I believe that many Christian people have, somewhere in our subconscious, the idea that Christians are among the best of people. And we think that is why we have accepted Christ. We need to fight this type of thinking. It is just as likely to be the case that we are the worst of people. Chances are there is an even mix.
Often, due to this impression that it was our fitness as human beings that brought us to the light, we become weak, and poor, and blind, and wretched. A daily dip in the fountain of God’s truth will keep us from finding out just how bad we could have been without salvation in Jesus Christ. Thus, we have a moral obligation to have a close, personal, vital relationship with the Lord.
It is my belief that we lose more opportunities to lead others to Christ due to this issue than any other. As a believer in the need for revival, I think it is a strong and healthy body of Christ that brings people to the Lord. When we are weak Christians simply using ‘evangelism programs’ to try to attract and keep people, we are failing the lost world. Ensuring the church is filled with strong, mature, loving Christians is still the best means to reach the world for Christ.
Many would say, ‘But we have lots of strong Christians just sitting around at home, not reaching out to the lost.’ Do we? Remember, most people who are called to the mission field, or to the ministry, answer that call at a young age. Young people will answer these calls when they are surrounded by strong, mature, loving Christians. Instead, we see young people leaving the church in droves.
We have to take a lesson from real life. When living things are not properly nourished, growth doesn’t work right. When living things are put in a healthy environment, they grow exponentially.