In 1910 there was a great missionary conference held in Edinburgh to emphasize the need to reach the world with the Gospel. More than 1200 delegates, mostly from Western churches met there together to strategize and mobilize to reach out globally. Today, 100 years later, there seems to be a great reversal in world missions.
Years ago while I was preaching in the British Isles I had the opportunity to visit Wesley’s Chapel and home, Spurgeon’s, Metropolitan Tabernacle, and many other famous sites. While there I wrote an essay called “Great Britain, Museum of Christianity”. The basis of the essay was that while many great men and movements had come from Great Britain in the past, in these present days most of what you find in Great Britain are the museums, statues and relics of these men and movements. Not much is happening on the positive side biblically speaking. The new president of the Baptist Union in Great Britain recently said, “the church has almost been taken captive.” This is true – but not only in Great Britain – here in the United States it is true as well. Anything Christian is seen as offensive and could soon be designated as a “hate crime.” Along with the global economic crisis, there is truly a recession in orthodox Christianity that will fearlessly stand and boldly proclaim God’s Word while doing everything possible to evangelize.
What are we to do? We must acknowledge where we have fallen, repent and do the first works. Instead of this ”if you can’t beat them, join them” philosophy that is dominating most of our ministries, missions and movements, we must get back to the straight forward, hard preaching of the Word of God. The luke warm, compromising, let’s all get along together plan has not worked. The facts are in! Several nations have already resigned to the fact that they will be over run by Islamic majority soon. It is code blue time for France and Spain. England is on spiritual life support! America is crashing! The unreached are waiting!
Time is running out! The heart for missions is beating erratically. Time to apply a spiritual defibrillator. The heart of many of our churches needs to be shocked back to life. Some have very weak pulse. Some are barely breathing. Some are unconscious. Most need a jolt to shock their hearts back into right rhythm with the Word of God for the work of God. Apply both defibrillator paddles now! The Word and Prayer! Through these the power of the Holy Spirit can bring the surge of life needed to rescue us from this sad emergency. “Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. “
