http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2010-04-27-1Amillfaith27_ST_N.htm?csp=34
Just remember, "spiritual" does not translate as "Christian". Believing in God, even Jesus, may mean "in name only". And we should be concerned about this because it doesn't bode well for our future, our nation, our security or our ability to contiue to worship and share our faith openly.
To wit, the following story out of England:
We already have stories from San Diego and elsewhere about shutting down bible studies in private homes. So much for freedom of assembly. Granted, these municipalities have, for now, rescinded their policies against such things. But it is an omen, a sign and portent of things to come.
In Canada, as I have referenced previously, preaching the full Gospel message can get you arrested and imprisoned for a hate crime.
In history, it is revealed that many wars do not just break out. They are the result of skirmishes along national, ethnic or traditional borders. It is only when these skirmishes escalate as a result of some perceived injustice or malevolent violation of some "standard" that the "declared" war commences.
In spiritual terms, we are in the skirmish stage. The two sides, God (of the Bible) fearing and God rejecting, have been engaged in a very real "border dispute" for quite some time now. Each side throwing salvos at the other in an attempt to test the waters of public perception. Granted, Christians generally are on the defensive side of most of these skirmishes, but not always.
Occasionally these skirmishes escalate to a point just short of an outbreak of true hostilities, then subside once some action has been taken by the courts, favourably or not to one side or the other. Example, the Mojave memorial cross recently gained favour in the courts because the wise judge said that the law does not forbid the acknowledgment of religious beliefs and the exercise of same, even the recognition of the display of same. This does not constitute an endorsement. So the cross stays.
In Nazi Germany of the 1930s, hostility toward Jews slowly surfaced and resulted in just such ebb and flow behaviour, until it surfaced and stayed, increasing in frequency and severity. Can you see a parallel here in the United States toward Christians? It is happening in very much the same fashion. History is indeed repeating itself here in the United States, but with the focus on Christians. This is not paranoid rhetoric. Watch and listen to the news. Stories crop up about challenges to religious references and expression, specifically, Christian exercises and references to God, prayer, crosses, even the above mentioned home bible studies.
Eventually, and you can quote me on this, the skirmishes will escalate again. On one such future occasion, it will not abate, but will escalate into a very real war, in which the Godless will openly "take up arms", literally or legally, against Christians first, other religious groups second.
Bear in mind, unlike any other religious belief, Christianity "enjoys" more scrutiny than all other religions combined, period. We are being watched. This is not paranoid. The proof is in the fact that Muslims get a pass, even deference; Buddhists get a pass, Hindus get a pass, all other religions get a pass. But Christians, if they do something evil, like steal money or, sadly, molest children, suddenly the whole belief system is evil and corrupt and false and needs to be destroyed. Not the individual abusing and misapplying their faith belief, that the religion itself is fine, but the person is the one corrupt and evil. No, it's the whole of Christianity that suffers for the act of the few miscreants.
The skirmishes will come to a head one day. Christians will become the enemy one day. And I believe that day is fast approaching. I have left out many examples, but you know what they are, not the least of which is our own president declaring the US is "not a Christian nation". I pray for our president, believe me. He needs it. While this country may not be in a good place right now, we were still founded by Christians to be a Christian nation, yet tolerant of those who do not share our faith.
I'm afraid such tolerance is in very short supply in those who oppose us. And, ironically, it is they who claim to be the "agents" of tolerance in America.
With that in mind, be on guard. As Peter warns, for your adversary, the devil, walketh about seeking whom he may devour.