The problem that every congregation of the Lord’s church faces is declining numbers. Every congregation has to deal with this reality because some leave the church like 1 Timothy 4:1 tells us, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.” Some also move away or choose to attend another congregation. In the end, unless Jesus returns before our time (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17), we will all transition from this life to the next (Hebrews 9:27) meaning that every congregation will quite literally die out.
So, what is the solution to the problem? The solution is for the Lord’s disciples to go and make more disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). Every Christian knows this truth, but so few actually choose to respond to Jesus’ command. Perhaps it’s because they don’t have anything to say? It could also be that some no longer believe that people are lost without Christ.
Every faithful member of the Lord’s church knows that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).” We also know that only Jesus can save us from our sins. The Apostle Peter boldly proclaims this truth about Jesus in Acts 4:12 saying: “. . . there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” The reality is we live in a world where we are constantly bombarded by the lie that Christ is not needed, and so we begin to doubt the truth that He is needed. The solution is to always be reminded of the truth that without Christ people are lost.
Perhaps we are certain of the truth that people are lost without Christ, but we are afraid to say anything to those the Bible tells us are lost. Every God fearing Christian knows that we are “26 . . . sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ (Galatians 3:26-27).” The contrary is also true: people are not sons of God without faith in Christ Jesus and who have not put on Christ in baptism. We mustn’t be afraid to speak this truth. Like Timothy, the solution is to be reminded that “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).” The truth is those outside of Christ are lost and we shouldn’t be afraid to make that truth known.
Maybe we are certain about the truth that there are those lost without Christ and we are not afraid to make that truth known, but somewhere along our faith journey we’ve become ashamed of the Christian worldview and the simplicity of the Gospel. Jesus tells us that He is the way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6), but because of our “tolerant” culture we are ashamed of that truth. We rationalize that we wouldn’t dare claim that Jesus is the only way because we don’t want to risk our friendships or our family or possible embarrassment. Instead, we lie to others and ourselves if we allow them to follow any other way than Christ. The solution is to not be “ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes (Romans 1:16).”
It is feasible to be certain about the truth, not be afraid or ashamed to share it, but have made personal evangelism optional. The charge to share the Gospel was given to all of Jesus’ disciples. Yet, there are Christians who have come to believe they don’t have to talk to anyone about becoming a Christian. The solution is to renew our sense of responsibility and duty to evangelism.
