Hard Truth # 2: The fact that so many of us are converted before 20 doesn't mean we have youth work under control; it means few adults get converted.
Talking about people "getting converted" is fraught. I know that. I flagged it in my last article.
I am effectively sending up a flare saying, "zero your theological artillery here". But I have no easy way out: "hard truth" # 2 is about few adults becoming Christian. I just have to keep my head down and "get off the beach". Here goes.
Think about your church for a minute. How many people have become Christians in the last year? How many in the last 3 years? During the course of Connect09 I had a chance to ask a couple of churches for a show of hands of those converted in the last 5 years. In one case there were a few hands; in the other there was one.
My aim is not to flagellate those churches, or your church, or all of us in general. I am greatly encouraged to hear of a small church recently where 6 people became Christians during 2009; a big church where the number was closer to 90. So this is not "woe is us". The gospel is powerful and effective and God is bringing people into his kingdom as we proclaim it faithfully, and we rejoice with each one.
At the same time, let's not kid ourselves. As far as I can tell travelling around and talking to lots of people, the numbers of new converts in our churches are tiny. Why is that?
Is it that we are working really hard ground? I often hear that said. And I admit I personally find it a comfort to think so. Friends who have been missionaries in Muslim lands report years of labour with few converts. Sometimes we are called by God to be faithful in tough places and just trust Him. In other places, it seems myriads are just waiting to respond at the first opportunity. There are seasons.
But how do we judge if the ground is rock hard or if we are digging the wrong way? Does it even matter which it is? Do we just keep doing what we've always done and trust God to bring people through the door? Do we need to try a bit harder to get to the bottom of the situation? Make some changes? Try new things?
As I considered how we could possibly determine if the ground is hard, I was struck by the progress of the mission work in Airds. Tim Scheuer reports that in the first year or so the team made contact with 500 people; to date 50 of those have become Christians. That's 10 percent of people contacted! He says that in doorknocking house-to-house, at least 25 percent are interested to know more about God. Now, I would have called Airds a tough area - but is it really? You may say your area is much tougher. (Tim says: don't assume, give it a try and find out!)
Even if your area is much tougher that Airds, and even if you are much happier focussing on your part (mission) and leaving the results (conversions) to God (as I most certainly am); then let me instead ask: how is your part coming along? Has everyone in your suburb/parish/area heard the gospel so far as it depends on you? How is prayer for the people of your parish going?
