Five unequaled factors have converged in our path. They must be seized—or lost.
History provides opportune moments unequally. It is not every day that we may grasp them. See the upheaval in Congo, once fertile for missionary enterprise. The thrilling open door to Russia seems to be in the process of closing, forced shut by the very people who claim to be Christ’s representatives. As well, freedoms here in the West, if unused, will be lost. And the rising tide of materialism in China may curtail gospel zeal there as communism never could.
There is a tide, in the affairs of men,
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune…
On such a full sea are we now afloat,
And we must take the current when it serves,
Or lose our ventures (W. Shakespeare).
Of course we would not question the graciousness of God. His longsuffering heart finds ways to turn back the clock, to “restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten” (Joel 2:25). Yet the Bible is full of incidents of missed opportunities and the warning to buy up the time, not gambling on the possibility of another chance, because “thou knowest not what a day may bring forth” (Prov. 27:1).
What makes this moment in history so strategic for assemblies of God’s people? Here are a few suggestions:
1. We have an unequalled opportunity to take North America for Christ. Literacy is high. There are now more than 60 million foreign-born people on the continent, the highest number ever. This means that we can reach out to almost any mission field in the world—at our doorstep, and often in our language, with democratic liberties (for how long, we do not know).
2. We have an unlimited range of possible methods and ministries. Who, a century ago, could have guessed that we would have digital printing, television, radio, email, the world wide web, jet travel, mobile phones, let alone GPS, DVDs, MP3s, and whatever may be around the corner? Are we thinking how we may utilize these tools for Christ? It was believers who invented the codex or book as we know it, and who first utilized printing. If we are going to serve our well-connected generation (see Acts 13:36), we certainly have been offered an array of tools to use in communicating the truth to them.
3. We have an outstanding generation of young champions. Generally, they have a wonderful combination of serious commitment to New Testament church truth and an eagerness to think in fresh but biblical ways about fulfilling the Commission. They seem to be energized, not enervated, by the challenge of struggling local churches. They are not prepared to bail out, increasing the problems. They want to be part of the solution. We salute all such “vessels of honor” and need to pray for, encourage, equip and support them every chance we get.
4. We have a massive supply of frozen assets. We have at our disposal many with latent spiritual ability and technical skills galore. We have multiplied millions in the bank and in real estate (a solemn stewardship). And although we complain of being habitually busy, our generation has more time to use as we wish than any previous age. We have rapid transit, time-saving devices, and most have substantial holidays. Our problem is in the time-wasting department. Christian fiction, TV watching, and recreational activities on occasion may have a place but, even if beneficial, they are profitable only “for a little” (1 Tim. 4:8).
5. We have a strategic chance to rethink the message which we proclaim. It has been said that the message does not change; only the methods do. But is that true? Certainly the essentials of the gospel must always be included. But the way the early Christians preached to Jewish Pharisees was different from the way they spoke to pagan Gentiles. We must understand how to communicate to our post-modern world. When we hand out tracts with stories of sea captains on sailing ships and missionaries in China, what are we saying? We can hardly blame our audience if they think Christianity is outdated and irrelevant. Now is the time to seize the opportunity!
“Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing” (Mt. 24:46).