Current Special: Unique Gifts Make Winning Teams Free Video Event
Discover the “Unfair” Advantage of 5-Fold Counsel

The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God by Justin Brierley

Mark Virkler's picture

Following is my BRIEF synopsis of this new book.


Atheism began with the thesis that science could, and would, replace God and Christianity. This movement has fallen apart in recent years because of several factors. These include the immorality of its leaders, women objecting to being sex objects rather than people, squabbles about how to handle new sub-groups, etc. (Summary of Chapter 1)

Quotes from the book

  • "The atheist community has splintered into a million shards in recent years. There are the atheist feminists and the atheist anti-feminists, the social justice warrior atheists, and the anti-social justice warrior atheists." Brierley, Justin. The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God: Why New Atheism Grew Old and Secular Thinkers Are Considering Christianity Again (p. 24). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition
  • Science can tell you how the universe arose but not why it is there. Science can tell you what you consist of but not what you are worth. Science can generate solutions to poverty but not the compassion to implement them. Science can make you money but not purchase a meaningful existence.” (Ibid p. 27)
  • “In the West, we have largely lost our belief in God or any sense of a given cosmic order. As a result, there is no longer any overarching ‘sacred structure’ that holds the world together. So we are left on our own as individuals in a world without any predetermined order that tells us who we are in that world, or that gives us a sense of security and ‘fit’ within a wider scheme of things.” [10] (Ibid pp. 46-47)
  • "Happiness and wellbeing are found not in isolated individuality but in social connection. It is through strong relationships with family, friends and community that we truly flourish. . . . In other words, focusing upon my own unique individuality is the wrong place to look.” [14] (p. 48)

Everybody worships

If we don’t worship the true and living God, then we end up worshipping self or satan or materialism or some specific ideology. The problem with this secular form of worship, people involved in it often become very intolerant of those who disagree, whereas in the Church we are instructed to extend grace and mercy to those whom we disagree with.

Other reasons secularists and atheists tend to not be able to expand their movements are because 1) religious people tend to have more children than their secular counterparts, and 2) religious people don’t believe in abortion or castrating their children. Because of this “the number of people who identify as nonreligious is actually shrinking as a proportion of the global population. [6]” (Ibid pp. 202-203).

Although up to 50% of young people identify as having no religious affiliation, one in five of them say they pray every day. The bottom line is although they may have rejected organized religion they are still very spiritual. Perhaps if organized religion offered them a living encounter with the living God, their hunger would be satisfied and they would not be forced to look in other directions to find what their souls hunger for. Thankfully the current revival in the Spirit-filled church is offering training and opportunities to experience encounters with God.

  • The fact that local village pubs are closing faster than rural churches is a reminder that wider demographic changes are afoot. [11] Ironically, those who reject being part of a religious community in favor of retaining a semblance of personal spirituality are losing out on most of the social benefits that religious affiliation brings. Research shows that people who regularly attend church report stronger social support networks and less depression. They smoke less, have happier marriages, and lead healthier and longer lives than people who don’t go to church. Actively religious people are proven to give both more money and more time to charities (including secular ones) than nonreligious people. They even donate more blood. [12] (Ibid p. 204).
  • In summary, organized religion (and nonreligion) is out of favor in the West. But many people are still seeking meaning and spirituality where they can find it. (p. 205).
  • “Materialist atheism says we are just a collection of chemicals. It has no answer whatsoever to the question of how we should be capable of love or heroism or poetry if we are simply animated pieces of meat.” [16] (pp. 209).

The Christian story makes sense of our personal stories and the story of the world around us. Therefore many agnostics and atheists are coming back for another look at the Church.

Justin Brierley - What should the Church be offering to these people who are returning for a second look?

  1. Embrace Both Reason and Imagination… most people encounter the truth of Christianity through the imaginative faculties of the right brain. (Ibid p. 221). CWG Ministries offers two-way journaling which incorporates both right and left brains!
  2. Keep Christianity Weird (Ibid p. 222). CWG Ministries offers tons of weird stuff: Salvation where you welcome and sense the Holy Spirit, God’s voice, God’s vision, Divine wonderful counsel, Inner Healing with Jesus guiding the process, Casting out demons, Encounters with angels, Christian dream interpretation, and so much more.
  3. Create a Community That Counters Cancel Culture (Ibid p. 225). CWG Ministries grounds all these experiences in thousands of years of biblical history. Everything we teach and lead people into is found in Scripture. Our mantra is “We can LIVE the Bible!”

After tides go out they COME BACK IN!

The nice thing about the tide going out is that we know it will reach a limit and then come back in. So the tide of secularism has reached its limit and it is now coming back in and people are checking once again with the Christian message to see if it answers the hunger of their hearts.

Bill Johnson states, “The Church owes the world an encounter with God.”

I say: AMEN!

Make it your passion to have, teach, and promote living encounters with Almighty God. Start by sharing this blog (and all our blogs!) with your friends. Promote “how-to” training on how to have Bible-based living encounters with the Living God Who is Immanuel, God WITH us! As Jesus said, “Behold, I am with you all the days" (Matt. 28:20 MKJV)!

Journaling question

Lord, what would You speak to me about the ideas mentioned above?


