of the bishops,priest and the other clergy for not standing up for what is right. Pleased to see some priest and clergy on our Streets and Capitals preaching to all the public to bring us back into the Christian fold. Amen.🕊️🙏✝️🇬🇧
I recently had a pub lunch with my son. He is studying, in his first year at A-level. I was talking to him, asking him about coming to Church. But, honestly didn’t push it - and started seriously thinking about recommending we start visiting an Orthodox church. Our local church is traditional Anglo-Catholic, but what when he leaves for University? he won’t be in a local bubble in a nice part of SW London, and maybe it’s my politics, but we see ‘leaders’ talk of anti-whiteness, after it’s been pushed in school, pride and reparations… sorry but none of that should be an agenda pushed at my son. He doesn’t owe grifters, and ( he’s mixed race) shouldn’t be told that ‘anti whiteness’ is a good thing. I’m not here to judge other people, but would a parent be 100% comfortable recommending that to a son? Don’t judge others but don’t tell young men not to be men, don’t push racism at them, which (not at the local level) the church at the national level seems to be moving toward. And, at the risk of sounding misogynistic, it feels like some feminism as a root cause. Maybe I’m getting too caught up with whatever is in the news, but just my 2c. as to why I’ve been conflicted about taking my son to our CofE church.
The Church will always survive. It is The Church. Scripture says that not even the gates of hell shall prevail against it - Matt. 16:18. Now, these 'poser' organizations who delight in scratching itching ears... telling people what they WANT to hear, rather than what they NEED to hear... these country clubs for poor people... led by Personal Development Coaches who hope to someday grow up and be ministers... Well, scripture has something to say about that as well: "Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully." Jer. 48:10. The CHURCH is fine. It's just a lot smaller than most people think it is. (Straight is the way and narrow the gate, and FEW there be that find it - Matt 7:14) The many posers and fakes, however, continue to operate under a curse, and won't fare so well.
Well if the church told the truth about the bloofline of christ you would have your shepard who could call the flocks , but for twelve years now he has suffered at the hands of the masonic tribe . Time is ticking by and time waits for no man . Much worse is to come im affraid to inform you . Peace be with you J
1. The church lost its way after it became liberal & ordained women which is not biblical. 2. COVID issue is where the church still obeyed man instead of God after the first couple of months. They left their congregations to fend for themselves spiritually. 3. Then came Wokeism / same sex blessings - where the church was led by secular culture & became apostate. Churches that are growing are Confessional Lutheran & Most churches that follow Gods word. It saddens me but the C of E is dying out but it can be reversed by a strong leader & a return to the Bible.
This is not surprising. Many churches offer a single service each week. Habit is important and if availability is restricted people lose the habit When i was young my local church provided 4 Sunday services and weekday services. The liturgy is now banal and the music horrendous. The Archbishop is utterly hopeless and gives me the impression that he is attempting to rewrite God’s laws. The loss of the prayer book and women Bishops have been catastrophic. During covid the churches closed their doors and even when pubs were open church attendance was restricted. It’s time for reversal of these changes and for the clergy to get off their backsides and do some work.
Dan. All correct. Perhaps if the Church started preaching the Gospel and doing what’s in the Bible, this decline can be reversed.
Formicapple 2. Hope so.🕊️🙏✝️🇬🇧
Doing only what's in the Bible I would say...
Covid was always a spiritual issue first and foremost.
When the C of S closed I joined a church whose minister swore he would go to jail rather than close or restrict worship. We met normally throughout.
Our regular numbers are up by 400 to 500percent and we have no debt.
The C of E could try repenting for pre empting and then obeying govt advice to close during the pandemic.
The only chance of a reversal is if churches are seen to be loving people rather than judging them. I presume what you mean by 'preaching the Gospel' is doing more judging, which would only finish it off more rapidly.
I went to St Albans before Christmas for a concert of film music, the cathedral was full of families. The Cathedral presented itself as a secular museum exhibiting quaint medieval religion. There was little evidence of it being a living church. They didn't bother advertising their Christmas services or an Alpha course or any outreach at all, not a poster of leaflet let alone a stall with someone to talk to or pray with. The CofE diocese has given up
Well Jeffery John, a very liberal Dean was at the Cathedral for many years prior to this, so its not that surprising that they are the state they are now. Either way, not good, as you said.
I was in the UK a couple of years ago; visited a few cathedrals. At one I asked the man-in-a-dress (a cleric in cassock) what the cathedral was doing to proclaim the gospel. I got a blank stare in return! Says it all. What a great pity. Cathedrals could be great places of gospel ministry in many dimensions, instead, as you say, they have become largely woke museums.
Why would you bother about how many people go to church. If you believe in a God then that has nothing to do with anyone else. Either you believe or you don't. The fact is if you need lots of others to confirm your belief, then you don't believe at all. In addition when you have an Archbishop who doesn't believe a word of it, then it's obvious what the result will be
I care about others and I believe only because someone else made the effort to share the gospel with me. I believe which means I must follow what Jesus teaches:
Matthew 28:19-20 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them infn the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
@@jkk45 and the new Dean is very liberal as well, sadly!
I completely gave up with CofE a while ago and moved over to the Eastern Orthodox Church for good. It has been a great blessing to me. Christ is Risen! Glory to His Holy Name for ever and ever!
Only one of the five ancient Sees of the Pentarchy is not under the yoke of the Muslims and that is Rome. Please think about whether God's righteous judgement on heretics and schismatics might have something to do with that and return to the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church founded by Christ.
that must be right boring
I did the same! CofE never felt right!
It's all very sobering and we don't seem to have bishops who are prepared to stand up, speak out and proclaim the Gospel. Watch some footage from the recent C of E Synod and you'll see what a bureaucratic, tired and uninspired institution we've become.
Only prayer, repentance, fasting and the intervention of the Holy Spirit can turn this around.
We have attended Church few times since they reopened here in Perthshire. I regret to say God was not honoured and the message was more towards thanking government and obeying. We were disgusted and really don't want to go to another service. I received more advice and comfort from the Lord when I went alone. He instructed me to spread His Word and that's what I try to do.
