By David Ettinger
Increasing Negativity
Just about any poll these days pertaining to Christianity reveals negative numbers.
For instance, a website called Outside the Walls reveals the following:
- 50% of Christians say they are deeply committed to practicing their faith, but only 11% have a biblical worldview.
- 73% of churched Millennials believe they are gifted at sharing their faith, but half of them (47%) think it is wrong to share their faith with someone of a different faith.
- 85% of young people ages 12-25 don’t see their church as a place they can turn to in times of trouble.
- More than half of all evangelicals are over age 55 compared to just one-third in 2008.
- Only half of America’s pastors (51%) have a biblical worldview.
- Less than 10% of sermons preached in Evangelical churches even mention Hell, Sin, Salvation, or Heaven.
- For the first time ever, less than half of Americans (47%) say they belong to or are members of a local church.[1]
None of these numbers should surprise Christians as this is the way the Bible tells us things are going. More and more people will continue to turn from God as we move ever nearer to the end of the age.
God’s Work
Yet, God’s work in the lives of individuals across the globe is going strong. God is still very much at work in the hearts of individuals from all walks of life, and still calling people to Himself.
A small example of this is the 2021 numbers report from our Christian bookstore here at Zion’s Hope. The Silver Shekel Shop has Bibles, books, gifts, and souvenirs from Israel, as well as various other Christian resources.
We have also proven to be a fount of hope and encouragement for people visiting our lovely town of Old Winter Garden, located just a few miles outside of Orlando, Florida.
During the past 2 “Covid-19 years,” the Silver Shekel has done increased business as more and more people are walking through our doors – and purchasing products which lift their spirits.
One of the items seeing the greatest growth in sales is the Bible. In fact, more Bibles were sold in 2021 than in any other year since we opened our doors November 1, 2012. And 2020, as well, proved a healthy year for Bible sales.
This Bible-buying surge comes as our political leaders, the entertainment industry, and institutions of both higher and lower education continue their unrelenting assault upon God, the Lord Jesus, Christianity, and, of course, the Bible.
And despite the global trends which speak of fewer people coming to Christ, people are nonetheless coming. In a culture which is actively shredding the foundations of hope, at least here in a little nook of Central Florida people are finding hope.
They are finding hope in God’s Word. They are picking up God’s Word and thumbing through it. They are purchasing God’s Word and taking it home with them or giving it as gifts to others. And they are reading their Bibles.
The world in which they have invested so much hope is failing them miserably and they are searching for an infallible hope. They are finding it in the sovereign God of Creation and in the Bible – the same God and Bible millions have been finding hope in for centuries.
Adding Up the Victories
Our 2021 Bible sales won’t transform our morally decaying world, but it is a spiritual victory – one of an abundance of small, even tiny, spiritual victories throughout the world.
Added up, these small victories make for a much larger one, and is proof of several hopeful truths: God is in control; He is actively working in the lives of individuals; and He is not done saving the lost.
May God continue to draw people to His precious Word and continue to win one small spiritual victory after another as the return of the Lord Jesus Christ looms ever larger!
[1] https://www.rotw.com/this-weeks-shocking-stat?mwm_id=314025773220&gclid=CjwKCAiAz–OBhBIEiwAG1rIOvfBhMKdwRprSY8CkNkuVZDXZTJtZpUdsNRxSpOrXlKiee_s5dAqUBoC4W0QAvD_BwE
EttingerWriting.com 
Blue Collar Theologian
January 10, 2022
Praise God for using y’all as a light in this time! I have yet to understand how folks say they can practice their “Christian” faith without a biblical worldview. The God of the Bible does not allow for such a faith, view, practice. Anyway, I am encouraged by this post and praying there will be more small victories in 2022!!
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dettinger47
January 10, 2022
Thank you, Mandy!
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Jon
January 10, 2022
Jehovah Nissi, if I am spelling that correctly, is both our victory and our proper banner/display to the World. May your arms be upheld in your work as the battle rages!
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dettinger47
January 10, 2022
Thank you, Jon.
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seekingdivineperspective
January 10, 2022
Good for you, David. If we all do what we’re called to, bathing it in prayer, God’s work gets done. 👍
“They” may say fewer people are coming to Christ, but the JESUS film, now translated into over 1800 languages, which used to be taken on foot into remote regions of the world, had to stop their in-person showings during the p@ndenic, so they went on line. Since then they’ve been receiving responses indicating decisions for Christ at the rate of roughly one conversion PER SECOND! (I saw the numbers and did the math, and they weren’t exaggerating.) I’m sorry to hear the stats you reported, though. I really am afraid the American Church could get left behind if we don’t step up. Thanks for doing your part.
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dettinger47
January 11, 2022
Yes, the numbers of people coming to Christ in Asia and Africa are surpassing those in the U.S. We are being left behind in this most crucial of areas.
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Tom
January 11, 2022
Good one, David! Satan would like nothing better than for beliebers to become discouraged and self-sidelined by the circumstances around us, BUT as you mention, the Lord uses those same challenging circumstances to draw souls to Him.
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dettinger47
January 11, 2022
He does indeed. Well said, Tom.
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Lisa Beth
January 11, 2022
The statistics themselves prove prophetic scriptures of apostasy, falling away, and the gathering of many around false teachers…”the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine” sadly, it seems we’ve arrived at that time.
David, forgive me if this gets long. Years ago Peter Tsukahira, a Japanese pastor serving in Israel, preached st our church. He spoke of and wrote a book about ‘God’s Tsunami’. He describes the tremendous power and move of the Gospel first taking root in Jerusalem then, propelled by the apostles, spread globally westward like a tsunami.
Launched from Jerusalem, God is faithfully bringing the Gospel to every tribe, every nation every tongue, moving powerfully through until it returns to Israel for end time redemption of Jews. (And the Lord’s return)
One point he made is that every nation had (or is having or will have) an awakening, a revival, like a tsunami passing.
We had great days of redemption here, as had Europe. But we can’t “make that happen” again. Believers can only stand as a light and a witness.
There’s only a remnant left in the US, perhaps it seems like a big number but its not.
Thank you brother.
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dettinger47
January 11, 2022
Great insights, Lisa Beth, and they speak against those who keep seeing a “great harvest” still ahead in the West.
Thanks for sharing this!
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heavensreef
January 12, 2022
I believe that GOD will continue to draw HIS elect to HIM until JESUS returns. We are to be HIS light. Thanks for sharing about the Silver Shekel Shop. I wish I could physically visit!! We had a Christian store I so loved here and it closed during the pandemic. I was so sad. I like to “see” a book or Bible before I buy. Now if I give a gift to someone, I love to give a Bible. Oh LORD continue to draw people into YOUR word of life!!
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dettinger47
January 12, 2022
Amen, Maxine, and well said. And yes, I’m with you, God WILL continue to draw His elect to Him until Jesus returns.
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