ABBY TRIVETT - CHARISMA NEWS
Has the great apostasy already started?
What if the things we're seeing today are simply the signs of things that Scripture already foretold of its happening years ago?
In a nation that used to be so profoundly based on biblical principles, America today is almost unrecognizable from its founding.
At the very basic level, the religious concept of God and a general sense of morality has always been part of the culture, and many of the ideologies and values today would have never been acceptable.
But not anymore.
The latest Pew Research study discovered that "about 28% of U.S. adults are religiously unaffiliated, describing themselves as atheists, agnostics or 'nothing in particular' when asked about their religion."
However, there is something worth looking at in these statistics specifically in relation to Christianity.
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"Most 'nones' say they were raised in a religion, usually Christianity," the Pew Research study found.
"Yet today they tend to be disconnected from religious institutions.
Not only have they shaken off religious labels, they also have largely shaken off involvement in churches, synagogues, mosques and other religious organizations."
So, those consider themselves to a "none" tend to have been the exact same ones who grew up sitting in the pews on a Sunday morning.
They are the ones who have heard, but have instead rejected the very God they had grown up hearing about.
Which begs the question: is this the start of the great apostasy?
Second Thessalonians 2:3-4 is a great reminder of what is guaranteed to come our way.
We are guaranteed that there will be many who will fall away from the faith.
"Do not let anyone deceive you in any way.
For that Day will not come unless a falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself as God."
The day of the Lord's return cannot come unless we first see those who committed themselves to the faith fall away from it.
While there was a mixed opinion about religion's role in society, "43% of 'nones' say religion does more harm than good," according to the Pew Research study.
Besides this belief that religion is detrimental to society, "30% say bad experiences they've had with religious people help explain why they are nonreligious."
Church hurt has taken its toll and has pushed away people from the body of Christ, and ultimately, from Him altogether.
We continue to see the warning that many would leave the faith throughout the New Testament.
Jesus warned in Matthew 24:10: "Then many will fall away, and betray one another, and hate one another."
First Timothy 4:1 tells us: "Now the Spirit clearly says that in the last times some will depart from the faith and pay attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils."
As we see the signs clearly written on the wall that a great apostasy is brewing, people leaving and forsaking faith altogether, we know that this is just one of the hardships that must take place before the return of our King.
As the hardships increase, as the betrayals to Christ increase, and the world continues to shift further away from righteousness, we can take comfort in knowing that this means our Lord is preparing to come back for His bride. 
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Abby Trivett is a marketing copywriter and coordinator for Charisma Media.
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