That's really sad. However I urge you to try to find some sort of church you can attend. It is not good to be lone ranger Christian.
You do not flourish alone. Don't believe that lie.
I began my relationship with Jesus in my early thirties attending a Church of England Church.As time went by, after an amazing experience of being filled with the Holy Spirit I moved churches, a non-denominational one.This was many years ago. I no longer attend church, I long to find a fellowship to worship God in Spirit and Truth.I am 71.I thought it wicked that churches closed during Covid what sort of witness was that! I feel many churches are no different to worldly clubs.
Do you mind if I ask why you no longer attend then?
I remember hearing Dr Martin Lloyd-Jones in 1975 leaning over the pulpit and saying regarding the formation of the URC that 'putting two corpses in the same grave does not produce a resurrection'!!
We are growing in numbers in our Parish Church, but we are also struggling due to the lack of clergy. Lay people can't be left to run Churches, that was the purpose of a Vicar.
Thank you for your straight talking Rev Dan, we need more people like you. The problem as I see it is fairly simple, nobody is afraid of God anymore. He is portrayed as nothing more than a big marshmallow, just a big all loving marshmallow. The reality is that God is terrifyingly Holy, who can stand in His presence? When I started reading scripture from a Jewish perspective I found how deeply He is respected and loved.
Blessed is He.
Less and less people are afraid of god because the evidence for a god existing is zero.
I do wonder if the signs in front of churches are Christmas ought to be a bit more "Repent! For the kingdom of heaven is at hand" and a bit less of "peace on earth". Not that the latter sentiment isn't true, but certain aspects of the gospel message need emphasised in different times.
More and more people, like me, finding a real relationship with God outside of the church. Many churches now worship their own creation of God where sin and repentance is not part of it.
I'm a minister in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. We are facing similar trends, although there are pockets of vibrancy and sustainability. I agree with your final comments about the need for prayer. There needs to be a general call to prayer. Also evangelical denominations and evangelicals within denominations need to work together more for the furtherance of God's kingdom.
Hello from Dublin 🙂
There are plenty of believers out there but they don’t have Bible based churches near them. My first Church was URC and I didn’t know anything else. It was only when I went to other churches that I found out that church is not a social club.
Exactly. Church has a community/fellowship and social life associated with it which is lovely and Godly, but it is entirely secondary. The heart of it must be the sacred space and worship and that must always come first.
I attend an elim church and, post pandemic, we are bursting at the seams. 2022 was lower, but now more new families are coming in.
God bless your church. Let's hope the CofE learn from your church's example.
@Mikhael1964 absolutely we are a bible believing church of many years standing. I wonder if our recent growth is because too many local churches are pandering to the agenda similar to CofE in respect of same sex relationships and gay marriage and our church and our Elim movement will not compromise the word of God?
The pandemic has done a similar job on us here in the Catholic Church. I think shutting the church during the pandemic was a fundamental mistake and we should have defied the secular pressure and kept them open. Now on top of that, we have Pope Francis's latest antics which can only discourage and demoralize the faithful. My own parish was doing quite well before 2020, but right now is a very challenging time.
@@Tom-sd9jb The Pope is anti Christ and so is Islam. I want no part of either. Arch Bishop Vigano knows what's what.
@@Tom-sd9jbIslam doesn’t respect Christs divinity
@@Tom-sd9jb : remain in the catholic faith.
@@Tom-sd9jbTruly pathetic.Before you condemn your soul to everlasting hell please reconsider.
Have to say my church in Hailsham is a lively and thriving church packed every Sunday!
My Anglo-Catholic church hasn't reinvented the ancient faith to be 'seeker friendly'. It doesn't offer a poor replica of modern music. Our priests wear silly hats and lace-trimmed dresses. The pews are hard. The building is freezing - yet the congregation is growing at pace. So much so that we are planning to replace rows of pews removed in the 70s. 60% of the congregation is under the age of 40. Singles, families, black & white all gather for something they cannot get anywhere else.
SSPX or FSSP?
There is the dying corporate church and then there is the church of Jesus Christ and hell won’t prevail against His church.
Read J Johns 'A Lament for the Church of England', You have been on this path for years. And when Synod passed its most recent decrees on blessing same sex relationships, it just made the hammer come down even harder on the last protruding nails of the Anglican coffin. Stop blaming Covid
It would be interesting to know how´much if any decline happened to other religions in Britain in the wake of covid. My own perception is that the decline is really only losing nominal members who realised that church attendence was pointless. Done out of habit. May also include genuine believers whose woke or liberal church was not worth attending anymore, it is pointless if you are a sheep trying to be fed by a goat!
I agree, if following the world and going woke was the answer then the Methodists would be thriving!
You are on the money there but the impact of covid closed church doors. The C of E exhibited it's knee jerk reaction. That is moral cowardice. They acquiesced to the bogus narrative.
St Gregory the Great Catholic church Cheltenham on Sunday's are packed to almost overflowing there's room for 400 people lots of family & children its wonderful to see. It's the same on Saturday. Our Priest is doing a brilliant job.
I attended St Marys South Perth over 20 years ago. Its in the heart of the CBD. Noel Chin and his wife took over when the congregation was 14. Through much prayer and house visiting and a determination to preach the gospel every Sunday the attendance grew to over 100, all age groups, including a youth ministry (the children come with the families, the youth come because their peers share the gospel - surprise!). It was multicultural, mainly Chinese congregation with bilingual services in Mandarin and Cantonese. Noel had to retire about 15 years ago but the momentum was maintained. Two years ago I went back and it was still thriving.
go woke, go broke!
Not surprised with apostasy ripping through coe and many other denominations. - glad to say I went to Carol service at a coe in bangkok, evangelical preacher complete with a strong gospel msg including a local giving a testimony
Junior Church at our beautiful and historic parish church (which we have now left for another!) sometimes declined to just one attendee (our son) - from 20 or even more ten years ago. Despite links to a large CofE junior school on the doorstep there was nothing done to attract any new families. Once the mainly elderley remnant congregation have passed on, there will be nobody - literally - to carry on.
