The Barna Group, a Christian polling firm, recently reported that nearly half of Millenials believe sharing your faith, with the hope of convincing someone to convert to your faith, is wrong.
Many Christians I know have responded with disbelief. Others have made excuses, saying those must be “big city” survey results, that don’t apply in areas like the “Christian south.”
Believe it. And, no, it’s not regional, it’s pretty universal, nationwide. So, while other people debate the “what ifs,” I’d like to address the “why.”
This specific rejection of Christian evangelism is – in large part – the result of the intermingling of politics with Christianity, and the “ends justify the means / win at all costs” mentality many “Christians” have taken in their quest for power over the past 30-40 years.
Many Christian leaders, churches, and organizations have become more concerned with winning elections and gathering political power than with winning souls and gathering the resources of the church to help the hurting. Sadly, I was involved in that movement for nearly two decades and personally did a lot of damage to the Gospel while “fighting the culture war.” I’ve asked God to forgive me for that and believe that he has.
But we’ve still got a LOT of organizations – that call themselves Christian – that are little more than country clubs for people who share the same political bent. (And at least as many that are just offering weekly group therapy sessions to a self-improvement cult masquerading as “the church.”)
Many people who call themselves Christians have forgotten the words of the classic hymn:
“My hope is built on NOTHING less, than Jesus blood and righteousness … all other ground is sinking sand, ALL other ground is sinking sand.”
We have ONE hope to make this country and the world that surrounds it any better, and that is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Not any political party.
Not any supreme Court case.
Certainly not any politician.
Absolutely NOTHING that is focused on American politics or government will have any bearing on ANYONE’S eternity. Make a list of everything you believe needs to happen politically and culturally to “save America.” None of it will result in one soul being saved.
Not one.
If we don’t turn our focus to sharing the Gospel and using the VAST resources of the church to meet the needs of hurting people (yes, even if they abuse us or misuse our help) we’re going to have a lot to answer for on judgment day and a greatly reduced chance of hearing, “well done my good and faithful servant” when we die.
I’ve worked for Focus on the Family, American Family Radio, Salem Communications, and several smaller para-church ministries. I genuinely tried to fulfill the calling I believe God has placed on my life. Despite all that – or maybe because of it – I have a recurring nightmare. Not a dream, a full-on nightmare.
This is not something I share lightly, both because it’s deeply personal and personally humiliating. But I think it’s time to put this out there. Here’s how it goes, every time:
I die, arrive at the gate of Heaven, and am allowed to enter. As I‘m walking toward where I’ve been directed to find Jesus, I notice a bank of video monitors to my left playing scenes from MY life. I recognize many of them, but some are unfamiliar.
I get to Jesus, drop to my knees and lay the few crowns I’ve been given at His feet. He places his hand on my shoulder and pulls me up. My heart swells with anticipation of hearing those words we all long to hear. He pulls me close, motions toward those video monitors, and says …
“Come over here and let me show you what you could have accomplished for me, if you’d just done things my way.”
That’s where I wake up in a cold sweat every time. That’s where the nightmare ends … for now.
My greatest fear is not anything that could happen to me in this life. God has protected me from so much, and brought me through so much more. I have ZERO reason to not trust him with my future here on Earth.
My greatest fear is not that I will somehow miss heaven when I die. As much as anyone can know anything, I know that I have put my faith solely and completely in Christ, and that – because I’ve chosen to put my faith in Him – he will keep His word and apply the work HE did to pay for my sins. I have ZERO reason to not trust him with my eternity in Heaven.
My greatest fear is that the nightmare I described above isn’t just a nightmare … it’s an actual glimpse into my future.
Now what?