You Almost Had Us, Didn’t You?
George Shamblin2025-05-21T19:32:17+00:00

To the ancient enemy of our souls—the evil one—and the culture you’ve duped far too long with all your nastiness and naysaying:
“You weren’t ready for this, were you?
For decades, you fed us the lie that our faith, traditionally referred to as The Way, was fading. That the Church was dying. That God was aged and outdated in the new age of information. That the next generation would abandon faith altogether. You missed the mark now, as bad as you did post-Enlightenment.
You tried playing the long game, didn’t you, by infiltrating our classrooms, streaming platforms, academic departments, and worst of all, our pulpits. You baited the faithful into downgrading the message, branding it as too harsh, too rigid, not inclusive. You rewrote what the Biblical narrative meant, negated its implications for godly living, and relabeled truth as “I respect your opinion, but my truth is my truth, and yours is yours.”
You silenced absolutes, elevated doubt, and got people to celebrate twisted distortions, no arena more so than modernity’s sex “ethic.” And for a while, you almost had us, didn’t you?
But God.
These are two of the most powerful words on earth when coupled together.
Did the tide’s turn and wind’s change somehow escape your notice? Did you miss how God is redirecting them both through the fresh wind of His Spirit and word?
We’re thrilled to see studies and statistics like the most recent ones from Barna (April 2025). You know the one—when asked if they have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, 66% of 18–24-year-olds answered yes. Men—especially younger men—are now more likely to be Jesus followers than younger women. For example, commitment to Jesus jumped 15 percentage points among Gen Z men between 2019 and 2025. Millennial men saw a similar spike of 19 percentage points.
You fool, can you imagine?
That number was 54% not long ago, in 2021. That’s a twelve-point jump in a generation we were told was spiritually numb. You weren’t expecting our kids to wake up and look up like this, were you? You targeted them, tried to hollow them out with confusion, isolation, pornography, and addiction. But now? They’re coming alive.
It’s happening because the truth is cranking up louder. The emptiness is catching up. The lies aren’t working like they used to. The masses are tired of vague spirituality and directionless living. They’re looking for something real. They’re looking for Jesus. He is alive. Similar to the pivotal turning point in C. S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe- Aslan is on the move!

So here’s what to expect going forward:
- Gone are the days of tiptoeing around the truth, worried we might offend. We’re done whispering about our faith and couching Scripture in disclaimers. We will state His name, publicly, unapologetically, and often.
They commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, make your own judgment; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” – Acts 4:18-20
- We’re reclaiming joy. This revival isn’t angry. It’s not bitter. Above all, it’s winsome, making it nearly impossible for you to entice seekers to whisk it away.
You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. – Psalm 16:11
- Sure, our frontline is less refined, but heavier on grit and fight. What about the language? Is it coarser and unpolished? Yes, but unquestionably earnest; from the heart. Do they outwardly appear different from the faithful in times past? Sure, but you’re wise enough to know it’s what’s within that our Lord sees most.
I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the results of his deeds. – Jeremiah 17:10
- Our future is delightful, although you thought the Church’s best days were behind her. That the young would trade the cross for a worthwhile cause. But you misread the moment. These sons and daughters are less filtered, but more faithful. Less polished, but more prepared. The bride of Christ isn’t dying—it’s just now remembering who it is.
To the enemy losing ground—ha! You know it, and we know it too. But best of all, we’re just getting started.
“And to think you almost had us, you really did.”
For those who have ears to hear, let them hear.
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