All true. As a former Parish Organist and choirmaster, I suggest the issue may be addressed by the bishops supervising far more closely what is happening in their parishes. There are some truly self-interested, unpleasant priests out there. One decided to remove every memorial he could in a church stating “the only person memorialised here will be me.” Another decided unilaterally to remove all fees…for everyone other than himself, of course.” I moved across the Tiber to Roman Catholicism…HUGE mistake. The priests there make CofE ministers seem like amateurs in the self-serving stakes. Now, my relationship with God is far healthier with no ‘middle-man’. “When you pray, go into your closet alone…”
Got my church open first week after the Welby/Mulally bad lockdown 95% returned as we spent £££ on covid safeguarding. I was a year from retirement but watched whilst lazy clergy in parishes around just shrugged and went online. What the senior Staff did was wrong and the first time the churches had been forcibly shut for 800 years despite many worse pandemics. Remember labourers are few. In Scotland where lockdown was enforced more it’s worse. Keep going… the tide has turned before when the church was led by fools and God removed them… 🙏🏼
Well spoken, and well done!
I am a Reader in an evangelical, open-and-orthodox parish; and this period is seared into my memory. It was the only time when I had a serious disagreement with my church superiors. But the church where I spend most of my time (one of three in the parish) is back to full attendance.
Were any such edict to appear again, I would refuse to obey; and they would have to drag me out of the open, well-safeguarded building, and jail me. NEVER again! And I know that, within my diocese and within my parish, I am not alone in thinking thus. A senior member of the diocese wrote to the bishop, accusing the Church of England of the most profound dereliction of duty - to the faithful, to those outside the church seeking solace in a time of anxiety and uncertainty, and to the nation as a whole. Thank you for your example!
Andybarton234. Stand by you,wish more clergy would have done the same as you. Hope they will realise the serious error of their faith in allowing same sex marriage and demonic behaviour in our churches is unacceptable,we who believe in God's word have been left without a church or Reverends, since the Woke and Satan took over. I for one have to watch online service, not the same as being in church and taking communion, but until the churches wake up from all this nonsense, their is nothing else for us. Thank you for sharing the news and pleased at least one Church is fighting back.🕊️🙏✝️🇬🇧
Be careful calling those who followed instructions and the law / government guidance as lazy. Its an unkind and untrue judgement. Creating online content, regardless of if you agree with / line it or not, was tiring work. Most of my colleagues were exhausted by the extra work covid created despite not being in the building.
Sarah Mullaly was bishop of Crediton in Devon at the time of the lockdowns and had nothing to do with them. Justin Welby has since acknowledged that the instruction to clergy not to enter churches was wrong. I think calling clergy lazy is a lazy accusation.
🤣@@mikeutube82
I'm new to all this. I watch videos on RUclips local church's services, some USA and Australian preachers( plus preachers who have passed Spurgeon, Bishop F.Sheen, RC Sproul Ravencroft ...) I am reading the bible, and am amazed at the variety...... so many versions, I have bought ESV, KJV, NKJV, NASB 95, RSV 2nd Catholic Edition, Douay-Rheims and CTS new Catholic bible.
If there was more focus on the word, and less of the world I think the church could grow. I meet the entry requirements, I am a sinner, I seek a church that is biblical, honest, open and christian, not just on a Sunday but 168 hours a week that holds me to account and guides a way so I might live a better life, in accordance to the word, not a world view of wishing to fit in and cause no offence.
I have the Keys of the Kingdom Holy Bible translation by Chris Sparkes, too. It does seem more accurate and, frankly, holy compared to KJV. We are approaching the end and need to square ourselves to be received by Christ. Come on you ministers, get your armour on and beat out the sermons in the streets before your flock is rejected. Reject Islam and Communism disguised as inclusion. We want Revelations! Ephesians!
Hi Stuart. Don't worry too much about all the different English bible translations: they are all from the same original Greek manuscripts. I use the ESV as a very faithful translation. Keep searching. You're absolutely right that Christianity is a whole life thing. In terms of preachers, maybe try listening also to: Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones (dead), Alistair Begg, Tim Keller, or Christopher Ash (who taught me), all still with us. Any questions, just ask, happy to help! Mike, UK
Cheers pal. 👍 @mikeforward1983
I am in my mid 60s and I try to attend my local CofE Church (Bath and Wells) as often as I can but fear my disability and general poor health prevent me from making it, particularly in recent months between operations and hospital visits. 🙏🏻
I would argue young people ARE going to Church. Has the person from "Covenant" ever attended the festival, HTB Focus?
Decline is also inevitable when the CofE embraces the world and abandons the biblical gospel.
Or does not teach the gospel in language or ways that young people can understand.
@@davidhart7792 Well, it's fairly simple: if you tell people something that's sinful isn't sinful any more, then there's no need for the gospel.
Teaching the gospel in modern ( rather than medieval ) language that they speak and understand Is not telling people something is not sin full anymore. @@alanhowe7659
The C of E is moving away from the Bible and is not relevent. I know some great people in the C of E but feel sad at what is happening.
Let’s pray God uses this time to refine us, teach us and bring us back to our biblical senses - love your channel as always Dan. Blessings, Paul.
Some Vatican II Catholic parishes back home in Rural Ireland are having increased Mass attendance figures, especially of young people, the latter part of which is hugely encouraging - what’s happening in the C of E here is very worrying as clearly, something is going very wrong
Brilliant video once again. Thank you for bringing this to our attention
It seems to me that one of the last real believing Anglicans was C S Lewis. Now it seems that they are mostly Frederick W Macran who was described anonymously in Surprised By Joy (Chpt,13 "The New Look") as "an old, dirty, gabbling Irish parson who had long since lost his faith but retained his living." I left the Episcopal Church (American equivalent of Anglican) for the more "Born-Again evangelical" type because THEY STILL BELIEVE the faith.
Sorry Rev Dan. after reading some of the comments below It's easy to see why church attendances are declining.
It's a shame this is happening because regular Church attendance in a local community is an excellent way of making new friends and it gives one a chance and a purpose to bring the love of your fellow people and sanity back to not only your life but others you meet.
