Diminishing Christianity

In my recent reading I have found that many Americans are turning from traditional religion to secular thought. This is disturbing, although not surprising. When our homes and public schools are neglecting their duties of teaching religious values, there is no wonder that religious values suffer. One article that I read stated that nearly 37% of Americans deny belief in God or in religion. The churches' job of preaching and teaching the Gospel message is more important today than it has been in the past 20 years or so. The Bible says, "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God," so we believe that we must give the message of God's word so that people will come to Jesus Christ and believe in him.

In our homes we need to continue to speak of God, the Bible, and God's Son, Jesus Christ, so that our children will be exposed to God's truth. We should not send our children to church, but we should take them to church. I see in so many churches that parents do not attend but rather send their children to church; consequently, the children grow up without parental influence in their religious lives. Then they soon turn from their religious teachings to the influence of the world. Hopefully they will later in life see the error of their ways and come back to following God's word.

The need for Scripture teaching should be a high priority in our day. That is the reason Antioch Baptist College was started. We pray that God will use the school to instruct young and old alike in the things of God, his word, and his Son.

Received Doctorate Certificate

I have been waiting for almost two months for my doctorate certificate to come in the mail, and yesterday it came. It is beautiful. It is 11 x 14 in size, and I have it framed in a black frame. The degree is Doctor of Religious Education, or DREd. The work was hard and long, but the work was worth it. I learned much through this experience, and now I have the "sheepskin" that I have planned to have all my life. I am thankful for God that he has made this possible, and I am thankful to the church here for their patience in my taking time to do the work and to eventually receive this degree. Thank the Lord with me.