My friend and teacher Jim Denison of the Denison Forum writes, ”The church is the hope of the world.” Others have given up on the church and predict its imminent demise. What difference can a church make in a city? In a recent set of interviews, I heard a pastor describe his church’s vision: we want to become a better church so that our city is a better place to live. Can you imagine that? Paul could.
When Paul showed up in Ephesus, there was no strong Christian presence. Followers of John the Baptist’s teaching came to believe in Jesus. After they were baptized the Holy Spirit empowered them. Paul taught boldly about the Kingdom of God. The local synagogue rejected him so he took his message to the Gentiles. Over a period of two years, his teaching about Christ literally penetrated the whole province of Asia. Everyone in the area heard that Jesus is Lord.
What difference would it make if people heard the truth about Jesus and saw him as their King establishing his kingdom on earth among us? In Ephesus, the people who had always worshiped the goddess Artemis stopped by her statues. This affected the bottom line of the group manufacturing silver idols. Demetrius the silversmith led those who were losing revenue to cause a riot.
Is it possible for one faithful church to make a difference in a city? What do we need to do differently? G. K. Chesterton said, “Christianity has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult and left untried.” As we teach that Jesus is the Way, people will give up on their idols and begin to serve him as their King. Marriages can be strengthened, children drawn closer to their parents. Pornography would lose market share. The crime rate could drop. Alcohol sales could drop. Drug demand would die. People would love Jesus so much, they would sin less. Goodness could become fashionable if the church just did what God called us to do. It starts with us, church. What difference can we make? Let’s find out together.
