"The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America -- the largest Lutheran body in the U.S. -- lost almost 91,000 members and 48 congregations last year. Mark Tooley, president of the Institute on Religion & Democracy, says other mainline denominations, such as the Episcopal Church and the United Methodist Church, have seen continuous decline as well since the mid 1960s." Source www.onenewsnow.com

As the time gets closer and closer to the return of Christ, more and more people will turn from God, whom the Bible teaches is Jesus Christ as He is one with God. The above article shows that major church denominations are struggling to keep membership.

1 Timoyt 4:1 states, "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;".

Why are people leaving the Episcopal Church? The answer is simple. That church is allowing doctrines of demons to infiltrate it. The big controversy in that denomination is whether or not you can be a homosexual and still pastor a church. This is also happening in some branches of the Methodist Church.

There are sins that many church members are guilty of but these members do not think of these things that they do as "sin". Exodus 20:7 states, "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that takes his name in vain."

How many of us Christians have stubbed our toe or suffered some other painful injury and have yelled out the name of Jesus Christ as a curse word instead of using a four letter toilet word because we thought the toilet word was bad. Just because we don't use the "d" word in connection with God's name does not mean that we are guiltless of using His name in an irreverent way.

Even the secular world has gotten into the act. It was not that long ago that hearing God's name in association with the "d" word was banned from public radio and television. Today it is commonplace to hear God's name used as a curse word in all forms of media and the FCC has their stamp of approval on it. Shows such as South Park routinely use God's name as a curse word and think it is funny and our kids laugh right along with them.

When people get married they make a vow to God that death is only thing that will separate them then six months later they get divorced because one spouse wouldn't put the cap back on the toothpaste. Making a vow to God then breaking that vow is taking the name of God in vain.

God said in Exodus Chapter 20: 4 - 5 "You shall not make to you any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down yourself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;"

God hates idolatry because only He is worthy of worship and He has a name: Jesus Christ.

The world hates the name of Jesus Christ. Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world yet their God is not Jesus Christ, whom they believe to be just a prophet of God. They esteem Mohammad much higher than Jesus. They believe that Allah is God and Mohammad is his prophet which is completely contrary to what the Holy Bible teaches.

This is idolatry and God said He would visit the iniquity or sins of the father on the third and fourth generation. This simply means that the children learn from the parents and carry that on to the next generation and the next and so on. If an Islam child grows up and becomes a Christian he is banned from all contact with the family as if he or she were dead to them.

People leave the mainline denominations to become a Muslim because they see a people who are devout in their faith unlike Christians in the free world who take something as simple as attending church on Sunday morning for granted. They have "better things to do".

Money has taken the place of Jesus as the center of worship in many churches today. I get sick and tired of seeing TV preachers saying that if we want to be blessed by God we should send our hard earned money to their so called "ministry". If we don't, God won't bless us anymore. Have you ever heard any of these guys tell you that you should support your local church with your tithes?

In many churches, Jesus has been transformed from the God who became a man to die on the cross to take away our sin and give us eternal life into a God who is solely interested in your bank account. This is idolatry.

No wonder people leave the church because all they hear is how the church can separate them from their money.

God said not to commit adultery yet sexual sin is rampant in the church. People live together without being married, the divorce rate is sky high among Christians and even pastors, the church is being pressured to accept homosexuality as a normal lifestyle instead of an abomination to God, and now there is a movement that is putting pressure on the church to accept polygamy as a normal lifestyle.

The church that preaches, "Christ and Him crucified" is the church that will stand in these last days because they are offering the most important thing in a person's life: eternal life with God.

All other so called churches will cease to exist.

What did God say in Exodus 20:6 "And showing mercy to thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments." -------The Departure-------

Everyone on planet Earth is either currently living under the wrath of God or currently living under God's mercy. It is far better to be living under God's mercy.

John 3:36 "He that believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God stays on him."

Jesus Christ is the key. Look to the cross and live, look away and die. A simple truth that most of the world rejects.

Copyright 2010 by Gary Goodworth