They profess to know God, but they deny Him by their works. - Titus 1:16
For most of my life, I was aligned with one particular denomination. I pastored their churches, served their agencies, and was even appointed their missionary (both domestic and international). I was blessed to be a part of this segment of Christ's Body and thankful for the opportunity and experience. For much of this time, they were considered the largest evangelical denomination in the world, but (like much of the church in the West) it seems that their impact was a bit exaggerated.
Why would I say such a thing?
Consider the fact that less than one half of one percent of its members served in any form of long-term missionary service. Consider as well that while donations to their churches (as a whole) earned nearly $40 billion dollars annually, they only passed on about 0.5% over and above their normal church offerings for missions causes. Now, if this was true of the largest evangelical denomination in existence, what of the others? Might the outcome be the same, or worse?
Thousands of people groups in the United States, North America, and around the world still remain unreached with the gospel of Jesus Christ and yet most evangelicals continue to profess knowledge of and a high regard for God and His Word. Either we have become so calloused to the voice of God that only harsh measures could ever bring revival or too many of us remain dead in our trespasses and sins (first needing the life of Christ) for revival to even be possible.
Too harsh, you say? On average, thousands of churches don't see a single convert to Christ annually and many more don't give a dime to support overseas missions. If every person who claimed to know Christ gave just a dollar a day, over billions could be raised in one year to reach this world for Jesus. Resources are not the issue. Obedience is.
Do we need revival? We certainly need something.
If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him. - C. T. Studd
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