Statistics can be an interesting and often useful tool. One statistic I came across says that about eighty percent of the United States claims Christianity as their religion of choice. I suppose this statistic includes all who come from a family who at some point and time in their past attended church. It’s like when one knows he isn’t something else so maybe he must be a Christian.
And then I think about a statistic that I have heard and read about many times how as many as eighty-four percent of the people in Oklahoma do not go to church on a given Sunday!
Yet, the Bible points out quite clearly that we, as believers, are to participate in our local church assembly. “and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” (Heb 10:24-25 nasb) We have had to learn a different way of worshipping since the covid pandemic came along.
Back to the point about the number of people attendin’ church: if eighty percent of the people in this country call themselves Christian, and something like eighty-four percent of us do not go to church on Sunday (or any other day of the week) then there is something that somehow just don’t add up.
Please don’t misunderstand what I am trying to say. There are times and situations that take folks away from being able to attend their own church. Sometimes it is a job. At other times, it is some family activity. But at other times, a major portion of the 84% just chooses not to attend church. And I reckon that some folks have joined one of those new kind of churches we keep hearing about such as Bedside Baptist or Pillow Assembly.
We are to go encourage others to become followers of Christ, instructing them they are to be baptized, and teaching them what it means to be a disciple of Christ. And Jesus will forever be with us!
But how do you distinguish who needs Christ and one who knows Christ but, for whatever reason, chooses not to follow Him? Well, it would seem to me that we should share the love of Christ with all the folks we come across. We should tell others about what Jesus did, how He did it, and why He did it. But don’t wear folks down.
And we need to tell them that Jesus is alive today, and He wants to have a personal relationship with them. Jesus is not a religion; He is one who wants to be your friend. But True friendship can’t be forced upon anyone. Friendship involves two-way communication.
Jesus is willing and He is waiting. What is your answer to Him?
…with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” (Romans 10:10 nasb)
The evangelism side of Matthew 28 is so important. And we need to be sure the Gospel is taught well so that all people, including cowboys and clodhoppers and hog hunters and rednecks and, well, everybody will have a chance to truly accept and receive Christ as Lord!
So go we must! And don’t forget the teaching part. Because if we, as the church, are not careful, we will end up with a building full of people who are purty sure they were saved because, hey, they were dunked! But it is sad they can’t tell others what it means or how someone else can follow Jesus because they never have followed Him either.
I once had an atheist tell me that if Jesus is so important to my eternity, then how come just a handful of you who claim to be Christian make only a feeble attempt to tell me about Him?
How important is Christ to you? He is? Go tell people!
Choose Jesus, choose life and let your light shine! And find a Bible believin’ church where you “fit in” and know, grow, and follow Christ! Tell others! See y’all at church and keep PRAYIN’ for HIS HARVEST! Thankful for the rain And prayin’ for more rain!