Is Christianity Becoming Obsolete?
Has the Conversion of New Believers Dwindled?
One would believe by the condition of today's world and by people's behavior, that the conversion of believers has become outdated. However, one may be thinking wrong.
Has Christianity become obsolete? Glance at a daily newspaper, tune in to the local or world news, or check out a few television programs. By what’s going on around us, one would assume Christianity doesn’t even exist today. However, reason to doubt the world has become faithless, does.
First, let’s clarify what Christianity is not. It’s not attending church and tithing. Those are the benefits of it. God doesn’t need the church service. We do. And He certainly doesn’t need our money! After all, it’s all His anyway. He just wants to know if we’d be willing to put Him before the love and desire of the almighty dollar and part with some of it to help accomplish His purposes.
In addition, no one can attend or buy their way into heaven, and doing both faithfully does not make a person a Christian. Admittance to being a sinner, asking God for forgiveness, and receiving Jesus Christ as Savior does. And it’s not about just mouthing the words. God knows a sincere heart. He can’t be fooled, manipulated or deceived. Moreover, He will not be mocked (Galatians 6:7).
Furthermore, all the self-discipline and willpower a person can muster up is useless in God’s eyes. Human skills and determination do not impress Him. He doesn’t want strong, independent people. He wants humble, dependent people. People who are willing to become totally reliant upon Him.
Put simply, what God desires is the most important aspect of Christianity. And what He wants is a personal, one-on-one, intimate relationship with each individual believer. That’s the first step. Baptism, church attendance, and tithing come after. Moreover, once saved, the believer receives the blessings of God along with His protection, guidance and discipline.
The intimate relationship is the foundation, the starting point. That relationship is what makes church fulfilling and life’s battles tolerable. Why? Because when an intimate relationship exists, a person soon learns to let go of trying to take the lead and make things happen in their own strength. Instead, they relinquish control of their abilities and count of God’s. By His guidance, a person also grasps the concept that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13).
So, has Christianity become obsolete? Not by a long shot. Thanks to today’s technology, such as television, radio, internet and satellite, the Word of God has reached all corners of the world. Even an individual who can’t leave his or her own home still has a way to hear and learn from the Word. Christianity is as alive and well today as it’s ever been. In fact, with the current technology, it would seem Christianity is growing faster and stronger than ever. And remember, no one and nothing can stop God from reaching the world.