It's the wishy-washy happy-clappy effect. I was raised RC in Glasgow after WW2. When 'missionary' priests came to perform Mass the churches were full to the gunnels. They were even standing in the street. Missionary priests were all blood-and-thunder who screamed hellfire and derision at us from the pulpit. The people loved it.
It's hard for me to watch videos like this,read studies on this and see what's going on in the UK socially right now.
I pray for all churches in the UK,all denominations no matter how big or small. Christianity needs to hold up!😢✝️🙏🏼
The church as not defended the faith and worse it is embracing every passing trend like wokeism!!!
Wanted to learn more about the gospel message with my teen where we live so went to the local Anglican church, a bigg-ish one in the area. They don't have anything for teens. The young cleric expressed the thought that teens and church is a tough ask and that people in their 20's are a more likely age to learn about the church.... I'm not so sure. Nor was the cleric, really. They had a small class for kids aged 5-10, but that's it - no interest in teens at all. The congregation was older people, the service had lots of beautiful elements (smoke, candles, chanting) and talk of the Mystery of Christ - very beautiful - but in no way engaging teens in the sermon, nor did I particularly understand much of the service nor what the Gospel actually was. Listened to some more sermons on their web page prior to attending, still none the wiser as a beginner. hmm... Next went to the Baptists - they have dynamic youth programs for all ages, teens meet on a week night for dinner, social gathering and a chat, combined with regular outings - it's a big group with a great sense of energy. They call it being in a community.Teens are calm and engaged in whatever it is the youth pastors are doing with the group - in short, it's the highlight of my teen's week. The Sunday service speaks to the heart of life's issues and the message of the gospel. Heard the phrase "gospel", which wasn't abundantly clear in the Anglican services. Finally learning what that message is. Practical, non-woke and relateable - seems like a good place to start with teens.. and adults who come from a non-church background.
I left the C of E for a baptist church years ago . Our church is vibrant and on fire for God. It is growing, not just numerically, but spiritually. People are hungry for God. Last year, we had over 20 believers' baptisms, and we have already had two baptisms this year so far. The Word of God is preached faithfully in the power of the Holy Spirit and everything we do is founded on prayer. Families are joining almost weekly. We have various groups and programmes running each week for the youngest to the oldest and every effort is made to go and serve the local community. Tonight, we begin another Alpha course for thirteen people. Our God is a great big God!
It doesn’t really matter what demonization the church is, if they are a Baptist, Presbyterian or Methodist church who is not teaching the Gospel it will fail. Again compare that too my church which is preaching the Gospel and growing
@Dan I am currently in correspondence with Canterbury Cathedral regarding the reason event. I live in Canterbury. I am aware of RC Cannon Laws but not Anglican Cannon law. I believe this event could be unlawful in a consecrated site.
We need to protect these types of sites and identify what it is that makes them different. This is not confused in Eastern spirituality.
Anglican Church in Canada which is part of the Anglican Church of North America is the way we stand for the truth
This was to be expected. Only God can reverse this trend.
I did an Alpha course a couple of years ago, as after 45 years of wandering round the now idiotic new age movement, I'd come to the conclusion that all new age stuff was nonsense, as were pretty much all non-christian religions. Great as far as it went, but at the end of the course, there was no direction in progressing towards any Discipleship group in any local parish. This needs to be fixed as a matter of course. Paradoxically, this left me to do a lot of my own research and searching, and I have landed on Trad Catholicism, and intend to join the SSPX (Society of Saint Pious the 10th), rather than this ridiculous "New Cathommunism".
The Catholic church is also under attack from Modernists, and other Woke nonsense. Paradoxically, the traditional Catholic movements are seeing their attendance rise, where "progressive Novus Ordo" churches are declining for the same reasons. As for the current Pope Francis and his head Dogmatist, Card. Fernandez, they have both outraged the Church with their obvious recent suggestion that Gay couples can be blessed. Then retract this, in a way that says, 'gay people can be blessed - but not blessing their arrangement, just giving them both a blessing while they are standing next to each other, in a church, in front of the altar. Its not a wedding. Nothing to see here...'
Card. Fernandez caused uproar with being the author of two books, the latter recently discovered to have such gritty pornographic detail, it seems he was writing it for the Kinsey Institute. But no. he's a cardinal, and Cardinals have no business writing sex manuals. The scandal is growing today. The Catholic Church is now functionally in schism again, as Pope Francis has, with this one document, "fiducia supplicans", he's destroyed half a century of trying to reunite with the Orthodox Church, and all of the African catholic bishops have rejected it in no uncertain terms. Equally, people having these gay blessings are wanting an official certificate proving they are... what? Married in a Church? The Pope cannot change fundamental dogma and tenets of Christ, and the Church cannot and will not bless mortal sins, as these are SINS, that will get you to Hell if you don't repent and change your behaviour - as Christ himself was very clear on, yet everyone has now conveniently forgotten. Those are the rules and not even the Pope can change them.
These 'blessings' are meaningless, and actually heretical for the priests to perform, mean nothing except as a 'participation trophy' to gay couples who, lets be clear here, want to have the appearance of a wedding, but will not abide by the law of the Church and yet STILL think of themselves as Catholic. Its like someone insisting on drinking 5 pints then driving up the M5 in a rainstorm. I believe that its all this pandering to political fads that is destroying the Church - all denominations. The Church in its widest sense must be seen by the World as standing up for something, even to the point of clerics being arrested and possibly even killed.
Christians in Nigeria are getting killed. The oldest Christian communities on earth in Armenia in Nagorno Karabach are being displaced - true ethnic cleansing, by Muslim Azerbaijanis. Not a peep on the media. Stand up for something. Its everywhere - Chinese Christians. Indian Christians - from a church community founded by St 'doubting' Thomas himself, are getting killed. Do something. Evangelise!
There is one fix - return to aggressive evangelising, and a strong reliance of faith and service, rather than trying to please everyone, especially the 'Squeaky wheels' in the church that get all the attention. I'm sure that all the progressive movements in all Christian denominations, especially those that concentrate on people-pleasing by doing such things as women priests and bishops, and the whole 'feel-good Jesus' rather than concentrating on what Jesus actually taught. Stop trying to be popular and start being right again. The Church MUST hold the moral line, or (to quote Stephen Fry) "What on earth are you for?!" Even Jordan Peterson points this out that people are crying out for spiritual truth, so why are the Churches so timid about it? Peterson's wife is now Catholic, and I think he is almost 'coming out' as Catholic himself.
