Romans 11, E Pluribus Unum, Dr. John Carpenter

Romans 11 and the Remnant Chosen by Grace

Romans chapter 11 hear the word of the Lord. I Asked him has God rejected his people by no means for I myself I'm an Israelite a descendant of Abraham a member of the tribe of Benjamin God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew.

Do you not know what the scripture says of Elijah how he appeals to God against Israel Lord? They have killed your prophets. They have demolished your altars and I alone am left and they seek my life.

But what is God's reply to him? I have kept for myself 7 ,000 men who have not bowed the knee to bail. So to at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. But if it's by grace, it's no longer on the basis of works.

Otherwise grace would no longer be grace. What then Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking the elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened as it is written God gave them a spirit of stupor eyes that would not see in ears that would not hear down to this very day and David says let their table become a snare and a trap a stumbling block and a retribution.

For them let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see and bend their backs forever. So I asked Did they stumble in order that they might fall by no means rather through their trespass? Salvation has come to the Gentiles so as to make Israel jealous now.

If their trespass means riches for the world and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles How much more will their full inclusion mean? Now I'm speaking to you Gentiles and as much then as I'm an apostle to the Gentiles I magnify my ministry in order that somehow To make my fellow Jews jealous and thus save some of them for if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world What will their acceptance mean but life from the dead if the dough offered his first fruits is holy.

So is the whole lump and if the root is holy, so are the branches. But if some of the branches were broken off and you though a wild olive shoot were grafted in among the others and now share In the nourishing root of the olive tree.

Do not be arrogant toward the branches if you are remember It is not you who support the root but the root that supports you. Then you will say branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in. Well, that's true.

They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches neither will he spare you? Note them the the kindness and the severity of God severity toward those who have fallen but God's kindness to you Provided you continue in his kindness.

Otherwise you too will be cut off and even day if they do not continue with their unbelief Will be grafted in for God has the power to graft them in again. For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree and grafted Contrary to nature and to a cultivated olive tree How much more will these the natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree?

Lest you be wise in your own sight. I want you to understand this mystery brothers a partial Hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in and in this way All Israel will be saved as it is written.

The deliverer will come from Zion he will banish ungodliness from Jacob and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins as Regard the gospel. They are enemies of God for your sake, but as regards election They are beloved for the sake of their forefathers for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

For just as you were at one time disobedient to God, but now have received mercy because of their Disobedience so they too now have been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you They also may now receive mercy for God has consigned all to disobedience that he may have mercy on all.

Oh The depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God how unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways for who has known the mind of the Lord or Who has been his counselor or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid.

For from him and through him and to him are all things. Do him be glory forever.

Amen.

Ethnic Pride, National Identity, and E Pluribus Unum

May the Lord had his blessings for the reading of his Holy Word. Well his ethnic pride wrong. No pride in as in yeah, I feel good about. I'm not ashamed of. I'm proud of my child's grades. Now I'm proud of my country.

I'm my people. Is that wrong? Is it wrong to feel good about your ethnicity or nation? You know, we just had the 4th of July in which we celebrate our country. You may have noticed that we didn't do that here.

We had no flag. We have no patriotic songs. That's because we're reformed. It's part of what it means to be reformed by the way. Is it okay to do that outside of church? Well Americans may be patriotic, but we had a we have a very uncomfortable time feeling proud of Our ethnic group, whatever it may be one's ethnic group because we are a nation.

That's not based on ethnicity and some other nations you can get citizenship automatically if you share their race. But in the u .s. We are supposed to be united by by ideas or by deals. Rather than by ethnicity and so the motto included in the first American seal established in 1782 had the words Latin e pluribus unum out of many one.

We were one nation created out of people from many other nations now sure. We can allow some ethnic groups to celebrate their own heritage. You know the Irish Americans have st. Patrick's Day and a lot of people were green.

Even if they're not Irish or the Italian Americans like to celebrate Columbus Day. We can have special times like now lately Juneteenth to remember the experiences of certain groups that act like African Americans we can still be one we think but allow for many of different kinds to be proud of their Uniqueness, of course some other Americans usually people in the majority.

Dislike all these ethnic identities saying, you know, you shouldn't feel proud of your ethnicity. Forget all of that. Just be playing American. Likely they don't know what it's like to be a minority. I lived in Singapore for five years where I was.

