Do We Care?

In just a couple of days I have seen these headline stories. A story of a supposed friend murdering a 19 year old female to get her money. A wealthy businessman caught for solicitation of a prostitute. Legislation introduced for abortions to be legalized days after the baby's birth. A famous former football player dying of a terminal disease.

Then there are the evils of sex trafficking. Sexual assault. Domestic violence. Pornography. Substance abuse. Gun violence. Pedophilia. Divorce. Homosexuality.

Does the church care? Do we care? Do you care? Do I care? We are quick to invite people to our religious events but not to our Lord and Savior Jesus. The world is going crazy. The pew sitters sit silent and unconcerned with the eternal fate of billions.

I was sitting n a seminary class on evangelism yers ago when the professor made a shocking statement that grabbed my attention. He said 90% of Christians will NEVER witness to anyone about Jesus. NEVER. He went on to expound that 95% of Christians will NEVER lead anyone to faith in Jesus for salvation.

While still in Bible college I had the fortune to listen to a famous pastor preach and then had lunch with him along with others from the church. He made a comment I have not been able to shake for close to 30 years. He said, "The reason people do not tell others about Jesus is not because we do not know enough and are scared. It is because we do not care enough."

We don't care. Where is the burden for evangelism in the church. Most every church I know has adopted the philosophy of "come and hear" more than "go and tell." We plan outreach events that unchurched people do not always attend.

In a recent survey I read some 70% of unchurched people say they have never been invited to a worship gathering of a church. Not one time. I find that hard to believe but if it is true it is heart wrenching. It gives credence to the argument the church does not care about the eternal fates of people they live next to, work around, sit next to at sporting events and see at school events.

Bob Pierce, founded Samaritan's Purse, later run by Franklin Graham. Pierce challenged people to pray a prayer in his autobiography. "Break my heart O God with the things that break your heart." Pierce cared. That compassion motivated him to get involved. What would motivate you to get involved in personal soul winning. Why are so many believers so hard hearted. We sing the songs. We hear Bible truth. We call the gospel good news but do not talk about it. We treat it like it is toxic.

Do we care? Or are we just hypocrites giving lip service to things we do not really mean. When I read about people like Jackie Pullinger, Amy Carmichael, John Wesley, D.L. Moody, David Brainerd and many others they WERE ALL SOUL WINNERS.

Statistics say that around 75% of churches are plateaued and or declining in attendance. Heritage Baptist Church falls squarely in those statistics. Is it any wonder. How many churches have a burden for souls? How many of us really care? Do you? Do I?

Church growth is really pretty simple. You get your people to pray personally and together. You get them to pay attention to the people who naturally orbit their paths. You speak a word of witness for Jesus. You love these people. You continue to pray nd continue to speak a word of witness. You continue to love and so forth. God does the winning of souls. He converts. He transforms. He saves. We celebrate this through baptism and the church grows. And we repeat the mission all over again. Very simple but very few do it.

If every adult in a local congregation committed to just reaching one person for Christ a year the church would grow. You just keep doing that and your church will grow in time. In fact, it will multiply like in the book of Acts. That is.... if we care.

Matthew 9:35-38 (ESV)
35  And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.
36  When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
37  Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;
38  therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”