Mike and David look at a challenging article by Shane Idelman admonishing the Church to start living and acting like the Church instead of caving to the pressure and beliefs of secular society. And — breaking news — in case you haven’t heard: 

The church is not a building or a denomination… You and I as believers are the Church!

The sad reality is that Jesus warned that many who think they are saved and going to heaven are instead headed to eternal hell. Paul tells us to continually test ourselves to prove that we are truly in the faith and have not fooled ourselves. The committed follower of Jesus Christ is willing to do this on a continual basis; the professing Christian who has fooled themselves never thinks twice about it. They have been lulled into a false sense of eternal security by the father of lies and a professing “church” that is afraid to offend people by teaching about sin, repentance and the pursuit of holiness. Together today we will examine ourselves.

In our first segment, we talk Biblical apologetics with Aaron Marshall of Ratio Christi Ministries.

The world is what it always will be: Full of people who love self and power and despise God and His Word. Christians are called to stand out as a peculiar people full of eternal hope in Jesus Christ and sharing that hope with lost people. But many fear that as the "church" has sought compromise and common ground with the world that she has lost her moral standing and actually is contributing to the growing evil in society instead of opposing it and offering a solution.

It's time to turn back to God with repentant hearts, asking His forgiveness for squandering our calling as light in this dark world. But do we as professing Christians, along with those who lead us, have the humility and strength to get on our knees and repent before God for our failures? Or will we continue to look more and more like this world Jesus said we were to hate and that would hate us?

Elijah Abraham, a former Muslim and now born-again believer, travels the world teaching the Word of God and equipping Christians in persecuted nations to share the gospel in the midst of danger. Elijah joins us to look at the tepid condition of American Christianity and what we must do before it's too late.

Paul is warning believers not to dismiss God's eternal promises to Israel because many will be saved in the final days. But an increasing number of professing Christians are turning away from Israel and supporting her enemies.

Pastor and best-selling Author Carl Gallups joins Mike and David this morning to talk about his new book that in just a few short weeks is already a best-seller. It looks at how biblical Christianity is starting to spread in Israel and the controversy surrounding recently deceased Rabbi Zev Porat and a controversial message he left to be opened upon his death.

TODAY'S QUESTIONS

Should Christian church leaders hold their members accountable for unbiblical beliefs about creation, abortion, and same-sex "marriage"?

It is a sad day when our president stands up for the unborn, but so many preachers sit back and say nothing.

We have a responsibility to speak into another Christian's life about biblical truth, but need to remember the Holy Spirit does the convicting, not us.

When turtle eggs are protected classes but babies are murdered in the womb, the end must be near.

Why don't more Christians and Americans see the signs of the times and what is coming?

Persecution of Christians in the U.S. is imminent so why not start more home churches before it gets worse?

The National Association of Evangelicals has become a shill for social justice advocates.

Is the damage done to our nation by liberal ideology so destructive it is irreparable?

The Church either affects secular culture (salt and light) or it is influenced by it. The former is part of the Great Commission; the latter is leading to confusion that will lead many into a false sense of salvation. The Christian Church should be a spiritual bulwark to stand in opposition to the murder of children and the societal confusion surrounding marriage, sexuality and gender. Instead a growing number of pastors and churches choose silence for fear of being seen as judgmental or unloving. In the meantime, our silence from the pulpit has ushered in a sad transformation in the opinions of professing believers on abortion and same-sex marriage, with more than half approving of them.

In our third segment, we share an article by Shane Idelman challenging pastors to speak boldly from the pulpit in addressing the increasing sin and depravity of American culture. In segment two, we discuss the growing sex and racism scandals involving Virginia Democrats, and the double standards of the media and the court of public opinion.

In our first segment we are joined by Julaine Appling of Wisconsin Family Council to highlight some key points from President Trump's State of the Union address, including his bold challenge to Congress to pass legislation banning partial birth abortion.

The abandonment of God's Word and principles by Christian leaders in America continues to kick into increase with each passing year. Willow Creek's Global Leadership Summit keeps bringing in speakers who defy God's Word and Law, elevating them (secular progressives) as leaders that Christians should emulate. And now, the National Association of Evangelicals invites House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to speak to Christian College professors about the need for Evangelicals to support her fight against legal immigration policies and common sense.

This is the same Nancy Pelosi who at every opportunity supports legislation leading to more abortions, and a professing Catholic that is allowed to remain a Catholic in good standing in spite of her support of infanticide. Has the leadership of American Christianity completely sold the "church" out by compromising with and embracing an anti-biblical world view?

In our first segment, Mike and David talk about Christianity and athletics with our guest Kellen Cox of Fellowship of Christian Athletes. And in segments two and three, we tackle compromising denominations and church organizations.

In 1 Peter, Christians are called to be a holy people, set aside by God to be light in the darkness of this world. Our joy, attitude and behaviors should be so distinct from the ways of this world that people cannot help but notice that we are a unique, yes perhaps even a strange people.

But increasing studies show that there is little to distinguish many professing Christians from this world. From our attitudes to our behaviors we often seem anything but a unique and holy people. As the world grows more confusing and full of contradiction how can we as disciples of Jesus stand out all the more, pointing people to the eternal hope we have?

Dave Wager of Nicolet Bible Institute and Silver Birch Ranch joins us to discuss the calling and challenge of living like a unique, holy people set aside for the glory of God.

Mike and David look at a joint statement from Evangelical and Catholic leaders condemning New York's expanded abortion law. But is making a strong statement enough if it is not backed up by righteous action? Instead of merely condemning the actions of New York legislators, should churches start to hold church members accountable if they approve of abortion or continue to support political candidates that endorse the slaughter of innocent children in the womb? Should church discipline be used to make a strong statement to church members about this crucial biblical issue?

In our first two segments, we look at sexuality, gender and marriage according to God's Word. No surprise that polls show a majority of people in our nation who call themselves Christians approve of homosexual marriage, and an increasing number actually believe that a person's gender could be "fluid," insinuating that perhaps God made mistakes - if He in fact did create us. Pastor Randy White joins us to bring us back to the fundamentals of God's Word regarding sexuality, gender, marriage and family.

No topic is off limits. Every Friday, we tackle tough questions and challenges that believers are going through. Here are some of this week's comments:

How do we determine the difference between a person/church leader being wrong, embracing heresy, or an apostate?

The church we attend has no youth group and our pastor said we could start one at home. We're having a hard time finding a new church that teaches the hows and whys along with sound doctrine. Advice?

The sad abortion law passed in New York is a testimony to the evil that has gripped America. When the church cowers for fear of public opinion or government, it ceases to be a church and becomes a lapdog for immorality.

Have you noticed a shift in Christian music from pointing to God to being more catchy and entertaining, from vertical worship to horizontal "worship"?

What is the best way to leave a church - quietly or letting people know why you decided to leave?

On the heels of New York’s horrendous bill expanding abortion "rights" up to the moment of birth comes a shocking revelation about a similar, even more sinister bill in Virginia. With this one, the Democratic Governor seems to insinuate that this bill would allow a couple to abort a child after it is born.

Radical Liberal theology and progressive thought eventually collapses under its own weight of contradiction. But by the time it is exposed for what it is, much damage has been done. And some are wondering if this current scourge of liberal thought and so-called “morality” might be so powerful that by the time it is exposed our nation will be irreparably damaged. Moreover, that which we call “church” will be so immersed in the ways of this world that it will cease to have any effect on secular culture except to embrace and promote it, leading many toward eternal separation from God.