Sidenote: C of E types may not be aware of this, but there is a growing awareness in the Catholic Church that a lot of Catholic Visionaries over the centuries have prophesied these times, especially the Queen of Heaven herself. Mary has appeared over the last few centuries to many people, and her warnings are getting more and more specific about the Great Apostasy in the Church, and the warnings of Fatima and Akita are the same - ie., that this apostasy has been engineered by satan himself, and very traumatic times are ahead, and seemingly quite close. Even the Catholic Church now downplays the role of Satan directing people's lives - and Pope Francis and Fernandez are engineering dogma so that ALL Marian apparitions whare Mary herself has appeared to people and given these warnings are now all suddenly nonsense - nothing to see here - move along. Mention of satan this has disappeared from Anglicanism completely. Does the Anglican Church ever talk about sin and satan anymore? Frankly, without the concept of sin and satan, what's the actual point of Jesus? By the way, it is understood in Catholic circles that there will very soon be "The Examination of Consience" or "the Warning", where "3 days of darkness" will be manifested upon the earth and everyone will get to see a 15 minute preview of what God thinks of them. This is NOT the Rapture, which is some weird Baptist nonsense, or something. Have your blessed beeswax candles and Rosaries ready, people.
This seems to be the real point. "Modern Society" (excuse the catch-all term) now thinks of itself as so sophisticated, what with having been to the Moon, and Smartphones, etc., that the relevance of Christianity diminishes daily. We all actually live in a spiritual realm, not a physical one, and unless this is understood, no physical remedy will work. This is the view of one Fr Donald Calloway, who similar to Bishop Fleming, went from deadbeat teen tearaway to a sudden Marian conversion experience. His conversion experience Via Mary is inspiring, as he went from a teen petty criminal to instantly catholic. (As a young American youth in Japan in the 90s, he went through Japanese girls like a Combine Harvester with the throttle stuck down, apparently). And as a reformed drug dealer, mule and petty criminal with the Japanese Yukasa, and rehab dropout, he knows that we all suffer from being stranded in a spiritual desert.
Equally astonishing is the instant Damascene conversion of one Zachary King, who actually was a former High Wizard of the world church of Satan (YES, they do exist and do Satanic magic for huge money from the very powerful who run the planet for their own profit and convenience. Its always a human blood sacrifice, and inevitably a child aborted at the point of birth. Further details are horrific, so Google them yourself), who became 1000% Catholic after an encounter with an awkward customer in his shop. But you can look that up for yourselves - its on YT. He bitterly regrets the 146 ritual abortions he did for satan, and now has dedicated the remainder of his life to stopping all abortions in the US. Perhaps another Blessed Bartolo Longo in the making?
This is not confined to Christianity. Iran - yes, where "all the terrorists live", has gone from 99.8% Muslim at the time of the revolution to only some 35% committed practising Muslims today. The evilness of the regime has backfired, and not only is Iran now some 25% agnostic/atheist, there is a huge underground church movement sparked by Evangelical Christians, and its estimated that Iran is now 25% Christian, and this is growing strongly. So why not in the West? Also, following this trend, Islam has a strong social grip on its adherents but its reckoned by some muslim groups that 25% of young Muslims are either MINOs (Muslims in Name Only) and are public about this, but this figure of MINOs might even be as high as 40-50%. And Muslim organisations are as equally horrified by the prospect. Don't be alarmed by the "Jihad by population" ethic that Muslims have - their kids are rejecting Islam too.
And on a final note, one visionary, St Dominic Savio, prophesied that England (UK?) would one day become Catholic again. And maybe that in itself is actually the way forward, as Graeme Ashenden confirms. And as the Queen of Heaven says, "In the end, my immaculate heart will triumph". Pick up those Rosaries, people. And do not fear.
Amen to all you said here brother and congrats on deciding to join the SSPX - it really is the last remnant here on Earth of Our Lord's One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. Where abouts are you located (UK I assume) as I can point you in the direction of an SSPX Mass if you've not already found one?
CofE means Compromise On Everything
Time for outreach. Go preach the gospel to people.
We can trust God, Christ rules now and will see Gods Kingdom on earth in the second coming.
It’s not to worry but be people of prayer and ask for God to bring revival.
Stay strong. God bless😊
Of course the Church can survive. She has survived 2000 years of Christians.
I’m thinking what is needed isn’t ‘Children’ but wholesale waking up, repentance and turning back to God and obeying Him!! Have we looked at what’s being taught in the churches recently? What’s been ‘allowed’ in, the compromise and in some things wholesale disobedience! Yes we NEED a move of God.. but we must be willing to repent too and turn ad follow God wholeheartedly, NOT compromising or allowing things contrary to God’s true word, the bible… let’s get on our faces and seek the Lord and be willing to change and return to Him.. we will be persecuted.. some groups won’t like it.. but only that can save the CofE and the Presbyteryerian.. I know this is a harsh word.. but those whom God loves He disciplines.. sometimes the truth isn’t nice.. and please don’t accuse me of hatred actually I love you enough to say the truth! God bless all
Thank you for your comment. I completely agree. It's not just the coe, but the entire worldwide Church of Jesus Christ has fallen into a great apostasy. They have placed their faith in the secular word of man and replaced it with God's Holy Word. You can't have it both ways and expect to be blessed with increase by God.
I was raised Christian from birth now I'm an Atheist. Mind you i never went to college but I have watched Aron Ra and Neil De Grasse Tyson on StarTalk.
The problem is the heretical leadership that has taught by example in many cases, the opposite of what the Bible teaches and even denying God. Rejecting His Word is rejecting Him. They have brought in other religions tantamount to bringing in 'strange fire' and preaching by acceptance all that goes against the Laws of God. This is a time of judgement and seperation of those who teach heresy and those who believe. It is time to get right with God with repentance not empty words. God says Choose Life and that is not the the path that many in leadership have chosen, fearing man and reputations instead. The only reputation we should fear is our own in God's eyes. This in not just in the Cof E but all denominations across the board. It is not a time to play 'nice' with the worldly way of thinking as time draws to it's end before the return of Jesus to collect His Bride. All the signs are around us now. It's time to fall on our knees and repent and seek His face and His forgiveness.