Calling it a minority is an exaggeration. I say I mean like there's hardly anyone like me at that time anyway. But I went when I was there. I wanted to be reminded of my nation, especially never like the first couple years.

I want to be reminded of who I am my people and so I celebrated July 4th and Thanksgiving even though no one around me. Was Thanksgiving MIT going to Denny's and getting a turkey sandwich. It's the best you could do.

I listened in before the Internet. I listened to the Voice of America on shortwave radio and I eat a McDonald's and KFC look forward every week to my favorite TV show at least at that time America's Funniest Home Videos is on TV there in Singapore and I so love that half-hour.

They reminded me of home. Now the majority there is the Chinese and like majorities almost everywhere. They assume that their way is the way. They don't think we do things Chinese way. They think this is just the way people do things, right?

Yeah, I once spoke with a Chinese Singaporean there who was planning on coming to America to study and I told him. You know you bite when you once you're here in America. You may want to find a Chinese church and you'll feel comfortable there and he responded.

Oh, that's not necessary I I'll feel just as comfortable with the Americans and I looked at him and didn't say anything. But I looked at him and thought oh.

You'll see. You'll see.

You'll crave the familiarity of your culture. Once you're a fish out of water you'll crave To be back. Or what with your familiar. You'll crave chopsticks and learning. Hearing Mandarin Chinese food. People taking their shoes off at the door like civilized people do familiar ways.

You don't realize I look at him and you don't realize how Chinese you really are. I Left America. Now here we see Paul deal with among other things ethnic pride. A pride He was familiar with because he shared it himself.

A good kind of ethnic pride. Now if any group of people have something to be proud of is the Jews now sure. The Americans have their Declaration of Independence and their values of Liberty and justice.

There are own, you know fighting for freedom and both war wars and the Chinese have their long history. The wisdom of Confucius and the Great Wall and inventions like gunpowder and the compass and paper and printing and many other nations have all Kinds of things they can be proud of but of all all of that No matter what any other nation can be proud of all of that pales into comparison To what Israel can be proud of what they can boast of.

They have the fact that God chose them revealed himself to their forefathers. Basically God founded them led them powerfully out of Egypt gave them the law spoke to them through prophets raised up a king David to rule for God himself.

Now, that's something you can really be proud of. They regularly pray. This is a traditional Jewish prayer. Blessed are you king of the universe?

For not.

Having made me a Gentile Paul deals with that in our place in God's people in this chapter in three parts first the remnant. Then the tree and then finally the mystery. Well first the remnant that's the leftovers.

Earlier in Romans. He's he's shown that being right with God comes through faith not through works. Not through ancestry and he said in Romans chapter 2 verse 28 for no one is a Jew who is merely one.

Outwardly and he picked that idea up again. Starting with chapter 9 where he said in verse 6 not all who are from Israel are of Israel. Now if you assume There's one very prominent Evangelical preacher today.

It says Israel always means Israel. It's just the ethnic group. That's what it always means. Well, if you assume that That that's what it always refers the word Israel always refers to the little ethnic group.

Like assuming that the law always means the law Moses. Think I'm confused. I make you going through Romans or the flesh always means the body. That sounds that statement. Not all who are from Israel are of Israel.

Sounds very strange. That wouldn't make any sense. Would it? It'd be like saying no one is Polish who is merely one outwardly what? Or or not all who are from Japan or of Japan? Sure, you are if that's your ethnicity.

That's where your parents your ancestors are from that is what you are. You inherit your ethnicity you're just born into it. Indeed the modern Israeli right of return states just that in law any person with Jewish ancestry.

That's either parent or even just a grandparent who is Jewish. It's considered Jewish and therefore has a right by law to immigrate to Israel. So if you have any Jewish ancestry for any grandparent, you can just show up at Israel say I'm a citizen I'm let me move in the modern Israeli law says that one is a Jew.

Who is merely one outwardly all who are from Israel according to them are of Israel. Well, the inspired Apostle Paul says no being one of God's people. That's who the true Israel is. Who inherit the promises given to Abraham does not depend on being literally born from Abraham.

You don't have to have any descended from Abraham among your grandparents or anywhere in your ancestry. Your physical ethnicity does not make you one of God's people. What matters is Safe now if that's the case then to begin chapter 11 has God rejected his people.

