RECENT media reports say public interest in religion is declining, but this is not a new issue?

From the outset, as reported in Acts, Paul preaches about Jesus,"From out the law of Moses and the Prophets", but, "Some believed and some did not."

Jesus used Moses to bolster his claims saying, "If they hear not Moses and the Prophets they will not be persuaded even though one rose from the dead."

Jesus further chided his his audience saying,"Had ye believed Moses ye would believe in me for he wrote of me but if ye believe not his writings how shall ye believe my word."

As we hear today's religious leaders preach the Old and the New Testament we might understand the problem, "Some believed and some did not."

For some Bible scholars religion at roots is a call to lead a good and honest life.

In his call William Law argued that the religion of the gospel is only the refinement and exhortation of our best faculties requiring the highest reason.

Christ states that God is a Spirit and God must be worshipped in spirit and righteousness whilst John said God is love, God is Light.

Long before Christ's time Leviticus made the overarching call to love my neighbours as myself. And Deuteronomy to love the stranger in giving him food and raiment.

Paradoxically there is a great deal of cruelty and violence or threat of same, associated with God in the bible.

Jesus also says, "If a man abides not in me he is cast forth as a branch and is withered and men gather them and they are cast into the fire and they are burned." In the Bible Paul says, "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God." According to Hebrews faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

These days not everyone can understand an everlasting omnipotent God, nor understand the Bible's 'Sure and certain hope' and far less accept the Bible's judgements of overlasting damnation and torment and just as 'some believed and some did not', here is the great challenge for those Paul designated 'subordinates' of Christ and 'stewards ' of the secrets of God?

ANDY WILSON,

Kelty.