(PNN) PPSIMMONS News and Ministry Network: THE DUMBING DOWN OF AMERICANS, INCLUDING CHURCH MEMBERS

by Rev. Joda Collins

Male? Female? Girl? Boy? Half and half? Other? Confused? Pervert? Unisex? No such thing as gender? Which restroom? Stall or urinal? Take a peek? Offer proof? Assault? Run away? Just go along? What is a male? What is a female? Marry whomever and whatever; horse, cow, dog, doorknob, child, another one like you or another one not like you?

Americans have long been on a downward spiral when it comes to the ability to think well. Every indicator from every source testifies to that. All but the dumbest can determine this true by research or simply by listening to most people talk. Americans are not stupid; we can learn. However, many are too lazy to expend the energy to learn. Many would rather troll Facebook, watch TV and shop at Target rather than become educated about anything. About half (I would estimate) of Americans are not educated, just opinionated.

A number of years ago, I wrote a book entitled, "The Biblical Role of Women in the Church". I submitted it to a well-known publishing house in 1998 and was told it was an "excellent, well-written book" but because I was "an unknown author" I would "have to get a well-known author to recommend the book". I got two nationally-recognized authors and one reasonably well-known author to recommend the book and called the publisher back.

The publisher was speechless for a time and finally said, "I did not think you could get any well-known author to recommend your book and you got three!!! Actually, we cannot publish your book under any conditions, even if you have well-known authors recommending it." I asked why. He said, "The subject is too narrow and too controversial. Only people in the church who care about the biblical role of women in the church will buy it and that is only a few. Second, only church people who are strongly biblically-based in their theology will agree with you. So there is no market for your book."

Think about those statements. There are not enough people in the church who care about what the Bible states about the distinction between men and women in ministry and most of those who do would not agree with the Bible anyway; so there is "no market" for my book. I soon learned that he was right on both counts, and that reality has been confirmed over and over since 1998.

Now, we have a nation where it is considered politically-incorrect to make any distinction between male and female and increasingly it is becoming against the law to do so.

When the church stops caring about what the Word of God states, should we be shocked when the world stops caring soon afterwards? If we do not stand up for what the Bible states regarding the operation of God's House and ministry, should we be shocked when the world passes laws that makes adhering to Bible dictates illegal? For the most part, the Church is dumb about the things of God that are contrary to their already held opinions.

Over and over I have conversations with Christians about the Word of God. After I share with them what the Word of God states, the first thing most church members say is, "But I think...." Few comments could be more offensive to God coming from the mouth of a Christian. What you think or what I think is irrelevant unless we think like God.

The world is reflecting the two basic attitudes of the average church. First, Who cares! Second, "But I think" (rather than "God states"). A dumbed-down church is a major contributing factor to a dumbed-down nation.

I long for a day when professing Christians repentant of rather than justify wrong thinking citing what they "think" as if what they think (in opposition to the Word of God) is of any value.

Peter said something to Jesus, in the presence of the other disciples, that reflected a thought that was not the same as what God thinks. "...he (Jesus) rebuked Peter, saying, 'Get they behind me, Satan, for thou savourest (honor) not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.'" Mark 8:33KJV. (Parenthesis mine.) I am sure Peter was ashamed after being rebuked in front of all of the disciples.

"...have the mind of Christ." 2 Corinthians 2:16.

If what we think is not the same thing as what God thinks, we are savoring (honoring) the mind of Satan. Start your biblical conversation and base your life on the premise of what "God's Word states...." If you do not know what the Word of God states on a particular issue, then "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be to ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15. Don't be dumb. Be wise. Never say, "I think...." unless asked for your opinion. Almost, no one cares so why waste your breath.