The Anglican church lost me in 1991. The women deacons did not feel right. After having been to an Anglican church school that felt like a private school owned by a church. If you had money you could go. About 5 years ago I discovered Eastern Orthodoxy! Now I hardly ever miss a service.
My son goes to a C of E Church and says its really good and really sound. Buildling Jesus Church without him... now that is unlikely to work ... I prefer Love Jesus, Love people , Love prayer.
Amen. Succinctly put. Thank you! I'm working on something very big which has been put on my heart as my calling which addresses more most critical points. I suspect I won't be the only one. I think we should all pray, regardless of denomination for us to be flooded with the Holy Spirit, wisdom, courage and guidance.
Just a passing thought. The church which I attended before converting to Catholicism was in serious decline and ripe for closure. A succession of poor appointments to the parish, failing to understand the needs of that church and its community was at the root. It's a traditional "old fashioned" high church in a medium sized town with a poor to middle income parish of about 10000. An appointment was made 2 or so years ago and the church has grown and grown. The priest is an old fashioned traditional high churchman with a radiant love of God and mankind and if I did not have so many fundamental arguments with current CofE theology, I'd happily go back and support him too. His teaching is utterly out of step with current CofE teaching and we often chatted about the freedom I had to convert which he sadly did not feel he had. It's a message of love for all in a world they know is as broken as we do, giving them a sense of community and care. There's nothing frothy or trendy, just meeting people where they are and giving them hope.
For 10 years we (evangelicals!) organise a Christmas carol singing in a 800 person's Catholic church. It's always packed full. Only when we evangelicals come! . Surely not at normal meetings for mass.
Then it's 10 to 20 very old people who attend. But there are some smaller parishes who have better church life.
If the Church belongs to Christ it will change but still be present in the world. Its going to be alright😊
Church of England ! Church of Jesus Christ! You have to choose!
We spend too much time on the "need" to go to a church service - as our "raison d'être" = what we do. we need to be more active in terms of doing things, creating environments where people want to worship and share .....as many of the more Charismatic house churches do What could they do if they had access to buildings the Anglican church maintain - for an almost non existent congregation.
Wonder why this is...sheesh people, wake up!!!!!! (And not 'woke up')
I don't think you can just blame Covid. I left the Church of England because of its going away from biblical teachings, eg gay blessings. I joined an independent church which IS growing. Don't think it pays to conform to society!
The Death Express
When The Death Express rolls up to your door, the things that you’re doing, right or wrong you can’t do anymore! Life on earth is short at its best, for we all are facing the acid test.
So when writing the poem (of life) make it rhyme, and it must be written on the shores of time. We must write it by faith, though we all like to see. But we can’t write this poem in eternity, so don’t sit on your seat until you hear the beep, get up and start now, awake out of your sleep!
What am I sending on the other side
Before The Death Express comes (those wheels) to give us our ride.
So get busy, do good, and get involved.
And when The Death Express comes, your problems will be solved. Slow down; slow down, so that you may learn, don’t run ahead of our leader, you don’t know where to turn. Learn how to give, how to bear, how to share, Learn how to do good to men everywhere. Now you can watch for the signs as we go. Stay under the blood of Jesus, that washes white as snow. .
When The Death Express rolls up to give you your first ride, who is your escort, with a heart full of pride? Too proud to listen, too stubborn to hear, But Wait! Those wheels, those dreadful wheels are rolling near. There’s an escort for every one and who will yours be? I want Jesus in the Holy Ghost to escort me! Speaking of space, there’s room to spare, for this train picks up men everywhere. It transport the rich and it transports the poor. It drops off one generation and returns for more.
Those wheels, those dreadful wheels, those death wheels. Let’s face the facts now, and turn around. For why would you let sin forever hold you down? Repent, quit, be baptized in Jesus Name for remission of sins, receive the Holy Ghost and He will escort you in!
Remember, Only What You Do For Christ Will Last!
Only what you do for him, will be counted in the end, only what you do for Christ will last.
For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Mark 8:36-37 KJV
If it ever was a time for one to consider there end, and seek the Lord with there whole heart, it is now that time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
Jesus is soon to come!
Allow the main thing of the main thing to be the main thing in our lives, so we can indeed be vessel’s unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use and prepared unto every good work. 2nd Tim. 2:21 KJV
Why We Must Be Born Again
The Way Back To Pentecost
When Jesus told Nicodemus, except a man or person be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. St. John 3:5, he was telling him who needed to do it. Now, watch it. Matthew told what to do, Mark told why to do it, Luke told where to do it and John told who to do it. What’s missing? Didn’t nobody tell how to do it, until the great day called Pentecost when Peter stood up to preach.
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 2:38 KJV
What to do? - repent and be baptized. Who? - everyone of you. How do we do it? - in the name of Jesus Christ. Why do it? for the remission of sins. What’s the result of doing it? - and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. The Jews did it. Look at the 8th Chapter of Acts, verse 4, “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the Word.” Verse 5 “Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.” Verse 12, “But when they believed Phillip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.”
14. Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
15. Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
16. (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Acts 8:14-16.
In Acts 2, the Jews did it. In Acts 8, the half Jews did it. In Acts 10, the Gentiles did it and in Acts 19, the Baptist folks did it. They all did it because God said that’s the only way to do it.
Of the 66 books in the entire Bible, there’s only one that don’t fit in with any of the groups. That book is the book of Acts, because the book of Acts is the only book in the Bible that tells you how to get save.
And, until Jesus Christ returns in the clouds to call his church away “1st Peter 2:9-10,” this gospel is to be preached by us to every nation and is still in force today till that great getting up morning when the dead in Christ shall rise first, we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air, so shall we ever be with the lover of our souls.
Will you be saved today, according to the Holy Scriptures? Acts 2:38 KJV is still in force today till God’s body, “the Bride of Christ is completed.”
