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A PASTORAL
PERSPECTIVE... The population of North America is 336 million. Those who know the Lord and have a personal relationship with Him: 1 out of 4, or 84 million. Of those 84 million, many have considerable holes in the understanding of the basics of the Christian faith. They may be saved, but they are woefully ignorant of the essential teachings of the Gospel and what it means to be born again. Only one third of Americans embrace the fact that Jesus never sinned (how can a sinner save sinners?). Only 50% of evangelical Christians in America believe that the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity (and not just a "force"), and just 38% of Christians realize that they have a real enemy in Satan. To them, the Devil is a myth or a symbol, but not the fallen angel having come down with great wrath that the Bible says he is. Given these statistics, it's no wonder that many believers today see no point in church. Only 46% of Americans say they have either "a great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in organized religion. In 1975, that figure was 68%. Worse, 32% believe that organized religion has "too much power." Given the way that society and the media are bashing evangelical Christianity and trying to shut every door of influence in society in the face of the Church, that's an astounding number! We've got our work cut out for us. The Great Commission is still job #1 for the Church. Jesus has no other missions strategy, no other missions force, than His faithful followers in the Church. We are to "go and tell." It's that simple. If we do, He promises to bless us with His Spirit, His power, and His fruit. There will be a harvest--but we must sow the seed of the Gospel. No one can do it for us. No one can do it for you. God has those He wants to lay on your heart to share the Gospel with, and nobody can do that in your place. It's your field. The Lord put you there to work it. His blessing awaits your faithful fulfillment of your calling to "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matt 28:19-20 NKJV) He is with us; the fields are "white unto harvest"; what are
we waiting for? See you Sunday!
christ is the victory that overcomes the world!
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