Confused yet? I have preached the last few weeks on secularism and the response we should have to it. And it may sound like I think America has become a heathen nation overnight. Well the good news is that most polls still show that a majority of Americans claim a belief in God, and generally God as presented by Christianity. So, no we have not become a godless society, but the reality is that in practice our nation isn’t living out Christian morals as much as we once were. And the bad news is this is reflected as much within the church as within society as a whole. Christians may claim to have a faith, but too often aren’t living it. When we see a person preaching one thing and living another we aren’t very impressed by them or their message.
Another bad side to the good news that most people still profess some belief in God is that anyone who has been involved in a calling program knows those are the hardest to reach. Common sense tells us that if a person was once active in church it shouldn’t be that hard to interest them again, after all they just got out of the habit. The reality is that this group is often the most resistant to efforts to get them back into church. They’ve already done that. They’ve already made a decision for Christ and therefore they don’t really need it. Others who would seem to be the worst candidate for evangelism are often more receptive and open to the gospel message. Jesus himself found this to be true. America is one of the hardest mission fields in the world due to apathy.
The good news in all of this is that God has placed before us a great opportunity. He has given us an open door if we are willing to walk through it. The opportunity isn’t for bigger churches or newer programs. It is simply for us to live our faith, and in doing so find the opportunities God gives us to share him with others. America will not be won back to God through legislation; the government can’t and shouldn’t do this. America will come back to God as Christians come back to a real and living faith in him.
Don
Another bad side to the good news that most people still profess some belief in God is that anyone who has been involved in a calling program knows those are the hardest to reach. Common sense tells us that if a person was once active in church it shouldn’t be that hard to interest them again, after all they just got out of the habit. The reality is that this group is often the most resistant to efforts to get them back into church. They’ve already done that. They’ve already made a decision for Christ and therefore they don’t really need it. Others who would seem to be the worst candidate for evangelism are often more receptive and open to the gospel message. Jesus himself found this to be true. America is one of the hardest mission fields in the world due to apathy.
The good news in all of this is that God has placed before us a great opportunity. He has given us an open door if we are willing to walk through it. The opportunity isn’t for bigger churches or newer programs. It is simply for us to live our faith, and in doing so find the opportunities God gives us to share him with others. America will not be won back to God through legislation; the government can’t and shouldn’t do this. America will come back to God as Christians come back to a real and living faith in him.
Don
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