No, Not One!
1 King 8:60 says that the Lord is God, and that there is none else.
So check him out: There is none with him, none like him, none beside him, none above him, none beneath him, none before him, none after him, none good, none other, and none else.
He is great and in a class all by himself and his name is Jesus.
Acts 2:38;
Know This!
Deuteronomy 6:4 KJV
If you want to know God - know the father,
If you want to see God - see the Son,
If you want to feel God - get the Holy Ghost,
The father is eternal, the son is external, and the Holy Ghost is internal.
To wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them: and has committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Isaiah 9:6; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Acts 1:8; St. Luke 24:39-53; Acts 2:36-38; 4:10-11; Ephesians 4:5; Colossians 3:17 KJV
Well they used to fine people for not attending their parish church. Maybe that would help.
In those days many Catholics and free church Protestants used to sit through Church of England services to avoid being fined (which they couldn't afford) and then go to attend mass or worship in secret. You can take a horse to water....
Dear Rev Dan, I hear that the clergy and bishops are extremely progressive as opposed to the bulk of worshippers. Where does this leave orthodox Anglican believers? Is it the case that believing Anglican Christians who just want to (as NT Wright says:) "get on with it" are having their Sunday services made virtually un-attendable by progressive and heterodox clergy? Also, what is it like being a faithful Christian priest ministering to the average congregation? How much trouble is caused by the progessive minority that sadly does exist in most churches? And lastly, are there associations that faithful Anglican laity can join so they can let their voice be heard by the heterodox bishops and bureaucrats?
Dan on fire!!
@HouseofBishops: "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place-unless you repent." Revelation 2: 5
So what was the attendance in mosques in the same period? I don`t think it declined.
..that’s because it’s a religion of submission.
We must reach out to all the children
We know they're precious in Your site
So they will grow up knowing Jesus
Then they will know His way is always right
Help us to try and teach the gospel
In ways that they can understand
So they will grow up knowing Jesus
And why he sits at God's right hand.
🇻🇦
I have been to some parishes where the congregation is aging and the community slowly growing smaller. I have been to other parishes where there is not enough room in the pews, and some of the faithful must stand during the entirety of the mass.
This problem is not universal.
I wonder if there is any religious organisation not facing this trend? In New Zealand we are increasingly becoming a secular society. People still like the teachings of Jesus but have developed a distrust in Churches.
One study reported - The decline in formal religious affiliation continues, but we are also seeing a rise in the breadth of spiritual practices and an increasing appetite, especially among younger people living in Aotearoa New Zealand, to explore issues of spirituality.
People being seen to positively live their religion would be the biggest factor to reversing this trend; in effect living the Gospel while not forcing their beliefs on others.
The message of the Cross is being watered down in many Churches to make it more appealing to the “World”. The message of our sinful nature and only complete faith in Jesus Christ will save us is not being emphasised. Also,not enough is being done to educate the ignorant on Christian history,the importance of the Reformation and the Biblical Truth our salvation is all of God and our receiving of undeserved Grace a gift from God,all for His Glory.
Matthew ch 5.
How can you not believe in God! I dont understand many English
Because he does not exist!
No doubt a committee will be formed and someone will have a bright idea and we will try that. When will we understand that we need God to fix this. When those people who call themselves by my name, will HUMBLE themselves and pray and call on me and turn from their wicked ways , I WILL HEAR FROM HIGHEST HEAVEN AND COME AND HEAL ThEIR LAND.
Why would anyone attend the C of E? It’s nearly unanimously abandoned Christian theology. Gay marriage and LGBTQ+ inclusion, women Bishops and priests, and a focus on social concerns rather than the gospel. People wanting to find the Christian faith will obviously leave the CofE in search of a place where the Christian faith is still the concern of the Church. Without writing a book in the comment section, someone wanting to find a valid Church with apostolic succession that still teaches and practices Christian tradition can no longer look to the CofE with any shred of legitimacy. Really, to fill all of those boxes, Orthodox Christianity is the only option.
I absolutely agree with you! I’m about to leave a c of e church of over 200 to join a local Orthodox Church where at least I feel my soul is fed and someone cares for the state of my spiritual welfare, where I am confident the priest is a man of God who prays and the Divine Liturgy is God-honouring, Christ-exalting and Holy Spirit inspired without needing smoke and lights in the worship with people-pleasing entertainment thrown in. God have mercy on us!
You will be very welcome in the Orthodox Church, we are open for everyone to come and see and hear the Gospel preached as it has been since the day of Pentecost.
Enrich the Anglican Church with the faith of Mary Queen of Scots who poured out her blood for ancient faith
Even as a Christian, I'm still stunned every time by God that the people he should hate the most ( because of sin ) he loves and wants to turn to him and help them turn round. Also the this world and the people can be so evil and from our point of view there is no obvious path to redeem it , but God is still dead set on his plan hasn't budged and done what's the obvious thing from our point of view and smited us all.
The thing about the Gospel and Christ is that he and the Gospel only get more relevant as does the power of God the worse things seem to be, and the more miraculous the turn around. This is what I look forward too.
Well if any one thinks Christian teachings are over all harmfull to society they will be in for a huge shock when they realise what islamic fundermentalism and sharia law are all about ?
The 'churches' that are declining tend to be those who just teach, be nice to everyone. It would be interesting to know what are the figures for churches that follow God's Word fully?
I rarely go to a church service i usually find them desperate. The church is failing to provide a rich and meaningful spirituality.
The church of England has long since became apostate
Dan we are in the Laodicean stage of the church, Jesus spews them out of His mouth - i.e. they are no longer in the body of Christ. He still stands at the door of their hearts and knocks and if anyone invites Him in He will return to that person. Otherwise Tribulation for the Church. Are we really surprised? Peter wrote 1 Peter 4:17 'For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?' Paul said 2 Thessalonians 2:3 'Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first...' The church leaders top to bottom, save for a few, are rebelling against God's teaching and ways.
