“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 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.” Amen.” (Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV)
I have no story today, just some facts to start us thinking about our assignment as Christians and actually moving beyond thinking and going further, to the point that we are moved to act in a way to grow the kingdom.
Fact: A relatively new Pew Research Center demographic analysis reveals that Christians remained the largest religious group in the world, making up nearly a third (31%) of Earth’s 7.3 billion people. Being the largest is great, but that does not put us in the majority. Fact: According to my math, when you look at 31% who are Christians, versus the 69% that are not Christians, we are in the minority; smaller than the conglomeration of people who are not Christians.
So, considering these facts, it is apparent that we face two diametrically opposed viewpoints: Christians can be seen as the largest or they can be seen as the smallest. Please note with the younger generations being allowed, yes permitted, sanctioned, or given permission by the lack of an insistence in the home to drift away from the church and the faith; with that occurring the percentage of Christians is in jeopardy of declining. That does not seem to match the fact that we are to be kingdom builders in obedience to the Great Commission. Where is the zeal for growing Christ church that is evident in the early church? What happened to adults holding each other accountable to make sure our children are brought up in the fear and admonition of the Lord? When did the church become pigeonholed in a classification where personal convenience pre-empts the necessity to adhere to our priority of being His witnesses?
That’s something to think about, for sure. And, it is something to react to in actions to find ourselves in obedience to the command to go ye therefore and make disciples. An old Christian hymn included these words: “You bring the one next to you and I’ll bring the one next to me. In no time at all, we will win them all. So win them, win them, one by one.”
Samuel Jackson asks in the closing of a certain credit card commercial, “What’s in your wallet?” I’ll ask you a short question too in the closing of this meditation, “What’s in your mind to increase, not maintain our percentage?” I pray you will be moved to win one; someone who is lost, stolen, or who has strayed. Be bold! Be blessed!
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9 NIV)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King