What is the future of Christianity? Where is it heading?

What is the future of Christianity?

With the rise of Christian Persecution not just in China and the Middle East but increasingly around the globe questions are starting to appear in Christian´s minds (they are in mine) as to what the future holds for Christianity. Will it survive in it´s current form and where is it destined to be heading. Hence this article.

This was going to be written later this week but has been jolted into action a couple of days early as a result of the recent 84 year old priest attack inside a Church in Normandy on Tuesday 26 July 2016. Unfortunately a sign of the times we are in and a definite confirmation that we are in the End Times as mentioned in the Bible. A terrible tragedy and a cowardly attack but rest assured as unpleasant as that death was he died a martyr for his faith and the perpetrators know this and he will be going onto a better place. You can try, but you´ll never, ever beat the truth. You can kill it but it will live on in another form and it will make itself stronger. You can put out the light but it will just shine brighter somewhere else. The more persecuted Christians become the more they realise just like the Jews during the Holocaust, their faith is the true faith and it just gets even stronger as a result, so strong in fact you are willing to put your life on the line for it, the ultimate insult to anybody trying to kill you. It´s also designed to create hatred and fear within the Christian faith and community. In short the people who conducted this act are terrified of Christianity, they know it´s the truth, otherwise if it wasn´t a threat and just another fake religion, why would they go through all this trouble to kill an innocent priest?

Normandy Attack News Video via RT



Before this attack, this article was going to be formed around a previous article about the life of Anchorites, Hermits, Monks and Nuns. One in particular provided the inspiration to write this article about the future of Christianity and that is the video about Agafiya an Old Believer in the remotest areas of Siberia who escaped persecution from the Reformed Russian Orthodox Church. She refused to be a part of as it removed all the important religious parts of the faith saying they were no longer part of it. She says the reformation was done by a Satanist. Many other of these Old Believer Christians did the same thing and went into hiding in the wilderness. That requires a firmness of faith beyond belief and these people are what I call the "True Christians". They "walk as Jesus walked", "live as Jesus lived" and "Love and Jesus loved". I asked myself the question "Would you be prepared to go to those lengths and live in the wilderness off the land like a Hermit". The answer was a surprising "Yes" if things start to get very bad indeed in this world that we are living in.

Agafiya the Christian Hermit Video via RT



The Original Christian Church
Back in the day in biblical times the Holy Spirit was working strongly amongst the Christian faith and the movement was completely different to what it is today. With so many denominations, ways to be baptised and the focus on Church Buildings and their upkeep and maintenance rather than the faith and God and Jesus Christ things seem to have got lost along the way. The original biblical model for Church or "The Body of Christ" was a group of believers.... That´s it. The Christian Church back then wasn't a building. These early believers did not have church buildings to meet in. They met mostly in homes and it was a community where everybody helped everybody else. No one person was more important then the other. The first church buildings did not start to appear until the early 200s. The early church did not have denominations as we think of them today. The early Christians were the targets of repeated persecutions - some of unspeakable cruelty especially during Roman times where the "Church" was attempted by the Roman Empire to be crushed on two major occasions. Sound familiar.

Hundreds of Christians being murdered every day,for not denying Christ.



In pondering what will happen with Christianity in the future, the Old Christian Church and this Agafiya woman (picture at head of article) immediately sprang to mind and provided the initial inspiration for this article. The Normandy Priest murder attack just added an extra urgency.

What´s going to happen to the Christian Faith
I honestly think with the increased Christian Persecution, burning down of Churches (especially Christian Orthodox), removal of Christian Religious symbolism around the globe and the general generation of a dislike for Christians via the media in a subliminal way, this will lead to the faith going underground but becoming stronger as a result and popping up in new places in ever increasing numbers.

Christianity in China
China, a massive place with a huge population, at present there is a huge movement of new Christian believers underway and it´s growing at a wildfire rate and the authorities are aware of this. Christianity is not accepted in China but they still practice their faith and it has gone underground literally. It looks like the Holy Spirit is working strongly in that country for some reason just like it did back in the day in Biblical times when the "Original Church" was around. ÇGatherings in houses, farms and caves are common place.

Rare Footage of Chinese Christians | Secret Underground Church



Christianity in the Middle East
In the Middle East in the Christian heartland, Christians are getting persecuted relentlessly and many have either evacuated the Christian heartlands and live outside the religious area called the Holy Land or some have kept their faith and pay taxes to stay where they are, a sort of disincentive to the Christian faith "you want to stay a Christian and still live here...that´s fine but you will be taxed as a result". Some have just given in and become Muslim which is the main religion in the Middle East just to have an easier life and get the perks that the religion gives. You could say a process is underway in various forms around the world that is separating the "True Christian" from the "I´m just a Christian on Sunday" types. A sort of separating the wheat from the chaff scenario.

