This week, I attended a training session on how to best disciple new believers in the faith. One of the things that quickly got my attention was the results of a recent poll which reported that, of the 420,000 people currently living in Richland County today, 201,600 do not attend church. That’s 48% of the county. The speaker further noted that in other areas of the country, things are much worse. He noted that for one county in Florida, church attendance is down to 7%. When you consider that Richland County is deep within what was once considered the Bible Belt, it is obvious how little impact Christians and Christian churches are having on our society today.
When Jesus walked the earth, He told His disciples, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:13-16). Maybe part of the reason we have lost our ability to impact our communities is that we have lost our saltiness (we live too much like the world for its citizens to see any difference) or, maybe we’ve hid our light under a basket (not presenting the gospel to them).
Either way, it’s obvious there is a growing mission field today all around us. Matthew 9:36-38 tells us that, ‘when He (Jesus) saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray the Lord of the Harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” There are many people today, even in Richland County that may have never truly heard the message of the gospel. So, the question is: what are we going to do to address this?
There are really only two things we can do. First, start living out our faith and obeying His commands openly and without apology for all the world to see. Second, find more ways to reach out into the community around us with the life-changing gospel so that all may hear. This will require laborers in the field. Jesus instructed us to pray that God would raise them up, and this we need to do; and if, in the process, you feel convicted that He’s calling you, heed that call while there’s still time to do it.
For God’s glory and God’s alone,
Pastor Terry