I mean the Israelites. He answers again emphatically. Absolutely, not some our Jews some some some of those from Israel are indeed of Israel as Paul shows in four proofs. First the personal in verse one.

Look at me. I Myself I'm an Israelite a descendant of Abraham, but God has saved me. I am one believer out of the many. Most of whom are not believers. Well second the theological in verse 2 God has not rejected his people whom he for knew.

Now this should immediately remind us of the last time that Paul used the term the word For no when he spoke of God for knowing and Romans chapter 8 verse 29 for those whom he foreknew Whom he decided beforehand to have a relationship with those he Predestined he called he justified and glorified.

They are God's elect whom no one can condemn it is as good as done. And so here has God rejected every literal Israelite every ethnic Jew. No, there's me and there's still others from among them whom he has foreknown the elect.

Third the biblical some think the Old Testament is just for Israel just for the little Jews but even the Old Testament shows us that not all who are from Israel are really of Israel are really God's people in verse 2 and in Elijah's time.

Most of Israel was persecuting God's true people. The true Israel was killing them. They were killing the prophets. They were demolishing God's altars and Elijah at least he felt so alone That he thought he was the only one left of God's true people, but the Lord said that he's kept for himself 7 ,000 men.

Those were the fateful few that was the remnant that faithful few the remnant was the true Israel. Fourth. The partial in verse 5 just as a lot in Elijah's day. So to Paul says so to at the present time right now.

There is a remnant. So that principle still continues that there's a small number of faithful few left. The question is has God rejected his people? No, there is a part of Israel who are really his people who are the true Israel.

They are not rejected, but it's only partial. He's kept a remnant in Israel and then and now who are his people and they are chosen by grace in verse 6. He reminds us what grace is if it's by grace. It's not by works.

Grace has to be by itself. It's unearned or it's not grace. Verse 6 that's kind of important point because some people have been teaching the past 2 ,000 years. This sure salvation is by grace. But you got to do stuff to get the grace and we the church we have the stuff you got to do to get the grace.

So you better be good to us or we won't give you the stuff to get the grace and it works like that. So it's a payout so you can get grace. Well, that's not grace if you have to do stuff to get it understand so God has not rejected all of Israel.

Paul's own ethnic group that he feels rightly proud of that. He has sympathy and love for but they are not contrary to what they think and are so wrongly proud of. Right with God simply because they are Israelites now sure.

Some of them are saying that's the remnant but it's not because they are Israelites. It's only because of God's grace. So then in verse 7 Echoing back to this question in chapter 9 verse 30. Which is really has been dealing with from chapter into chapter 9 all the way through chapter 10 and now into chapter 11.

You know Israel was seeking to be right with God, but they haven't gotten it. They haven't gotten righteousness why and these Gentiles were not seeking it and they did get it. Why now sure a few within Israel the remnant the elect they got it.

But the rest the rest of Israel were hardened. The reason the majority of the Israelites did not accept that Jesus was the Messiah was because in verse 8.

God.

Notice he's in charge. He's still the Potter making vessels for honorable or dishonorable use. God gave them a Spirit of stupor like they were asleep unable to see and understand. God gave them eyes that they would not see and ears that they would not hear down to this very day.

Paul wrote this about 55 ad is still just as true today in 2022 and then. Condemnation that the sentence against them that they would be trapped they would stumble they are blinded. They're enslaved for those who don't believe but there is it still a remnant out of Israel that God has God is calling.

The Olive Tree, Gentile Inclusion, and the Severity and Kindness of God

Some of them next second. We see the tree and all of tree in verses 11 to 24. He has said that Israel most of the Jews have stumbled at the Word of Christ. Remember the faith comes by hearing hearing about the Word of Christ.

They've most of these Israelites have stumbled over it that this preaching that being right with God is through believing in Jesus that it's offensive to them. And so they reject the message and so at verse 11 have they completely fallen no more to be considered.

They're just done with it's over for them. Again, he says absolutely not but because they didn't accept Jesus the Word of Christ has gone out. To the non Jews. Like a course of water hits an obstacle where it can't go.

It's channeled in a different direction and here is channeled away from the Jews to other people. So God used the sin of Israel their hardening to bring salvation to those in other ethnic groups to people like us.