A NATO de facto war on Middle East Christians?



A recent headline from Russia further proves that Christianity is going to eventually head underground with Vladimir Putin recently announcing that he will be making Christian Evangelism outlawed in the form of Preaching either on the streets or any form of the same on websites or social media. A bit of a shock really as he is publicly known to be seen to attend Russian Orthodox Church services.

RUSSIA BANS CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM !!! AntiChrist Spirited Vladimir Putin



What form will the future Christian faith take and where is it heading?
I think with the recent Christian persecution events taking place, I really see the Christian Faith going full circle and reverting back to what it was during Roman Times with people meeting up at houses and doing the exact same thing that Christians did back in the Biblical Day. I see this very strongly. What would be the outcome for the current model of Church and it´s buildings especially say in Europe that we see today?

Europe without Christianity - The end of faith in Europe



What will happen to the Traditional Church based Christian model especially in Europe?

With the decline of the traditional church any of these scenario could pan out or things could just continue as they are. There could be other scenarios
1. Churches will either close down, become homeless shelters full time or something similar such as a community centre or just turned into pubs and supermarkets, museums, turned into flats or offices (happening already) or whatever use that the local council sees fit.
2. The other route is the Churches may be turned into "Multi Faith" venues with "All Welcome" on the doors or entrance where Buddhists, Hindus, those of Judaism faith, New Agers and Muslims and any other religions can meet along with Christians. They will be New Age Christian venues along the lines of the Mega Churches in the US such as Lakewood run by Joel Osteen and Victoria Osteen with their New Age (false) teachings but just in a smaller venue/location.
3. With the rising Muslim influx in Europe (think mass migration) in particular and increasingly empty Churches it wouldn´t surprise me if Churches with low attendance numbers that only open a couple of days a week would be shut modified, gutted, all pews removed and turned into Mosques.

Jewish Prophet Warns Christians to Flee America Now!!!



SUMMARY

As a "Born Again" or "Saved" Christian (See Testimony) I personally go to Church 6 days a week (Saturday off), pray 3 times a day these days (Psalms morning and evening at home), (Psalms and Personal Prayer at Church) but I only go to an official church service on Sunday. The other 5 times I´m just praying with NO official church service (nobody is there except 2 or 3 other Christians like me praying as well) and sometimes the cleaner is there mopping the floor or using the vacuum cleaner giving us strange looks! After the Normandy attack and recent police warnings to UK Christians I stlll went to church as usual. If all the churches in the UK closed or were getting repeatedly attacked, as far as my faith is concerned it wouldn´t have the slightest impact. Church is important BUT I can pray in the Local Park, McDonalds, Library, at work, in a field I really couldn´t care less, a Church is just a building. What I call "The Sunday Church Brigade" would be affected tremendously and probably the vast majority their faith as well. But if things went full circle and people started meeting up in houses again (which I see coming) just like back in the day, then we would be at a situation which I think God would find desirable and what the original Biblical model of Church was.

The Normandy incident is just one of many recent Christian Persecution Events taking place around the globe and as this predicted emerging New World Order get´s ever closer by the day Christian Persecution I think will reach the extreme levels just as in Roman Times or as with the Jews in the Holocaust as witnessed in the Second World War. Just as in Roman Times I think there will be two divided camps again those outside the True Christian faith and those in "The Faith". People outside of the Christian faith will get sucked into this New World Order One World Religion which I think will be New Age in format a sort of one size fits all and on the surface the answer to all the worlds problems but will be a False Christianity. It will be the easier option and "The Mark" will be one of the components of adopting that faith. Those who do not adopt it will be the True or Real Christians and they will be driven underground or into the wilderness just as Agafia was when they reformed the Russian Orthodox Church. If this happens then the Prophecy in the Book of Revelation would be fulfilled.

I would say that anybody that publicly preaches, is running a website such as this or similar with a Christian or End Times bias who also has quite a following on social media is a prime target for being silenced, shut down or even attacked or worse. According to some sources that is happening already. If the updates suddenly cease on this website you will know why.

This will just drive Christianity underground and it will become stronger than it ever was. The Chinese Underground Christian Video I really think gives you a taste of what form Christianity will take in the future. Do you really think death threats or terrorist activity will deter these peoples faith. I think not. I see the way forward as being "old school", non church as in large fancy building based and non denominational. I think in the current day church something got lost along the way, something quite important.

