One of the things I found challenging about the recent National Church Life Survey, was the number of questions I was I required to answer in relation to efforts made in recent times to reach out to those outside the Church. This covered two areas in particular; helping those with particular needs, and evangelism, proclaiming the gospel to those who are without Christ.

I realised as I considered these issues, that in recent years I personally and we as a church, have done very little in either area. And what little we have done has not borne much fruit. I thank God for a few individuals who have worked very hard in these areas, but I believe that, as a church, we need to "lift our game."

I read once that "The Church is the only organisation on earth that exists for the benefits of its non-members." I suspect there may be others, but, certainly that statement highlights the fact that the Church should always be looking outward, rather than inward. The church was born out of our Lord's commission to "Go into all the world and preach the good news (gospel) to all creation." (Mark 16:15) Those who believe and become part of the church, come under that same commission. A church that fails to fulfil its commission will lose its right to exist and will ultimately die.

This is not just a matter of ensuring our own survival. It relates to the way we view the world around us.

There is a view that is very common in the community, and also among many Christians, that we are all basically ‘OK.’ There was a program for solving relationship problems, that was very popular a feiw years ago, based on the premise "I’m OK, You’re OK." According to this view, human nature is essentially good, and where there are problems they can be overcome by learning the right ways to deal with them. This seems to be the underlying philosophy of modern education especially in the area of discipline.

Allied to this view is the denial of absolute standards in areas of morality, and thus a dismissal of concepts of sin and guilt. Where God is brought into the picture, His primary quality is seen to be love and acceptance. The idea of God's judgment has very little emphasis, but if we should be called to stand before Him (or her!), then most of today's generation feel that their attempt to live a reasonably "good" life should ensure a favourable reception.

Where Christians hold such a view, there is little incentive to take the gospel to anyone else. If those without the gospel, whether followers of other religions or not, are essentially ‘OK’, then why bother them? I believe that whether recognised or not, this is one of the primary reasons for the inertia of the church with regard to evangelism.

The prevailing world-view of essential human goodness is very powerful. But it quite opposite to God’s view, as He has revealed it to us in His Word. The human heart is full of evil, deceitful above all things and beyond cure (Ecclesiastes 9:3, Jeremiah 17:9.) Jesus Himself said that "From within, out of a man's heart come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, mailce, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly (Mark 7:21)

The only answer is the forgiveness and cleansing that come through Jesus’ blood shed on the cross, and the "new heart" that God has promised to give us through His Holy Spirit. Without this, we and our fellow human beings are lost, under the power of sin, and condemned to eternal punishment.

This is much more than a message of "sweet comfort and consolation" for those who feel they need it. This is a crucial life-line for every human being who, without Christ, is heading for destruction. That is why the Apostle Peter refused to be silenced by the authorities, because, as he said: "Salvation is found in no-one else, for there is no other name (Jesus) under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12).

I find it hard to look at those around me, especially in this "classy" suburb of Northbridge, and see them as ‘lost’ and desperately in need of saving. They are genera11y such "nice" people. Yet God's Word about them is quite clear: without Christ they are heading to an eternity of hell. That is why God has put us as a "lighthouse" in this place. Will you join with me in renewing our efforts to "seek and save the lost?"

In His Majesty’s Service

John Davies
17 June 2000