Move the pulpit out to the street
“He said to them, “Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15
For too long a one-sided side of preaching has been practiced in this country. One has almost only preached to already believers in service after service and conference after conference. Already believers who come again and again just to hear. Especially these days when there is also a huge supply of Christian teaching in all sorts of formats such as books, Christian TV and the Internet. It has its place, but misused it becomes unhealthy and distorted. You almost just stay inside the church walls and listen, pray and hope and then listen, pray and hope some more.
Jesus, the apostles and the first Christians preached to those who did not believe, so that faith could reach their hearts. The leadership and the laity are called to carry the gospel in all times, to all people.
Evangelism is not just for the special interested but for all believers. As Christians, we are not only called to survive but also to save others. We should not just “hold the positions”, but advance and spread the word of God. Saving people for eternity is the world’s most important mission and it requires genuine love to be accomplished. Because the ego does not care about others.
But the slowness of Christianity is obvious. Shouldn’t we – “Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature”? Well, that’s exactly what we’re going to do! And it is not done in the church but outside the church. And then not just as a happening once a year but constantly ongoing in every city across the country performed by the local believers. This is the Biblical model and we choose to obey it or disobey it, to affirm it or to excuse and explain it away.
Why can’t any Christian employed leader in this country go out on a street corner and boldly proclaim the world’s best, most powerful and most serious message – the gospel of Jesus? It doesn’t have to cost a single penny and doesn’t need lots of planning and lots of invitations going out. It just needs to cost a little faith and that you decide to go out to a beaten up world in their arena and home ground.
For the sake of God and the people, move the pulpit out into the street. We need to physically be among the people and not just try to do it via the internet in this “blip and click” age. Let people physically hear and see the messengers today and be able to converse with people who walk with Jesus.
God bless you.