4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice
Free Video Event: Dec. 5-18, 2024
Register now: https://go.cluschoolofthespirit.com/hgv

CLU Course of the Month - 40% Tuition Discount
REN103/503 Communion with God
Learn more: https://www.cluonline.com/hear-gods-voice-2/
Order here: https://www.cluonline.com/christian-online-college-courses/#PRO527

25% off sitewide coupon CHRISTMAS25 (details here)


Fan the flames of revival by sharing this blog with your friends on social media! 


 

Add new comment

Add new comment

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Results

Results 151 - 160 of 485

Pages

Through the Bible New Testament CD Package

3 CD Sets by Dr. Andrew Hardy | 1 Book by Mark and Patti Virkler

Dr. Andrew Hardy takes you through the New Testament in three modules. This package includes parts six - eight of our Through The Bible series,  which provide you an overview of the entire Bible. You may choose to begin with the Life of Christ and work your way through the entire New Testament, and then follow this up by going through the Old Testament.

Why are there four Gospels describing Jesus' life? How are the three synoptic Gospels different from John? What does God want to say to me through the life of Jesus? Can I really imitate Christ and be like him? Yes, Jesus came to model the lifestyle God has empowered us to live!

Price: $89.00

Through the Bible Old Testament CD Package

5 CD Sets by Dr. Andrew Hardy | 1 Book by Mark and Patti Virkler

Dr. Andrew Hardy takes you through the entire Old Testament in this five module series. This is a part of our Through the Bible series, which gives you an overview of the entire Bible. This package contains five sets of CDs which span the Old Testament and includes the Through the Bible workbook

Price: $144.00

Unique Gifts Make Winning Teams CD Package

2 books | 1 card | 1 CD set

Can I succeed like others have? What do I need to do? How do I go about it? What if I don't have the gifts necessary to do something great?  The wonderful truth revealed in Scripture is that God uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary feats, especially when they say, "Yes, Lord" to the destiny He has prepared for them!

Price: $69.95

Unleashing Healing Power Through Spirit-Born Emotions CD Package

Book + 14 teaching sessions & 5 devotionals on CD

Experience Healing for Your Body, Soul, and Spirit through Kingdom Emotions!

In Christianity, emotions are often considered to be misleading and untrustworthy—a lingering part of our fallen nature that distract us from God’s truth. But our emotions were created by God, and though the enemy may seek to manipulate our hearts, Jesus sets us free! This practical teaching will empower you to see emotions as unique channels through which the Holy Spirit works to bring miraculous life-transformation, deliverance and healing.

Price: $95.00

Your Extraordinary Life CD Package

197 Page Book | 16 CD Sessions | Save 10% | by Mark & Patti Virkler

Can you imagine starting new believers off with the Holy Spirit! What if the first thing you were taught as a newborn Christian was how to connect easily and daily with the Holy Spirit Who was living inside you, anointing you, empowering you and transforming you?

Price: $45.00
LEARN 4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice Notebook

LEARN 4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice

by Mark and Patti Virkler

This 49-page Life Enrichment And Review Notebook (previously called a "Seminar Guide") is designed to go along with the CD/ DVD series and/or PowerPoint presentation. If receiving training in a group, we highly recommend that EVERY member of the group have their own copy. It offers you the following four benefits:

Price: $5.95
Counseled by God Life Enrichment And Review Notebook

LEARN Counseled by God

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 52 Pages

This 52-page Life Enrichment And Review Notebook is designed to go along with the CD/ DVD series. You will learn the precise steps to take by exploring biblical examples of people meeting God and being healed. You will be guided in taking these steps yourself, and as you do, you will find healing and release of the key emotional struggles we all face. Healing from accusation, fear, inferiority, anger, guilt and depression, all can be found by hearing God speak to you!

Price: $6.95
LEARN Prayers That Heal the Heart

LEARN Prayers That Heal the Heart - Revised & Expanded 20th Anniversary Edition

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 30 Pages

This 30-page Life Enrichment And Review Notebook is designed to go along with the CD/ DVD series and/or PowerPoint presentation. If receiving training in a group, we highly recommend that EVERY member of the group have their own copy. 

We also have a limited stock remaining of the previous version. So if you want to run a class still using your old set of DVDs, please call our office at 716-681-4896 to order those at 75% off while supplies last.

Price: $5.95
4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice Cards

4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice Cards (100-pack)

Request up to 25 of the 4 keys cards FREE with every order you place! (Excluding download-only orders.) Just specify how many you would like when checking out in the shopping cart. Spread the good news that God is still speaking and it is easy to hear His voice! Enhance someone's life!

To receive up to 25 free, do not add to your cart! Just choose a quantity of your "Free Gift" at checkout. To purchase more than 25, add to cart here.

Price: $5.00

A Stroll Along the Sea of Galilee Gift Card - 25 Pack

The #1 Tool in the World for Introducing People to Hearing God's Voice!

Why not use this powerful tool to help bring revival and restoration to your nation by distributing this FREE offer! It is an ideal gift to slip in with cards for special days such as birthdays, Christmas, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day and Easter. It is perfect for conference attendees, newborn Christians, or anyone you want to share in the gift of greater intimacy with the Lord.

Pages