This predicted new "Underground Christianity" or "Real Christianity", everybody will come together and will become one "Body of Christ" and "Church" will become just like it was back in the day and the Holy Spirit will be moving strongly in these very last days. People, will look on in wonder just like in those Biblical Times and think "WOW I want to be a part of that". I think that is no bad thing and maybe that it was what "The Lord" wanted all along.

Bible Quotes:

Matthew 24:9
Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

1 Peter 3:14 - But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy [are ye]: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

1 John 3:13 - Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

Luke 6:22 - Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you [from their company], and shall reproach [you], and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.

Matthew 5:10 - Blessed [are] they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

2 Timothy 3:12 - Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

John 15:18 - If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before [it hated] you.

Matthew 5:44 - But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Further related videos over at The Twelve Gates You Tube Channel

Christian Life. You cannot Love the World

Twelve signs of the Holy Spirit. My personal experience. Part 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_r1GspV6oM

The Narrow Gate and Narrow Way. Few Find it!

The Church in the Bible V Modern Day Church Denominations

The Seven Deadly Sins. 7 videos shot in Central London

Anchorites, and Christian Hermits and the Monastic Life. Why?

A delve into the mysterious world of Anchorites, Christian Hermits and Monks and Nuns that live the monastic life and why they decided to take this essentially solitary life in the name of their faith to get closer to God and live a holy life dedicating their life to this cause. They give up everything including material possessions, relationships, family and careers and take a vow of celibacy. There are no designer clothes, massive mansions or fancy cars to be seen here. This you could say is the polar opposite of the many Celebrity Style Mega Preachers with their lavish lifestyles. It shows the other end of what would be considered "True Christianity" is... instead of the False one we see preached and paraded around on our TV screens these days.

No bible quotes in this article, with such religiousness on display here...none are required. This article is split into two categories, Hermits and Anchorites that live the solitary life divorced from society and Nuns and Monks that are the same, divorced from society but live in a community of similar minded people. Writing is kept to a minimum and it's a case of let the videos do the talking (there are not many out there) as I have no experience of living as a Monk ,Hermit or Anchorite. Few people do!

Video at The Twelve Gates You Tube Christian Life. You cannot Love the World


Monks and Nuns and the Monastic life
Monks did not live in monasteries back in the day at first, rather, they began by living alone, as the word monos might suggest more like the Hermits of today. As more people took on the lives of monks, living alone in the wilderness, they started to come together and model themselves after the original monks nearby. Quickly the monks formed communities to further their ability to observe an ascetic life. Hence the rise of the Monastery and what we see now in our modern times.

Currently, the world most of us live in is fast-paced and engulfed with noise and people. Life has become so secularized, industrialized, and materially-driven, that an austere, simple and quiet life divorced from modern day society devoted to the contemplation of God seems surreal and is beyond our comprehension. Throughout world history, many individuals decided that a life of seclusion had more merit and greater possibilities for peace and freedom.

Saint Anthony or Antony was a Christian monk from Egypt, and is known for his importance among the Desert Fathers and to all later Christian monasticism, he is also known as the Father of All Monks and set the trend for what we see today. Further details on Christian Monks and Monasticism at Wikipedia

An amazing insight into the monastic life in a 2 part video called "The Last Anchorite" which is a truly remarkable story of Father Lazarus El Anthony, university lecturer, Marxist who abandoned his life in Australia and went in search of God and freedom. His pilgrimage eventually brought him to a life of a Christian Coptic monk and live in solitude on the Al-Qalzam Mountain in Egypt, in the pursuit of what the Desert Fathers called apatheia, holy stillness.

The Last Anchorite Part 1




The Last Anchorite Part 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag6WE__82Q8

Nuns are obviously the female form of Monks and take similar vows and have to make the same sacrifices as in leaving their old life behind and becoming this new person solely devoted to getting closer to God. An interesting video called "Why Do Young Women Choose To Become Nuns?" takes a peak into the lives of some Nuns and you get to hear their individual stories, quite a few were rock n roller beatnik hedonistic hippy types or were rebellious and ran away from home at a young age with photos to prove it. You see the sacrifices they had to make but not all were purer than pure. All have one thing in common, they all say that it was a calling from God.


"Why do young women choose to become Nuns"




Christian Hermits What is a Hermit?
The word hermit derives from the Greek term eremite, meaning 'of the desert'. Hermits exist in many religions and agnostics are also known to become hermits which is basically somebody that has divorced themselves from society and decided to leave an independent and solitary life. As a result such a person would live in what is called a hermitage, physically and visibly set apart from the world but still part of it and obviously in theory they are still alive. This is different from an Anchorite as we will see later.