You see for most of the early Christians. This was a total surprise. It's it for us. We're talking back on this. Why are you so Paul? Why are you so he's almost like he's belaboring the point to us and we're thinking why are you so?

Surprised by this like it's new to you. Well to them. It was surprising. It was shocking. They expected the Jews to happily accept the news that Jesus was the Messiah. That he died for their sins and he rose again that he's their king and to accept that and to believe in him but time after time.

Even though a few Jews would believe like Paul, of course Paul was called by Jesus himself. That's what it took to get through to him. You know that Damascus Road appointment, but a few Jews would believe sure that most rejected the Word of Christ.

And so Christians then took the word they're getting a hard time from from the Jews. They take the word out to the non-jews to the Greeks and the Romans the Arabs the Egyptians the Ethiopians. You know, whoever else was around and many of them accepted it.

If it had not been for the rejection of the gospel by the Jews, you know, if you're getting a good Response from them you just stick with them. But they weren't getting the other response that hadn't happened.

They may never have considered taking the gospel to those other people and so God used the rough reception that the early Jew the early Christians got in synagogues from Jewish officials to steer them out To the world to people like our ancestors because it was from them.

Understand he is a people in all kinds of people and he's sending out messages to get his people spread all in all kinds of nations and so he says in verse 12 their Trespass that the Israelites the Jews trespass the sin of the Jews and rejecting the gospel has meant.

Riches.

For the world that is for the non-jewish people. Because we are getting the gospel as a result of Them rejecting the gospel. And so he says if we're getting if we're getting rich by their failure. How much better will be for us and for them if one day they stop resisting not as I will take it from us.

You know the juice. The juice start responding. He's gonna we'll give up on any of these people. No, not as I will stop it. It'll be better for all of us. How much better will it be if they stop resisting if they accept Jesus as the Messiah.

It's an exclamation in verse 12 knows that verse 12. How much more how much greater will it be? It's good now for us if it's riches now for us. How much better will it be for us when the Jews are included?

When they get there literally it says fullness. They get their fullness. How much better? How much greater will that be? And so even though Paul is is he says here the Apostle to the Gentiles in verse 13.

So that's his that's his calling from God to take it to the Gentiles, but still he cares for his own people. He has the good kind of ethnic pride. He wants to see his people saved too. And so he he magnifies that is he makes much of Magnifying glasses make something appear bigger.

He makes his ministry appear bigger in hopes that if the Jews see non-jews people like you and me coming To God coming to the Lord enjoying the blessings of God the benefits of the Covenant. They thought were just for them and now they see these other people these these formerly pagan people getting it.

Well, then They'll get jealous and more of them will be saved. We'll come to the Lord. So maybe this is right. Maybe this is true if they see it lived out by these non-jewish people because in verse 15 for all those because because of their rejection of the gospel means reconciliation of the world.

Their rejection means reconciliation of the world now world here doesn't mean all people everywhere. It means people from all kinds of different nations doesn't mean all people it means all peoples. You know what?

I mean all kinds every ethnic group not every individual. People from all kinds of different nations out of every ethnic group are now being put in a good relationship with God. They're being reconciled now formerly pagan people most of our ancestors for pagan people non-jewish Sinful people if they're now being reconciled with God, they're coming into a good relationship with God.

What then will it mean when the fullness the full number of Jews they to finally accept Jesus as the Messiah. Well that he says, ah, that'll be a glorious day. That'll be like the resurrection. Like life from the dead probably implied that it will come closer to that time of the resurrection.

There is still a he's called it a full number of them waiting to be brought in. I was gone as a quota. Although it's not Particular individuals. It's not just anyone can come once you get to a certain number.

He is he has certain people he is called and in the meantime we should not use the rejection their their rejection of the gospel as an excuse to reject them and To treat them like animals like some people have even though only some of them are truly Holy but selected by God like a pinch of dough in verse 16 offered as a sacrifice.

He's talking here about the Israelite the sacrifices in the Old Testament a pinch of dough. If you're gonna offer it is a sacrifice and the whole lump needs to that it comes from needs to be holy. He's be set aside and special if the root like Abraham and David is holy.

So are the branches. It means that God will still draw people from them out of them and many other ethnic groups. God is making one people and that's pictured here is it is a tree an olive tree in verse 17.

