The Falling Away looks Like the True Gospel ?

People Are Going Back To Church – But What Theology Are They Going Back To?

Ligonier Ministries’ 2025 State of Theology study, conducted alongside Lifeway Research, was recently released, exposing some sobering statistics — particularly as it pertains to the nature of God, sin, the Bible, and more. Its release came around the September 10 assassination of Christian and conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.

Although church attendance and Bible sales were rising already, Kirk’s sudden death shocked many — both domestically and globally. As a result, ministers have noticed a significant uptick in church attendance. This convergence of events has sparked a critical discussion about the state of American churches and the substance of their teachings — a conversation that took place during Wednesday’s “Washington Watch” with Family Research Council President Tony Perkins and Pastor Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills in California.

“It’s interesting to see where the general American public is when it comes to their theological beliefs — or lack thereof,” Perkins observed. He posed a pressing question: “What does the study reveal to us about the beliefs of American evangelicals, and what does it tell us about churches and how they may be shaping those beliefs?” While the uptick in church attendance post-Kirk’s assassination is encouraging, Perkins asked, “What are they going back to?”

The State of Theology study revealed alarming trends: 47% of evangelicals believe God accepts the worship of all religions, 53% assert that most people are inherently good despite sinning occasionally, and 49% of U.S. adults view Jesus as a great teacher but not God. These findings, as Hibbs and Perkins emphasized, directly contradict biblical teachings, raising concerns about the doctrinal fidelity of many churches.

Hibbs noted that the trend of returning to church predates Kirk’s death but has intensified since. “You’ve asked the great question: What are they going back to?” he said. While only time will reveal the long-term impact, Hibbs expressed concern that many churches prioritize “liturgical practices” over substantive biblical teaching.

“If people are attending a church that has a lot of liturgical practices, but no meat, meaning no word, then what are we doing?” he asked. Instead of nourishing congregants with the “meat” of Scripture, many churches offer “sugar” — superficial teachings that fail to anchor believers in truth.

Perkins highlighted the influx of young people, many unfamiliar with the gospel, who are “flocking to the altars.” And yet, he added, “they don’t even know what an altar is.” While some leaders, like Pastor Carter Conlon, guide these seekers toward genuine transformation, Perkins warned that an “awakening” could falter if churches lack “orthodox, biblically anchored teaching.” He questioned whether newcomers would encounter the transformative truth of Scripture or merely “cultural relevance” that leaves them spiritually empty.

Hibbs echoed this concern, drawing comfort from John 10:27, where Jesus declares, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” He emphasized that Christ will guide His people to churches that faithfully proclaim His word. “The bottom line is … Jesus is going to take care of His people. He will lead them to a church,” Hibbs said. And after putting faith in this truth, he added, the next step is to pray, “Dear God in heaven, please produce more Bible teaching churches.”

The discussion turned to the broader spiritual state of the culture. “We are absolutely lost. We are rebels. We’re shaking our fist at God,” Hibbs stated. He critiqued churches that prioritize “unity instead of truth,” stating that it “leads to nothing but disaster.” Perkins pointed to Luke 9:23, where Jesus states, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Just earlier in the chapter, there’s a profound recognition of Jesus’s lordship as a foundational component of true faith. Without this, Perkins emphasized, Jesus becomes “just another figure from history.”

The study’s findings deeply troubled Hibbs, particularly the statistic that nearly half of evangelicals hold beliefs contrary to Scripture. “You’re talking about 47 to 50 some odd percent of people that have actually now been inoculated against the truth. They think they have the truth. And to them, emotionally, that feels good.”

Many professing Christians believe that one can “just be sincere about whatever it is that you believe, and you’ll be okay.” But Hibbs cautioned, “that is probably akin to how Satan whispered to Eve in the garden” — “that’s deception. That’s just absolute, straight up deception.”

Perkins turned to the solution: “There is a vaccine that can keep you from being deceived” — the word of God. Hibbs agreed, stating that people need to “pick up the Bible and start reading. … Jesus said it — ‘the Spirit of God will bear witness of whatsoever I have taught you.’ If people would just pick up the Bible … God will speak to you. He will actually begin to articulate His truth into your life. And He does it by the word of God.”

Reflecting on Charlie Kirk’s legacy, Hibbs noted that Kirk’s growing focus on the gospel over politics stemmed from his deepening engagement with Scripture. “What made Charlie’s witness so attractive is that Charlie knew what he believed,” Hibbs said. This conviction fueled Kirk’s passion for inviting others to church and advancing biblical truth — a passion that came with him being “more consistently engaged in the truth.” And Perkins emphasized that immersion in Scripture cultivates conviction, which in turn fosters courage to stand against cultural deception. He urged Christians to carry these convictions into all spheres, including politics.

Hibbs concluded: “How do we hold back evil? We shine the light. What is the light again? The word of God coming from us. We’ve got to get involved in the culture, or else the culture is going to be taken by the other team, and they’re playing for keeps. We should do the same.”

Signs of the Times

Three Fathers, No Mothers: How We Are Rewriting God’s Blueprint

Scientists and technologists are racing toward a future where babies can be created and gestated without mothers at all–growing in labs, born from machines rather than from the wombs of women. Meanwhile throuples are adopting children further eroding the family unit.

