Faith Changes in the African-American Community
Sam Rainer
The Barna Group recently released research on the religious beliefs and behaviors of African Americans. Good religious research on minorities is less prevalent, so this study is a welcome one.
Regarding statements about faith, African Americans had the highest responses with eight out of nine statements when compared with whites, Hispanics, and Asians. Below is a comparison of answers between blacks and whites:
- the Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches 66% (Black) 46% (White)
- have personal responsibility to tell others your religious beliefs 46% (Black) 32% (White)
- your religious faith is very important in your life 86% (Black) 70% (White)
- Satan/devil is not a living being but is a symbol of evil 46% (Black) 38% (White)
- when He lived on earth, Jesus Christ committed sins 54% (Black) 43% (White)
- single, most important purpose of your life is to love God with all your heart, mind, strength and soul 85% (Black) 63% (White)
- God is the all-powerful, all-knowing, perfect creator of the universe who rules the world today 84% (Black) 69% (White)
- your highest priority in your life these days is your faith 18% (Black) 11% (White)
Other results from the survey gave comparisons of the African-American community with the national average:
Blacks were the group most likely to be born again Christians (59%, compared to a national average of 46%) and were the ethnic segment most likely to consider themselves to be Christian (92% did so, versus 85% nationally). However, they were no more likely than average to qualify as evangelical Christians.
The study also compared the current religious beliefs and behaviors of African Americans to beliefs and behaviors fifteen years ago. Interestingly, substantial changes occurred during this time, including moves toward more conservative biblical teachings:
Six of seven measures of belief had changed significantly. Blacks today are more likely than they were in the early 1990s to believe that the principles taught in the Bible are totally accurate; to say that their religious faith is very important in their life; to have a biblically orthodox understanding of the nature of God; and to be born again. They are also less likely to strongly affirm that Satan is symbolic, not real; and to contend that a good person can earn his/her way into Heaven.
The measure that had not changed was the sense of personal responsibility to discuss their beliefs with others.
You can read the full report here. Any thoughts on this study?
HT: Ed Stetzer
White Raiment Ministries, Inc.
Nexlevel@peoplepc.com
Greetings in Jesus Name,
Believers throughout America are going to their pastors and saying to them, they do not feel saved. This has been happening for years and the people are being told that salvation is not a feeling, but having confidence in the word of God.
When the word is preached, God is speaking to the members of your church telling them that they are not saved. Yes, God is telling the people in your church this. Why? Because he has not washed them in his blood and many of them are not filled with his Spirit.
Pastor, as humble as I know how, I’m asking you to take a few minutes to read this letter. You may not believe this or agree with it, but this is what God chose to do and we can not change it no matter how hard you try. God chose to give his disciples his Spirit speaking in other tongues as he gives them the utterance. This is how they knew they had the power that was promised to they according to Acts 1:8. Who or what is this power? This power is Jesus Christ. This is not symbolic nor is it figurative. This is the actual presence of God in you. If any person have not spoken in tongues they are not sure they have the Holy Spirit. The good that you do does not determine if you are filled with the Spirit. If the apostles had not spoken in tongues on the day of Pentecost, they would still be waiting even unto this day. So if they needed this evidence, you need it also.
Jesus Christ is the Holy Ghost and High Priest in the church today. Jesus Christ as the High Priest is the only one that can fulfill the Great Commission. Please understand and receive this revelation. In St. John chapter 20, Jesus tells his disciples to receive the Holy Ghost. Immediately after this statement he tells them (disciples) whosoever sins they remit shall be remitted and whosoever sin they retain shall be retained.
In other words Jesus was telling his disciples that they would have the power the remove sin and if they did not remove it, that person sin would remain upon him. How could this be? These men (disciples) were born sinners.
When Jesus filled His disciples on the day of Pentecost with the Holy Ghost, he filled they with himself. Jesus is the High Priest in you when you receive the Holy Ghost speaking in other tongues as he gives you the utterance. This is why is so important to obey God. The water baptism cleanses the conscience from the guilt of sin. Every soul in your congregation could be at risk of NOT having their sins washed away; if the person that baptize them was not filled the Holy Ghost. This is why your members do not feel saved. As in the Old Testament, the High Priest was the ONLY one allow into the Holies of Holies once a year with the blood of atonement. The New Testament Jesus is the High Priest dwelling in you as the Holy Ghost to apply his blood upon all believers through water baptism in his name. This is why Jesus says, “I am the way the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
So now when a disciple received the Holy Ghost they are authorized from heaven to use the name of Jesus in water baptism. Jesus name is Holy, because Jesus name is His blood. Don’ be confused? That is why God hid His name during water baptism from men that refused to receive the Holy Ghost speaking in other tongues. If you would notice during the water baptismal ceremonies the world says, “I baptize you in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Jesus name is not mentioned.
God has not allowed they to understand the power in calling on the name of Jesus during this ceremony. Why?
“If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost.” Who are they that are lost? Those who have not been washed in water by Jesus Christ nor filled with His Spirit. Yet, they are believers.
Whole organizations are without God today because of stubbornness. God has given us examples in scripture through the actions of His Apostles. If we would just do what they did, God would be pleased. Many preachers believe that they are doing what God has called them to do, but if you ask them have they received the Holy Ghost speaking in tongues – They will say, “not everyone speaks in tongues.” This answer diminishes the power of God in their lives and because they have hardened their hearts; hate is there and everyone who tries to help them in the word is labeled as being someone who is against them.
God has honored your faith by blessing you with what ever you have need, but you have not honored God’s Great Commission. Satan has used faith to deceive millions of believers. Faith comes from God when a believer hears the gospel. Through this faith our blessings are revealed from heaven and we prosper. In some cases prosperity can be dangerous to the soul. Prosperity causes some men to become arrogant. I have noticed that most rich men in the faith can not receive a word from God, especially if you have fewer possessions than they do. What God said in his word is happening in our churches right now, “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing…” Therefore the road that is leading to destruction is a broad road. This letter is direction to the right road. Will you receive them?
Faith is what God has given us to receive from Him. Without Faith it is impossible to please God. Through your faith you have accomplished many things, but having faith does not mean you are saved. YOU CAN HAVE FAITH WITHOUT SALVATION. Faith comes from God, but Satan has used it to hinder the Great Commission through deception. How? A believer praying to God in Jesus name having faith can receive his blessing without being baptized in water in Jesus or filled with the Holy Ghost. Receiving those blessing in Jesus name gives the believer a false sense of hope, which says God is please with me. It’s hard to believe, but it is true. God showed this to me years ago when I asked Him the question, how can people prosper when they are NOT born again. The Roman Soldier was not born again, but he had faith and his servant was made whole. The woman with the issue of blood was not saved, but she had such strong faith that virtue went out of Jesus. You can prosper in God through your faith without being saved? Yes. This is why the road was so broad that lead to destruction and those saying Lord, Lord could not enter the Kingdom of heaven. They ALL had FAITH, but no blood and no Spirit. Faith can work both ways. It can work for you as a conveyance from God or it can be used to deceive. “There is way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. Through he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed. Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore. For the Lords loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever; but he seed of the wicked shall be cut off.”
Please listen to what God is saying to you today! I don’t know you personally and I have nothing to gain from this message, but the love of my Father in that I have pleased Him in sharing this with you. This alone is my joy for eternity. Amen
With Love,
Saint John R. Franklin