Are you a true believer or are you on autopilot? Astounding number of churchgoers are no more faithful than atheists

'America is the number one distributor of the gospel...And the number one distributor of pornography.' Image Caption: Are you on autopilot?

There is an ongoing epidemic in churches across the United States - Too many parishioners are zombies hiding among the faithful.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The bottom line is many in the Church are sleeping.

Most argue the Church does amazing things - and it does - but how much more could it do if its people were truly engaged?

An alarming article published on the Christian Post, listed nine horrifying truths:

• America is the number one distributor of the gospel. And the number one distributor of pornography. The largest group of viewers are said to be kids between the ages of 12 and 17. Parents, "Wake up." This is happening under our watch.
• America has set millions of people free but has destroyed millions of babies.
• In America, the Bible is the best selling book of all time, yet sexual perversion is an epidemic.
• In America, healthy marriages built this country, but divorce and selfishness are killing it.
• We read our Bibles, yet degrade and dishonor our spouses.
• We quote the Bible, but don't obey it.
• We're quick to point out the flaws in others, but not our own.
• We go to church smiling, but anger dominates our home.
• We hate self-righteous people, but rarely look in the mirror.

The United States has so much potential and the sleeping Church isn't living up to it - but what can we do?

We need to wake up.

The saying, "Not everyone who goes to church is a Christian" should resonate with those sitting in pews with their minds on other things.

Never assume because we attend Mass, read Catholic articles and quote Bible verses we are saved.

If we aren't engaged and if we don't live the life we preach, we are asleep in the Spirit.

The Lord knows life can be complicated at times, which is why he asks for a fraction of our time each week. He wants us to join together with one another and praise Him. He wants us to love one another and he wants us to help the needy.

While we're at church, we aren't supposed to be playing on our phones, whispering to one another about lunch plans or mentally planning the rest of our day - we're meant to listen and absorb the message at Mass.

We've been called to better ourselves in a never-ending process of engagement with the Lord but how many of us really talk to Him outside Mass? Or at all?

The more often we encounter Christ, the more we become like Him.

It's time to open our eyes and see what God has carefully and masterfully created for our lives as individuals.

We have all been called to live as examples to others. This doesn't mean we should attend Mass and feed the hungry only to turn around to gossip and engage in sinful behavior behind closed doors.

We need to stop being hypocrites and start following Christ's example.

It's time for the body to open its eyes and take action. It's time for people who claim to be faithful to actually be faithful.

A sleeping church helps no one.

We need to work on our relationships with friends, family and spouses. We need to honor one another and stop being selfish.

The only way to wake ourselves from this comatose lifestyle is to repent. Ask the Lord for forgiveness, go to confession, then change.

But where to start?

Simply attending Mass and paying attention can make a huge difference. Take the message to heart and take notes to ponder later. Ask a member of the clergy for clarification or discuss the message over a  meal with friends and family.

Think twice before saying something negative and ask yourself if you are following the Word of God.

Pray often - whether you're driving to work, taking a shower or doing chores, there's always time for prayer.

Join a Bible study, take a few minutes of silent time for prayer, engage your family in activities such as feeding the hungry, worshiping together, discussing your favorite Bible stories or go alone to attend an extra Mass each week.

An easy way to hold ourselves accountable is to surround ourselves with friends and family to encourage us to stay on the path of righteousness. We can renew our relationship with Christ and apply the Word of God to our lives.

If you're not sure what else to do, ask your priest for help.

Imagine how we could change our homes, our cities, our nation if we woke from our slumber and decide to follow the Gospel.

Galatians 5:13-14 warns us we were not freed from sin only to return to it; we were freed to "be servants to one another in love..." We must love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

We can't remain blind to the Gospel and still please God. We need to eat the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal. 5:22).

The devil tells us to do as we please, after all we only live once, right?

Wrong.

The lies of the devil tell us to live as we like but the Bible tells us in Acts 2:38  we must repent "and every one of you must be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

Are you ready to wake up? Christ is waiting patiently for you to turn to Him and His arms are wide open.

Snuggle up to our Heavenly Father and let His Grace wash over you. Bathe in his loving mercies and let Him guide you to the path of righteousness, blessings and virtue. Wake up and come to life.

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