Evangelism

Could there be a new normal happening and we aren’t aware of it? Are there things happening outside of our culture that we aren’t seeing? What is happening in world evangelism?

According to some recent reports, Christianity is increasing by 8% a year. It is said to be the fastest growing faith on planet Earth. This growing group crosses theological lines, laying aside controversial doctrines, to focus on relationship with Jesus Christ. The number is said to be over 700 million and growing fast. The bulk of these people are from China, India, Africa and Southeast Asia.

This movement is exploding in such a way that one article (I recently read) states that the entire world could be composed of such Believers by the year 2032. Of course many would debate such an idea and there are always those who resist the gospel, but look at the possibilities. It didn’t look this way 50 years ago. 50 years ago Christianity was stronger here in the Western hemisphere than anywhere else in the world. Now it is stronger throughout the rest of the world. At the rate we are going, tomorrow there will be 175,000 more Christians. At this rate there will be 8.2 billion believers by autumn 2032. Sounds funny…. because at this rate, there would be more believers than people on the planet. Is the snow ball rolling and picking up momentum as it rolls?

Many of us base our entire belief system on how things are going in America. If something happens bad on this side of the ocean, we believe the end of the world must be near. We are not the only ones on planet earth. The idea that God is a white American republican needs to be erased from our minds. God is doing major things throughout the world. He is emotionally in love with all races of people on this planet. This planet we live on is not even big enough for a paper weight on His desk, in comparison to the size of the Universe He controls. Yet, He loves us so much He’d rather die than live without us.

The reason that Islam have been reported as the fastest growing religion by the media, may be because the media hasn’t done its homework. Surveys look at the traditional Protestant denominations and the Roman Catholic Church and make their reports. There are multitudes of believers and followers of Jesus Christ who aren’t a part of these. There are those who are intimately in love with Jesus Christ, who do not want to be labeled Protestant or Catholic. They do not want to be boxed up with either group. They live and worship outside the box with a strong passion for Christ. Some worship in churches that are not denominational. Others meet in homes. Some meet in secret in caves, underground, and different places to avoid persecution.

　
Some have described this explosion of evangelism as the mushrooming of the Kingdom of God. There are reports and evidence of an original form of biblically inspired Christianity sweeping throughout the planet at the present time. One of the main drives for this explosion of evangelism is healing, miracles and powerful answers to prayers. There have been hundreds of dramatic cases of resurrections of actual corpses. Also, countless testimonies have been given of blind eyes and deaf ears being healed. I have often referred to this kind of evangelism as, “power evangelism”. Simply defined, unbelievers see the power of God displayed in their life or someone else’s life and are converted. Even miracles in the lives of unbelievers will become more common. Many of the miracles in the scriptures happened to unconverted people. Jesus came to seek and deliver the lost.

　
Life on earth is going through such a paradigm shift at the very present time. Teachings that have been built upon the sand are being washed away. For some people wineskins are bursting at such thoughts. It’s hard for them to imagine such a thing, much less recognize it. Teachers who have scoffed at healing and miracles because of the deception of charlatan type preachers of the past will now have to re-adjust their thinking. Those who have dissected scripture to suit their doctrines will have to put miracles, healing, and the raising of the dead back into this dispensation. Many who are standing in line at “Rapture Airport” will see the need to go out and compel the lost to come to the big feast prepared for them. Escapism will give way to occupy the earth for the Kingdom of God.

Does all of this excite you? Does it get you out of breath? I am out of breath as I write. The keys are clicking fast. Or…. Does this burst your bubble? Get a new wineskin. The kingdom of God is forcefully advancing (see Matthew 14:12). The violent take it by force. What a mighty fortress is our God!