Thoughts On Evangelizing The World
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles
From his article entitled, “Beneath The Praise Hides A Malaise,” comes the following profound statement made by my good missionary friend in Brazil, Randal Matheny:
“One reason we can’t evangelize the world is because we’ve not yet gotten out of it.”
Brethren and friends, Randal is exactly spot-on! After being a member of the Lord’s church since January, 1960, I have witnessed a slowly spiritually deteriorating membership; for the most part, no longer desiring to convert the world to Christ, but to simply maintain the status quo, sitting on laurels of ease in the midst of great prosperity (Amos 6:1-6; cf. Deuteronomy 6:10-15; Deuteronomy 8).
Conversely, I see the future of the Lord’s church as being bright, but that brightness will only come when we are shaken out of our present-day spiritual lethargy (Acts 8:1-4) and are willing to “put on the armor of light” (Romans 13:11-12; cf. Ephesians 6:13-18).
In listening to some Christians, I am hearing between the lines, that they are happy and satisfied here in this present world because of their prosperity, and seemingly want to live here forever, not looking forward to that heavenly abode which will be much “better” than this present one (Hebrews 11:13-16).
Brethren, we need to realize that this present deteriorating world will one day be “burned up” and no longer exist (2 Peter 3:7-13). We must change our mindset (as well as the people we teach) from this physical existence to the spiritual existence where our Lord and Savior will be (Colossians 3:1-4; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; cf. John 14:1-3; John 17:20-24).
Evangelizing a world lost in sin should be among our first priorities (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16; cf. Matthew 6:33), being underscored with a sense of urgency as Christians displayed in the first century (Acts 16:6-10 – note the word “immediately” in verse 10), because the time for working in the Lord’s kingdom will soon draw to a close (John 9:4).
Therefore, there is much work to be done in converting the world to Christ, but we must first come out of the world before we can do it (2 Corinthians 6:14-18). “The fields are already white for harvest” (John 4:35). Those Christians in the first century realized this fact and took immediate action (Acts 8:4-5) and as a result, the church grew because God‘s word was being boldly proclaimed (Acts 12:24; Acts 19:20; cf. Acts 6:7).
Brethren, as we are now in the twenty-first century, let us seriously ponder the above thoughts and Scriptures, and take immediate action in converting the world to Christ, one soul at a time. Let’s be found sowing the seed of God’s word so God can give the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6-7) and we can “receive our own reward according to our own labor” (1 Corinthians 3:8).
May God richly bless us as we go forward sowing the seed (Matthew 13:3; Luke 8:5).