10 Reasons We Have Not Reached the Unchurched
By Thom S. Rainer
Though much of this information could be regarded as dismal, my ultimate assessment is not that pessimistic. I believe in the God of miracles. If my conclusions focused on human ability and goodness, I would have little hope. But my conclusions presume the God of creation is on His throne.
For now, let us focus on what is wrong. Let us look with stark honesty and candor at the ineffectiveness of most American believers when it comes to sharing their faith. And let us look at reversing the trend through God’s power.
1. Spiritual Lethargy – One of the main reasons many Christians do not share their faith is simply explained by the word disobedience. Spiritual lethargy takes place when we fail to obey Him. The problem for many Christians is that they are not growing spiritually, and lack of spiritual growth inevitably leads to a diminished desire to share Christ with others.
2. Growing Inclusivism – One of the faster-growing belief systems today is pluralism (all religions lead to God). A variation of pluralism called inclusivism is a dangerous doctrine that is gaining momentum in many American seminaries, Christian colleges, and churches. This view affirms that Jesus is the only way of salvation, but he can be found in other "good" religions. There is a subtle but growing belief among many Christians that somehow "good" followers will make it to heaven outside of a true Christian conversion. Our message will fall on deaf ears if this belief persists and grows.
3. Growing Disbelief in Hell – At one time, this was a view held almost entirely by unbelievers. However recent books by those claiming to be evangelicals have brought this discussion front and center. Those who truly have a desire to reach the unchurched have a burden to see people in the eternity of heaven, but they also desire to see them escape the wrath of an eternal hell. Denying the existence of hell undermines the urgency of placing one’s faith in Christ…
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10 Reasons We Have Not Reached the Unchurched
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The Unchurched Next Door: Understanding Faith Stages as Keys to Sharing Your Faith
I’m sure these are all very valid points but let me help you guys out here as a lifelong Heathen currently in his “seeking phase”. For me the greatest barrier is the breakdown in communication itself. Your Heathen will be much more likely to listen to what you’ve got to say if you are willing to do the same. Try to make it an exchange of ideas rather than a target for recruitment as I all too often encounter. And be able to answer the tough questions instead of just sweeping them under rug or attempting to simplify the entire situation by telling them to “have faith”. Have faith in what? The invisible man in the sky with no voice? Just because it’s in a book? Try to see things from your Heathen’s point of view and they will be much more likely to do the same for you. Because the truth is none of us really has all of the answers, so we might as well share what we’ve got. Best of luck. Something tells me that you guys are gonna need it.