And that's kind of important is that there's one tree. Notice there's one tree for 17 not trees. It's not not a he's not planning a grove. He has one tree Representing the people of God, so there's not different trees.

There's not one Jewish tree and a non Jewish tree. It's only not a white believers tree and a black believers tree and a Chinese believers tree. No, there's this one tree May have different branches. But they're all attached to the same trunk and the same roots get the same sap.

Now some of the natural branches were broken off natural. There's an interesting word natural branches that's the branches that that thought they deserve to be part of the trees that were originally part that were were Cultivated as part of that tree that it's in their nature they think and just because they were born into the right ethnic group and so they were proud of their attachment to the tree but.

And they were in they were indeed over history over time cultivated to be Part of that tree. That's where they're from. But the problem is they thought it was there just by birthright. They kind of deserved it just by being born into it, but they are cut off now and others from other cultures from from other trees wild trees.

You know not cultivated not influenced by the Word of God. They are grafted into this one tree that is now formally pagan peoples. Like from us and we still probably have more pagan influence than we were of it's why we need to be transformed.

We'll get into chapter 12. Now. He's formally pagan peoples from all kinds of other ethnic groups like from Americans or Europeans Africans. Chinese are being attached to this tree and now they're Absorbing the nourishment of the sap and so out of many is being made one lively.

It's diverse many different kinds of branches, but united tree now. Why were the old the natural branches cut off? Because is it because God doesn't like Jews anymore. Like the anti-semites and Nazis and other people like them think no that is the arrogance Toward the natural branches that Paul tells us not to have in verse 18.

Don't do that. Don't be anti-semitic. Look don't look down on them as though that they are inferior. They're despicable. Don't do that. Don't do that for three reasons. He says here first consider the root of our faith.

That it is.

Abraham and David and the rest of the Old Testament. It's the promises to them That saved us. The promises that saved us come from them and so now we are attached to them. So remember it's one tree and that tree you want to give it a name.

It's called Israel and. So now if we're part of the tree we are part of.

Israel.

So their history is our history. That's why a lot of time in churches. We spend a lot of time learning the history of Israel because now it's our history. And you're gonna be anti-semitic. Make any sense does it.

Because now you're part of that tree. The second that we stand by grace. Which is the greatest antidote to pride? And third consider God's character its kindness and Sternness his gentleness and Severity.

Realize that if God cut off from his people. Those who were raised in believing the covenant promises pursuing righteousness by keeping the law, you know raised in the law. If he cut them off. How much more easily Can he cut you off?

And so he says in verse 30 stand in all. Verse 20 stand in all. So why have the old natural branches been cut off. Because he says in verse 20 Unbelief. They didn't believe God. Because they believed in themselves and that's what pride is.

Definition of pride belief in yourself. And they particularly had ethnic pride. They didn't understand that they needed grace to stand before God. They didn't understand the God they were dealing with that.

He was both kind and stern both merciful and.

Severe.

Now people today they like only to think about part of Who God is? They like to think about the kindness and the mercy and the grace positive and encouraging. So because of that They stay arrogant. They're trusting in their morality or their religion or their ethnic heritages what they're born into to make them right with God.

But here we're told to consider.

Think about.

Not only the kindness Everyone loves to think about that now the kindness of God, but think about also meditate on his severity. That he's severe. Toward those who reject him who don't believe who arrogantly assume that they have God taken care of.

Because they think well, I'm not so bad God's gonna be good to me. He's merciful and I'm not horrible. So that'll they'll solve it that they belong they think they just deserve to belong to his olive tree.

They they were after all they're born into a Christian nation order Christian family. They won't consider of the severity of God and so they won't Stand in awe of him. So they're liable to be cut off by him.

Faith attaches us to the one tree now. We lose it. We lose that faith. We will be Cut off and if Israel will but stop unbelieving They will be grafted back in again. All they have to do is believe now be even easier for them to do.

So it should be the easiest for the Jews to do so because their whole culture has been shaped by the Word of God. You're for thousands of years Longer than ours have been shaped by the laws and the Proverbs and the prophets and so they are they are we calls natural Branches and was being cultivated in God's culture and all God has to do then Is to soften their heart?

Open their eyes.

Wake them up from their spiritual stupor and They will believe. It will be easier for them to do so than for us. You know with our barbaric culture gladiatorial games and Child sacrifice all that kind of stuff.

