Picture not grim if you know where to look

“Religion is a bad trip!” Bible teacher Bob Mumford famously said. The charismatic Bible teacher explained that the outcome is always bad when shadow replaces substance. This was a word of caution about religion replacing reality, the danger of knowing about God versus knowing God. His teachings blended humor mixed with solid doctrine as he opened up thoughtful questions about biblical truth. His lectures were more than a life lesson: they were a memorable experience! You could tell that Dr. Mumford was a man who had encountered the living Christ.

I’ve had the privilege of being taught by some truly remarkable Christian leaders. I majored in Missions and Bible at Southeastern University in Florida. My roots go back into that amazing full-gospel denomination, now the greatest missionary force in the world. The Southern Baptists used to be the top organization in missions, until they banned any missionaries who were charismatic. Their membership in the U.S. began to decline after that fateful decision. I hope they’ve recovered now.

Early in my ministry I was engulfed in what became known as the Charismatic Renewal. I had hundreds of believers coming to my “charismatic clinic” to be filled with the Spirit. This global movement empowered millions of Catholics and Baptists and Episcopalians. That tidal wave washed over all church boundaries. It brought millions into the Spirit-filled life in thousands of historic churches. Later the Third Wave of Missions began. The maturing global church now has strong indigenous leaders in China, Latin America, and Asia. They are sending new missionaries into the Middle East as multitudes of Muslims who once sought Allah are now finding Jesus.

In America, the fruit of atheistic humanism and scientific secularism, sown like seeds into our national beliefs, has fully blossomed in society. The fruit is not good. Liberal ideology makes converts while churches forsake evangelism.

Christians once were a strong counter- culture in society. Now many churches

try to hold the fort until the end. Feeling assailed on every hand, they hope for a quick Rapture to escape. Is that all we can expect? More gloom, despair, and deep, dark misery?

Actually, the picture is not grim if you know where to look. Globally, the body of Christ is the fastest growing identifiable group on the planet. Locally in the last year, there have been 25 new church births here in Fayetteville. New church start-ups are a healthy sign of energized Christians. They signal that some folks are getting back to Jesus’ strategy.

Jesus wanted his church to be victorious over the gates of hell. God’s kingdom is meant to be an ever-expanding realm displaying constant growth, not just maintaining the status quo. Church plants are often exciting, evangelistic. I may even start a new church myself.

Sadly, new churches can be parasitic rather than evangelistic. Some start-ups compete for market share like Target luring Walmart customers. While I believe everyone ought to be in the church where they find life and truth and are equipped for ministry, I think it is wrong for any church to have as a goal attracting dissatisfied believers from other churches. That should not be the primary way to grow.

I recommend doing the three things that guarantee exciting advances and continued divine blessings: evangelism, discipleship and charity to the poor.

Evangelism is sharing the good news of the kingdom centered on the resurrection of Jesus. Discipleship is mentoring new converts into the Christ-life so they can learn to minister in the Spirit. Charity is mercy made tangible. By the way, it is all fun to do! RON WOOD OF FAYETTEVILLE IS A WRITER AND MINISTER. EMAIL HIM AT WOOD.STONE. RON@GMAIL.COM OR VISIT WWW.TOUCHEDBYGRACE.ORG.