Are we living in a post-christian time? This thought was passed around recently in the black-hole that is social media. Is Christianity losing ground? Is there a spirit of our time prevailing now in a way that it hasn’t in times past?
I don’t think so, the world is as sinful as its ever been. Its still in need of the same gospel that the Lord commissioned his disciples with at the end of Matthew’s account. (Matthew 28:19-20) So what’s changed? Here are a few thoughts…
One issue is what is commonly identified as Christian is usually far from a good representation of biblical christianity. I discussed my thoughts on the prosperity peddlers and the click-bait pastors in my post on the lack of biblical literacy within the church which you can read here.
One major issue, and the one that I present as the topic for today’s thoughts is the lack of hands carrying the gospel to the lost.This isn’t a new problem either, the Lord Himself spoke on the subject.
“And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (ESV Matthew 9:35–38. Emphasis mine)
I shared in my last post a story that I hoped would encourage others to jump into the fray and begin to share and defend the gospel. I shared the biblical mandate to all believers to defend the gospel, but there is a clear missional aspect to the Bible, and to the New Testament specifically.
We as believers are commissioned by Christ to share the gospel
We don’t have the luxury of sitting back and spectating while others bear their cross; not if we wish to truly honor Christ with our lives. We all know someone who doesn’t know Christ as Lord, or hasn’t bowed the knee to Him. We are obligated to bring the good news to those around us; to our family and neighbors, to our community, to the world.
A couple of observations from the text
“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them”
Are you moved by a burden for the lost? If not, why not? The heart of God is zealous for the lost. His heart is heavy for those who will not accept His grace as offered through the gospel. Why not the same for those who were once lost as well? If you claim Christ as Lord, you know what He saved you from. Why don’t you have a burden to see others saved from that same end? We as believers, should be moved with compassion to get out and see the gospel spread to all.
The Harvest
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.
Notice here that its not the harvest that is the problem, but the laborers. Our Lord is telling us that His spirit is convicting the lost; they are ready, the Lord wants His laborers to get out and collect the harvest. Here we see the first mandate from Christ.
We are to pray for the Lord to send out laborers into His harvest.
How often are you burdened in prayer for God to stir up more people to spread the gospel? Or to send people your way so that you can share it with them. Are we looking for opportunities to interact with the world with that end goal in mind? Stated another way, are we living missional lives? Have we truly patterned our lives to serve our Lord? We are to pray for laborers, and if its within our power, we are to become laborers; which leads to the next point.
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve
“These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.” (ESV Matthew 10:5-8)
The immediate following context to the mandate by Christ to pray for laborers was for Christ to send out laborers. He sends out the same twelve showing that we are both to pray for laborers, but also to become laborers. Our Lord doesn’t save us to lives of pleasure, but to lives of service to one another and to Him. To claim Christ as Lord is to say that He is your owner, and that confession is one that’s walked out in daily life.
Takeaways
- Feel the Burden for the Lost
The more you walk with Christ, the more your should feel His heart. The more time you spend in His word, letting Him change your, the more you will be burdened by what He is burdened by. If you have not reached this point yet, pray for it. God is faithful, He will change you.
“Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (ESV. Psalm 37:4)
2. Pray for the Lord to Send Laborers
Once you begin to feel a burden for the lost, you will inevitably get to this point. Pray for the Lord to raise up people to take his gospel out into the world. Pray for the Lord to raise up leaders in your community to spread the gospel right there where you are.
3. Become a Laborer
If you’re paying attention, you had to know this was coming. Its your responsibility to get out into the fray and affect this world for Christ. If you don’t feel equipped to do it, don’t worry. God will help you, but you also have to put in the work. Spend time in His word, spend time reading and listening to those who are already working in the harvest. This world needs Christ, it needs the gospel. It needs the very truth that we have, and how dare we sit on it and not share it. May it never be!