I’m very fond of the CofE - despite being an atheist all my life - because of the amount of music that I’ve been involved with in the church over the years. Occasionally I attend our local church because I enjoy the experience of going to a service, whatever my feelings about the “truth” of the message. However, I have to say that I haven’t attended for several years now. The experience became less and less rewarding. Why is attendance dropping generally? Well, obviously because people no longer believe in God, but also because the church doesn’t offer a good reason to attend. I don’t think those inside the church realise what they look like from the outside. More and more people grow up with almost no experience of the church, and consequently they view it dispassionately. What they observe isn’t persuasive or enticing. The message of the church seems unreal, unbelievably and irrelevant. When they observe the world, where is this God? And now that we are so culturally mixed, why should they believe the claims of the Christian faith over any other faith?
Hi Rev Dan Health Canada has a note on your site to receive info on Covid 19 that is their truth
I hardly ever see a dog collar on a priest when I’m out anywhere. I think it’s a great advertisement of the Church as a living thing. Admittedly I’m in NZ so this might not reflect the UK, but I do think there might be a reluctance for various reasons. Your thoughts?
I have never seen a CofE vicar evangelising on the street, or in the marketplace to this day. Paul used to witness to people in the marketplace (Acts 17: 17) but too many church leaders over complicate ‘evangelism’ and either discourage evangelists or turn the practice into manageable program. Yet Paul told Timothy as an individual to “do the work of an evangelist” (2 Timothy 4: 5)
All a Christian needs is a Bible and the willingness to speak the truth of Jesus Christ to anyone and everyone. It’s so simple.
Science is way more reliable then Fantasy.
@Mikhael1964You don't think Following where the Evidence leads is reliable yet believing in fantasy is somehow better?
Not only were we apes but Humans are Apes still. Tell me how we are Not Apes?
Tell me what makes All of scientific discoveries including the very discoveries that allow us to communicate right now unreliable?
The Archbishop and his senior clergy around appear to be more interested in politics and politics that are not in line with teachings of the Gospel than their neglected flock who are calling out for help and guidance. I believe the Archbishop has slammed shut the church doors in the face of his flock.
The root problem is belief in “so called” science that is dogma. You can’t even question it. If there was no Adam there is no death through sin. Without sin there is no need for a savior and so no need for church. Why believe in God if we don’t believe what he says about creation? If children start out believing but everyone asks, “Did God create us?”, then the children will fall away.
The church has become so woke, and not preaching the Gospel.
The C of E was always 'His Majesty's Department of God' from Day One when it requisitioned the Church of Rome's intellectual property, staff and real estate back in the time of Henry VIII, and has only had any spiritual clout or 'Christian' integrity for as long as there's been anything vaguely 'spiritual' or Christian about the British Establishment that controls it. No more comment necessary.
Which church do you mean, the one that has been following the Devil or the one that actually is the church.
Stopped having kids. Told us to stay home. We did. Not recognizing churches anymore.
Church of England is not following the bible. Women preacher's, now adopting of the lgbt agenda.
Rajjassal123 absolutely right. Their against God's teachings of his word. Absolute disrespectful to our faith and our God.Unacceptable of the bishops,priest and the other clergy for not standing up for what is right. Pleased to see some priest and clergy on our Streets and Capitals preaching to all the public to bring us back into the Christian fold. Amen.🕊️🙏✝️🇬🇧
@@thorpsewinglessons5913 amen, but the congregation needs to be fighting against this evil ideology too
They will endorse 'GAY' marriage : soon !
I recently had a pub lunch with my son. He is studying, in his first year at A-level. I was talking to him, asking him about coming to Church. But, honestly didn’t push it - and started seriously thinking about recommending we start visiting an Orthodox church. Our local church is traditional Anglo-Catholic, but what when he leaves for University? he won’t be in a local bubble in a nice part of SW London, and maybe it’s my politics, but we see ‘leaders’ talk of anti-whiteness, after it’s been pushed in school, pride and reparations… sorry but none of that should be an agenda pushed at my son. He doesn’t owe grifters, and ( he’s mixed race) shouldn’t be told that ‘anti whiteness’ is a good thing.
I’m not here to judge other people, but would a parent be 100% comfortable recommending that to a son? Don’t judge others but don’t tell young men not to be men, don’t push racism at them, which (not at the local level) the church at the national level seems to be moving toward. And, at the risk of sounding misogynistic, it feels like some feminism as a root cause. Maybe I’m getting too caught up with whatever is in the news, but just my 2c. as to why I’ve been conflicted about taking my son to our CofE church.
The Church will always survive. It is The Church. Scripture says that not even the gates of hell shall prevail against it - Matt. 16:18. Now, these 'poser' organizations who delight in scratching itching ears... telling people what they WANT to hear, rather than what they NEED to hear... these country clubs for poor people... led by Personal Development Coaches who hope to someday grow up and be ministers... Well, scripture has something to say about that as well: "Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully." Jer. 48:10.
The CHURCH is fine. It's just a lot smaller than most people think it is. (Straight is the way and narrow the gate, and FEW there be that find it - Matt 7:14) The many posers and fakes, however, continue to operate under a curse, and won't fare so well.
Well if the church told the truth about the bloofline of christ you would have your shepard who could call the flocks , but for twelve years now he has suffered at the hands of the masonic tribe . Time is ticking by and time waits for no man . Much worse is to come im affraid to inform you . Peace be with you J
1. The church lost its way after it became liberal & ordained women which is not biblical.
2. COVID issue is where the church still obeyed man instead of God after the first couple of months. They left their congregations to fend for themselves spiritually.
3. Then came Wokeism / same sex blessings - where the church was led by secular culture & became apostate.
Churches that are growing are Confessional Lutheran & Most churches that follow Gods word.
It saddens me but the C of E is dying out but it can be reversed by a strong leader & a return to the Bible.
This is not surprising. Many churches offer a single service each week. Habit is important and if availability is restricted people lose the habit When i was young my local church provided 4 Sunday services and weekday services. The liturgy is now banal and the music horrendous. The Archbishop is utterly hopeless and gives me the impression that he is attempting to rewrite God’s laws. The loss of the prayer book and women Bishops have been catastrophic. During covid the churches closed their doors and even when pubs were open church attendance was restricted. It’s time for reversal of these changes and for the clergy to get off their backsides and do some work.