It's still part of our culture. It's just our culture. There's some naturally hostile naturally greedy.

Individualistic or.

Culture where family is everything and we even worship our ancestors, you know, that kind of culture is is hard. To break through that's unnatural to come to God. Well, there's one tree into which branches are cut off and grafted in.

If the branches get proud and they think that they have a right to be part of the tree the severe God Breaks them off and then the kind God acting out of nothing but grace takes other branches wild and uncultivated pagan worshiping their ancestors chasing after money and connects them to the tree and Suddenly they change so there's a remnant a chosen people within the natural Peoples chosen by grace.

There is a tree one tree made up of many branches from other trees. And finally there is a.

The Mystery of All Israel and the Fullness of the Gentiles

Mystery.

Third.

The mystery. Now this wasn't what Israel expected. Israel expected that a Messiah would come who would lead them in triumph over all their earthly enemies. He would give them a kingdom, you know, give it to them to Israelites simply because it was theirs by right.

Inherited by birth by ethnicity. They're just born into it. They prayed blessed. Are you for not making me a Gentile? They weren't expected to be told that. They had to believe to be one of God's people.

They had to be born again. They thought being born the first time was good enough if you're born in the right nation. And they didn't expect that God would had a people made out of many and to which he is making one.

That was the mystery hidden under the surface in the Old Testament. Now in the New Testament you go back and see hints of it all over the place in the Old Testament. It's a mystery there. It's not fully revealed, but it's there now.

It's fully out in the open in the New Testament they certainly weren't expecting that they could be cut off and the same thing could happen to us if we're conceited if we allow our ethnic pride or our pride in our own works and our Religion our morality to delude us into thinking that we have God taking care of they will he just must be on our side.

He's our God we inherited them after all. Besides e pluribus unum we put in God we trust in our money. Isn't he impressed with that even if in reality were actually trusting in our money. We can be conceited if we forget.

The mystery.

Understand the mystery starting in verse 25 to the end of the chapter the mystery a Partial hardening has come upon Israel. It's partial because still from the beginning of the gospel until now some Jews indeed are being saved coming to believe in Jesus but not many this partial hardening is.

Until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. So God is taking people from Gentile nations and when that's done. Well, there's implication. The hardening will be over. Well that word until may imply that a full number of non-jewish people will come into the people of God they will be saved to be part of the olive tree and then Israel will no more be hardened and then there will be a great revival among the Jews and many of them will accept Jesus as the Messiah.

That's kind of implied into that. Maybe it's not clearly stated. So if you don't believe that whenever it's not clearly stated. But we can hope so what it clearly Says is that now Israel is partially hardened while the Lord brings in people from all kinds of other ethnic groups.

People people like us from the beginning of the church. The gospel has been spreading. Now not evenly not like epicenter in Jerusalem and it's kind of goes out evenly in all directions that hasn't had it happen that way.

Sometimes it's been resisted by some nations. Some nations hard to crack in our day probably the Buddhist nations are hardest like Nepal. What Bhutan places like that Thailand some of the hardest to the gospel now?

But it's sometimes the Lord does something on a national scale and then turns the hearts of a nation to himself. First the gospel went southwest to Ethiopia then Northwest to Turkey and degrees to the wrong north to Armenia.

Armenia was the first nation to officially make Christianity its its its religion then into Europe. Through Europe it spread to America and now it has been spreading both West across the Pacific to the far west.

That's where East Asia is is actually in the far west and South both Africa and in South America Christianity has quadrupled in size. Over the last century some scoffers in America and Europe like that.

What Christianity is dying. No, it's not. It's been exploding over the last century. While it appears that perhaps now Europe has been hardened and cut off having become presumptuous and proud. Thinking that they are Civilization, this is whole series about European art culture.

It's called civilization is all their civilization.

That's just pride.

And so they get cut off you get proud you get cut off and now Europe has some of the highest percentages of belief In atheism, but let's not be proud. Well, that's those Europeans not us. We're much more faithful in America.

No, the same thing could happen here. It may have already begun. The part of the country that used to be the first Bible Belt. You know where the Bible Belt began began in New England settled by fiery Puritans.

And now that is the least Christian only 3 of New Englanders go to an evangelical church. I was founded to be a home for evangelical churches and now only 3 of the people there go and actually spread to the south.