By Victor Ochieng
Times are changing fast. The Christian organization is no longer what it used to be. It’s undergone numerous changes, divisions, and modifications so much so that people are left in a state of confusion. Not every Norwegian is a Lutheran; no, not every French is a Catholic. Even children in nuclear families are now making their own choices on which churches to attend without much resistance from their parents.
Why is this happening? First, there is greater room for free choice, whether in the political, cultural or religious spheres. We’ve seen young people born and bred in some congregations, choosing to attend services of their choice.
Grace Davie, emeritus professor of sociology at the University of Exeter in Great Britain, emphasized on chosen faith during a European church planters’ conference held in Paris. “It’s about embracing free choice and the fact that choices are indeed available, she notes. We see so many churches springing up in Western cities, being catalyzed by the high number of Christians coming in from the Global South. Christianity is fast spreading in places like China, Africa, Latin America, as well as other geographical locations across the globe. The immigration from these locations to the United States and Europe further results in the planting of new churches or strengthening existing ones, further expanding choices.”
Consequently, inherited faith is dying fast. On the contrary, chosen faith isn’t. This is because most of these new churches, mainly evangelical and Pentecostal, emphasize on choosing for yourself “this day whom you will serve,” as well as the Bible teaching that we rise or fall on our own faith and not that of our families or community. They teach that formal religion has no value where there is no genuine inward conversion.
This gospel is gaining ground as more world cities become more multi-ethnic, reaching as far as countries that are traditionally non-Christian. These cities give birth to a breed of people that’s more tolerable to new ways of doing things. In fact, this is why people like Bishop T.D. Jakes, Prophet Dr. David Owuor, Paula White, and Joseph Prince are attracting huge numbers to their outfits.
The biggest challenge is that they aren’t united, in spite of the fact that they’re all claiming to be preaching the gospel of Christ. What can they do to add power to their ministries? Author Mac Pier has an advice for them.
In his book, “A Disruptive Gospel,” Pier gives some five pillars believers can capitalize on to strengthen the gospel ministry. First, he talks of sticking to the gospel truth, which he says has power to change things. Secondly, he calls for unity in the church. Surely, why would churches be divided yet they’re serving the same master? Is it not so? Thirdly, Pier entreats the church to take advantage of the springing up of new multi-ethnic cities to spread the gospel as a way to reach the four corners of the earth. Fourthly, Pier points out the importance of passing on leadership to millennials, being a powerful way to share the gospel word. And the fifth pillar Pier shares is movement. Although he doesn’t put it in definitive terms, he says by creating church leadership with universal gospel message, more people can be drawn together in prayer and ingenuity so as to strengthen the Christian ministry.
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