What is the cause of the disparity? Some agnostics, atheists, and others do religious research in order to try and find a niche that suits them, a system of beliefs they can accept, and therefore find a worship community they can join. Others do research so they can disprove religion. There is this laziness that has developed, I think, especially within the Christian communities. We’re not required to show our faith in God, it’s not so frowned down upon to skip church, to let children skip church and Sunday School. There is no encouragement to talk about it at home. Most people nowadays are too cynical to truly believe in Heaven or Hell, in God or the Devil, they way it was taught to our parents, our grandparents, our great-grandparents. There isn’t the same conviction. How can you claim you are of a faith, a certain religion, if you have no conviction to it? Is saying you believe in God and Christ enough to call yourself “Christian”? Some days, it certainly seems like that is what we have come to.

Now, being non-Christina myself, I am also not a fan of the other extreme that I have witnessed – the need to force Christian beliefs upon others. I have had the wonderful experience of meeting two Christians who have very, very deep faith, but were willing to respect that I did not have the same belief, and we discussed religion and faith. They were, truly, encouragement for me. They were what I would consider good examples of evangelists. The topic came up – regularly, actually – and we discussed it, one person to another. We were able to discuss our personal stories, our own proofs for various beliefs, and if I had been looking for a faith, they probably could have converted me, or at the very least could have made me want to look into it more. Having been raised in a Christian environment, I personally have nothing but the utmost respect for Christian faith, and for those who truly live by it. And I am insulted on behalf of Christianity when I hear of those abusing the faith. And I am discouraged on the part of Christianity by the lack of knowledge – and apparent interest – that both extremes seem to have.

It’s learned from somewhere. School, maybe. Media, perhaps. But also at home, and in faith communities. The best to be hoped for is that those of conviction can continue to offer their conviction, in the hope that it will inspire others toward conviction. Conviction is what will drive people to know their religion, to truly know and understand what they claim they believe in.

“For they sow the wind, and they reap the whirlwind…”

“He that sows to his own flesh, shall reap corruption…”

I don’t see much hope for a reversal of fortunes here in America; the Spirit of God is moving mightily in other areas of the globe, and we are nearing the final chapters of this age. You can’t very well pray, “thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” and NOT pray from the events of the tribulation to begin.