Gog and Magog Update

China’s War Clock Is Counting Down To 2027 – Will The US Defend Taiwan?

The Dragon against the Eagle Wings

China has never been coy about its ambitions. For decades, Beijing has proclaimed that Taiwan is not a sovereign nation, but a “renegade province” destined to return to the mainland’s control. That claim has often seemed rhetorical, meant more for domestic audiences than immediate military action. But recent developments suggest otherwise: China is not only talking about Taiwan, it is preparing–methodically, systematically, and aggressively–to seize it, possibly as early as 2027.

U.S. military leaders have repeatedly warned that by 2027 the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) could be fully capable of invading Taiwan. Now, the evidence is mounting. From missile deployments and naval expansion to joint training with Russia and the development of cutting-edge weapons like satellite killers and drone swarms, China’s moves over the past few months reveal a nation actively gearing for war.

Using the Enemy to Train the Troops

For China, confrontation with Taiwan has become a laboratory of preparation. A concept known as nadi lianbing–“using the enemy to train the troops”–guides PLA behavior in the Taiwan Strait. That means every air incursion, every naval maneuver, every median-line crossing is not merely a provocation, but an exercise in real-time combat training.

Before then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s 2022 visit to Taiwan, such median-line crossings were rare, almost symbolic. But in the years since, they’ve become routine. Heritage Foundation research shows that Chinese aircraft and naval operations have grown dramatically–sometimes spiking to dozens of incursions in a single day. In July 2025, PLA activity hit a record high, with 94 sorties and 67 crossings in a single two-day period. While August saw a dip, the overall trajectory remains upward. This is less about intimidation than it is about normalization–conditioning Taiwan and the international community to accept constant military pressure as the new normal.

A Navy That Now Outnumbers the U.S.

Perhaps the most striking indicator of China’s preparations is its naval expansion. The PLA Navy is now the largest in the world, boasting more ships than the U.S. Navy, with dozens of new destroyers, cruisers, and submarines launched in the last few years alone. Numbers are not everything–American ships remain more technologically advanced–but quantity matters when fighting in China’s backyard. In a conflict over Taiwan, Beijing’s advantage in proximity and volume could overwhelm defenders before outside help arrives.

This build-up is not occurring in isolation. Chinese vessels are increasingly active in the South China Sea and beyond. In August, a near-collision with a Philippine ship underscored the risks of China’s aggressive maritime maneuvers. Meanwhile, Japan has had to scramble fighter jets against a rising tide of Chinese drones entering its air defense zones. These aren’t accidents; they’re deliberate stress tests of regional defenses.

Missiles, Nukes, and Russian Partnerships

Equally alarming is China’s rapid missile and nuclear expansion. The Pentagon estimates China could have over 1,500 nuclear warheads by 2035, triple its arsenal today. Its stockpile of conventional missiles, many designed to target U.S. bases in Guam and Japan, has also surged. A Taiwan invasion would not only rely on ships and planes, but on missile salvos meant to cripple defenses before a counterattack could mount.

Add to this Russia’s involvement. In recent months, Moscow has trained airborne troops alongside Chinese forces, a chilling reminder that Beijing is studying the Ukraine conflict closely. Lessons learned from Russia’s failures–logistics, drone warfare, satellite vulnerability–are being incorporated into China’s own strategies.

Learning from Ukraine: Drones and Satellite Killers

The Russia-Ukraine war has become China’s classroom. Ukraine’s innovative use of drones, coupled with Russia’s dependence on space-based communications, has convinced Beijing to double down on two areas: drone swarms and anti-satellite weapons. Reports suggest China is actively developing “satellite killers” capable of blinding U.S. surveillance and communication networks, while simultaneously investing in massive drone fleets designed to overwhelm defenses.

Imagine a Taiwan invasion beginning with a blizzard of drones, some armed, others gathering intelligence, paired with a cyberattack that knocks out command systems and space assets. This is no longer science fiction–it is precisely what China is building toward.

The Political Clock: 2027

Why 2027? That year marks the centennial of the PLA’s founding. Xi Jinping has tied the “great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation” to military milestones, and 2027 is the year he has set for the PLA to be fully capable of retaking Taiwan. This does not guarantee an invasion, but it sets a strategic deadline Beijing appears determined to meet.

The timing also aligns with political calculations. By then, Xi may face growing economic troubles at home, with a slowing economy and restless population. A “rally-around-the-flag” war could consolidate his power, particularly if he believes Washington is distracted or divided.

What Comes Next

China’s military build-up is not posturing–it is preparation. While Beijing occasionally tempers activity to aid diplomatic goals, such as ongoing trade negotiations, the long-term trend is unmistakable: escalation. From Strait Thunder 2025A drills simulating blockades, to repeated incursions near Taiwan’s islands, the PLA is rehearsing for the real thing.

The question is not whether China intends to take Taiwan–it does–but whether deterrence will hold. That depends on how seriously the U.S. and its allies take the threat.

The next two years are critical. Every drill, every missile test, every drone swarm rehearsal brings Beijing closer to the day it believes it can strike with confidence. Unless Washington and its allies respond with equal urgency–fortifying Taiwan, enhancing regional defenses, and making the costs of aggression clear–2027 could be remembered not as a warning, but as the year the countdown ended.

China is telling the world exactly what it plans to do. The only question left is: will we believe them in time?