Restoration Ministries International

May 13, 2025

“Save yourselves from this crooked generation” (Acts 2:40).

Dear Friends in Christ Jesus our Lord,

The title to this email was Peter’s exhortation to the crowd at Pentecost, and his warning can be said about every generation since the sin of Adam and Eve. As a result of their sin, all of us were born with a sin nature that entices us to have attitudes and actions which are contrary to our Lord’s commands. Only the authority His Word and the empowerment of the indwelling Holy Spirit can help us resist giving way to evil. So we say to you, “Save yourselves from this perverse generation!” Extensive studies of Christianity in the US reveal that few Christians are even aware of what God's Word considers to be sin. Nor do they have any desire to resist it. That's why the genuinely born again need to be cautious about who they call a “brother “or “sister” in the Lord.

 

Both the human sin nature and the pervasive influence of ME-centered Humanism within Christendom blind many to their own sinfulness. But if you're genuine, don't let yourself give way to either of these factors. You need to clearly distinguish people who are genuine and those who embrace nominal Christianity. The genuinely born again are sent forth by our Lord Jesus under the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit as His redemptive ambassadors to the world. The unity which the Holy Spirit provides enables us to mutually cooperate on our Lord’s behalf, as pictured on the left.

 

In sharp contrast, though, a nominal Christian may want to reach toward our Lord but is mired down by religious obstacles like creedal positions and mandatory rituals and endless Bible instruction without application.

 

Please click on the title of our latest Abide, For The Genuine, It’s The “The Way” We Live. In this Abide we discuss certain relational processes by which the genuine mutually cooperate in developing Christ’s character and in being used by the Holy Spirit through the spiritual gifts He’s apportioned. But this biblical way of life is so rare! Many Christians just walk away from other Christians if there's a problem between them. They don't want to address situations that are blocking relational closeness, so they "shoot their wounded” through slander or avoidance. But learning how to develop authentic relationships in a society which is grounded on the superficial is the reason we produced our booklet some 25 years ago, Growing Relationships Through Confrontation. During our retreat center ministry we observed how few Christians knew how to work through controversy, even though the Bible is filled with guidance.

 

Paul encapsulates an ongoing relational way of life for the genuine when he writes, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Only let us walk by what we have attained” (Philippians 3:14-16).

 

In 1986 we first began to distribute copies of Carle Zimmerman’s insightful book, Family and Civilization, to pastors and to some people who came on retreats. After they read it there was unanimous consensus even then that the United States had already entered the final stage of societal downfall — the Atomistic Stage. Many of us began to seek ways in which we who follow Jesus as our Lord and Savior could be “salt” and “light” no matter what took place in our nation. We were naive. Not only was the Atomistic Stage already well-entrenched in society, but within Christendom as well. And it’s only gotten worse. (To understand what this means, please read Appendix B (page 36) in our article, Hebraic Home Fellowships Must Produce Godly Generations.

 

While many within Christendom believe that our Father isn’t judging the US, we'd be lying to ourselves in light of the revelations the Holy Spirit has been giving us for the past 3 decades. Yet ask yourself if what happens in the US matters more to you than the many deceived souls who are comfortable in nominal Christianity. What will it take to shake the complacent so they'll seek Jesus as their Lord heart and soul? This is a burden the genuine must have for those in their own relational sphere. But first clarify for yourself from the Scriptures with the guidance of the Holy Spirit what the characteristics are of the genuinely born again. Ponder this: who are the nominal and what is their eternal destination? When you've answered these questions, then seek the Spirit for how He would have you act accordingly.

Mike & Sue