Why does somebody become a Christian Hermit (Solitary)
The life of the Christian solitary, whatever form it takes, is essentially something to which God calls - it is not a thing that anyone can choose for her- or himself. For the genuine solitary the perception of God is not likely to come through other people, nor is it likely that the call to the solitary life will come through another person, though someone may say something that sparks off in us the search which is the response to God's call. via solitaries.org.uk

As Peter F. Anson writes in a book called The Call of the Desert:

The solitary life led by John the Baptist in the desert of Judea [and similarly Jesus' sojourns into the wilderness] served as the inspiration for countless Christian hermits in the after ages. But what must be stressed is that there was nothing novel about this way of life: it merely carried on the traditions of some of the Old Testament prophets who fled into the wilderness. History repeats itself!

St. Paul is considered the first hermit. Some Christian hermits live in incredibly remote areas and some have lived there for generations, some as a result of escaping religious persecution or reformation. Such a Hermit is Agafia who lives in a remote area of Siberia as if Siberia isn't remote enough and she is an "Old Believer" practicing the old religious way of the Russian Orthodox Church before it was reformed. She still lives there today at the time of this filming and this video shows the incredible ordeal to reach this location by river.

Agafias Full Story The Life of a Siberian Hermit



Anchorites
The anchoritic life is one of the earliest forms of Christian monastic living. and is similar to a Hermit but with one major difference. The strict definition of an Anchorite is "someone who lives alone and away from other people for religious reasons" . The Wikipedia definition is " someone who, for religious reasons, withdraws from secular society so as to be able to lead an intensely prayer-oriented, ascetic, and—circumstances permitting—Eucharist-focused life"

Maxime is not strictly an Anchorite but more a solitary hermetic monk who lives a life of virtual solitude on top of a 131ft pillar of rock. He's so isolated this video had a mere 142 views at the time of writing and I just stumbled across this by accident on You Tube



The anchorite life doesn't end there. Anchorites are similar to Hermits in their religious convictions but unlike hermits back in the day they were required to take a vow of stability of place, opting instead for a permanent enclosure in cells often attached to churches, underground caves would be another example. Unlike hermits, anchorites endured a religious rite of consecration that closely resembled the funeral rite, following which in theory they were declared dead to the world but became a type of living saint but not visible to the world. They were very much prevalent in medieval times especially in England where Anchoritic chambers attached to churches still exist. They would be given basic food and water, enough to survive and would be looked after by the church clergy who removed any waste via a chamber pot but they never left that chamber.

Footage of these sort of individuals as you can gather is hard to come by for obvious reasons, but this trailer gives a taste of what their life was like and why they lived this way. The sacrifice of a medieval anchoress. A story clip from the novel "Lost Book of Noah"



Do they still exist today. In certain remote areas they do still exist especially in Eastern Europe in remote areas living in underground caves totally dedicating their lives to God. They have none of the pleasures and sights of modern day living...........they just pray and live this bizarre life that is beyond comprehension. A sort of "tragic" life to outsiders but to those who live it they feel they have been "chosen".

The following video appeared at the bottom of a previous article on False Preachers and Mega Churches just as a contrast to demonstrate the difference between the artificial prosperity Christianity we see today and the real Christianity that dates back to more ancient times. The video is called "It's not easy to be Orthodox Christian" and has various people stating that anchorites still exist (with subtitles)

Summary
These few videos and brief information show what I consider to be the real side of Christianity. These people are walking as Jesus walked and living pretty much as Jesus lived. Not an easy thing to do in this day and age with so many distractions and pressures, but this article proves that Christianity, the real deal is not about fast cars, fancy clothes, huge mansions and a huge social media following and certainly not about wealth and materialism and a vast bank account, as in what these modern day Mega Church Preachers aspire to.

The more you embrace "the world" the less Christian you become. The further you move away from "worldly" desires the closer you are to the Christian faith!

A true Christian doesn't crave those things and the key is....you become as a "child". If anything it is about living a simple life, having just enough to survive and not needing anymore than that and moving away from those "worldly" things and taking yourself to a higher plane beyond "worldly" desires and moving away from "the self". The focus is more on helping others and spiritual enlightenment. It's not for everybody, being just a normal Christian in these modern times is tough enough, but you now realise the sacrifices that have to be made by these people... with the anchoritic life being the most extreme.

If you compare this article to say the previous article on the Mega Preacher Paula White and ask yourself the question "Which Christianity looks more enticing and seductive?"...you know what the answer is going to be. If you rephrase the question and ask yourself "Which Christianity is closer to the truth" as before your answer will be just as clear cut.... but it will point in the reverse direction!