Fact:
Not counting the 1,561,000,000 evangelized non-Christians in the world, or the 1,362,000,000 professing Christians in the world, there are 1,381,000,000 unevangelized persons in the world who are “unaware of Christianity, Christ and the Gospel” (World Christian Encyclopedia, 1982).
Jesus Said:
- Matthew 24:14, “This gospel will first be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations and then the end will come.”
- Matthew 9:37-38, “The harvest is plentiful, the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
- Matthew 28:18-19, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations.”
- John 20:21, “As the Father has sent me, so send I you.”
Therefore:
Until the Kingdom is finally established and there are no more unreached peoples, the local church must be a mission base. Until the Kingdom comes, worship must stoke the fires of love for the glory of a global God. Until the Kingdom comes, Christian education must train the troops for tactical and strategic warfare with the weapon of truth. Until the Kingdom comes, counseling and nurture must be the field hospitals saving the wounded, relieving battle fatigue, transforming the traumas of spiritual war into veteran courage. Until the Kingdom comes, fellowship must have the flavor of camaraderie under siege. Until the Kingdom comes, money must be the currency of combat, not convenience. Until the Kingdom comes, leisure must be re-creation for the cause of Christ. Until the Kingdom comes, marriage must be a partnership in arms (double meaning intended!). Until the Kingdom comes, the family must be an enclave of Christ-centered joy equipping young insurgents to infiltrate occupied territories. Until the Kingdom comes, vocation must be an on-duty outpost, a solitary sortie, and a basic line of support for the war effort.
If we love the glory of God, and have compassion for the lost, no other mentality will leave our conscience clear.
Strategically,
Pastor John