Quote: Interest in the Gospel
“It is not difficult in our world to get a person interested in the message of the Gospel; it is terrifically difficult to sustain the interest. Millions of people in our culture make decisions for Christ, but there is a dreadful attrition rate. Many claim to have been born again, but the evidence for mature Christian discipleship is slim. In our kind of culture anything, even news about God, can be sold if it is packaged freshly; but when it loses its novelty, it goes on the garbage heap. There is a great market for religious experience in our world; there is little enthusiasm for the patient acquisition of virtue, little inclination to sign up for a long apprenticeship in what earlier Christians called holiness.”
- Eugene Peterson A Long Obedience in the Same Direction
Sort of like going to the movies. You buy into the movie by getting a ticket (Bible) you go into the theater and find a seat on your own (left to understand what is written) Then judge for yourself whether you liked it or not, or understood it or not (no nurturing). We need classes that address the very basics and more mentoring.
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I am concerned too over the lack of growth and maturity that many new believers have, and for that matter those who have been in the faith for years.
I believe the problem is at least 3 fold.
1. Failure to comprehend the full significance of the Great Commission. We are commanded to make disciples, not just make converts. Discipleship is not a once and done achievement, but a life long process (with struggles) that will not be fully realized on this side of heaven. New believers need to be nurtured by mature believers in the area of discipleship. This may seem like it should occur naturally, but it doesn’t. An evangelism strategy needs to take intentional follow-up and nurturing in to account for discipleship to be successful.
2. Failure to emphasize good theological instruction to new believers. Our faith should not be a matter of making us feel good or analyzing our faults (like a divine Dr. Phil), but should move and motivate us to know more about God. Our preaching, teaching, and worship need to reflect a greater passion for knowing God and following His redemptive plan from Genesis to Revelation. The Bible is needs to be taught as whole package, how Old Testament relates to the New Testament, and not as isolated moral stories. 2 Timothy 4:1-4 exhorts us to “preach the Word.”
3. A greater understanding of the role of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life. The first disciples, while they were followers of Jesus, did not become true disciples until they were filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The Spirit emboldened the disciples to overcome doubts and fears to share the Gospel from Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Being a growing disciple means to be willing to share your faith to help create more disciples. Allowing the Spirit to lead us can make us more effective in fulfilling our mission to be disciples.
I’m sure there are other areas of concern when it comes to discipleship and growth and maturity, but these are three that readily come to mind.
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