1) The “Christian Church” is becoming less theologically literate.
2) Christians are becoming more in-grown and less out-reach oriented.
3) Growing numbers of people are less interested in spiritual principles and more desirous of learning pragmatic solutions for life.
4) Among Christians, interest in participating in community action is escalating.
5) The postmodern insistence on tolerance is winning over the Christian Church.
6) The influence of Christianity on culture and individual lives is largely invisible.
Let me point very quickly toward the first and fifth items on the above list since they are related, and fixing those problems will resolve the other four. Much time could be spent discussing the need for knowledge of God’s Word, but that’s obvious. What can we do to cultivate curiosity of it? What can we do to make people actually want to study and then act on the truth they read? How do we stir up curiosity in the minds of others? I’m curious to know!
Briefly consider the following:
1) Fear – When one has a proper respect for God, and who He is, it leads to knowledge. Stop and consider how powerful and mighty God is! Consider Psalm 66, Jeremiah 32:17-18, and 1 Peter 5:6. Ponder then the ramifications of 2 Corinthians 5:9-11 and Romans 14:10-11. Realize that knowledge begins when one comes to “fear the Lord” (Proverbs 1:7). We must help those around us to realize that there is a God in Heaven, He is all powerful, and He has specific expectations of His creation. People must be educated. We must never over-estimate what those around us know about God, His Word, and how it was delivered to us. We must direct them to understanding (cf. Acts 8:30-31). For the open and honest heart, this knowledge will naturally direct them to…
2) Sorrow – I once heard someone say, after some especially powerful preaching, “Well, I hope he didn’t offend anyone.” I’m sorry, but that’s the wrong attitude. Now we don’t want to hurt people just for the sake of hurting them, but realize that pain is part of growth. Hurt is also part of healing. Reeling with sorrow is part of repenting. Consider 2 Corinthians 7:9-11. Look at the multifaceted reaction the Corinthians had to godly sorrow. Realize that Paul writes this after having written the stinging words we read in 1 Corinthians. If we care about someone, we’ll tell them the truth. If one is willing to make this step, once they’ve dealt with reality, it creates in them…
3) Hunger – When someone fears God and has experienced godly sorrow, it ought to lead them to hunger for something better. In Matthew 5:6, Jesus says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” We have to help people realize that there’s more to life than finding pragmatic solutions for filling the hunger they have for earthly success. When Jesus was tempted to give in to the desires of his physical body, he quoted from Deuteronomy 8:3 when he said to Satan “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word which proceeds from the mouth of God.” While we do need physical bread to live, we need to help people realize that there’s more to life than just the visible. That innate desire that they have, deep down, for something more – it can be filled. They may try to fill it with success or status, but nothing fills it like God does. No one rewards like God does. We don’t live by just the food we eat for our bodies, but there is a spiritual food – the Word of God – which has to be a part of our “diet.” There’s more to life than meets the eye.
“…As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,” - 1 Peter 2:2 NKJV
~Daniel Howell
P.S. – Feel free to comment. What would you add?
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