Is the Gospel still Relevant in America?
By Rev. John B. Sorensen
Evangelism Explosion International
Quite a bit has changed since Jesus walked on the earth more than two millennia ago. Even during our lifetime, we have seen our culture in America shift seemingly further and further away from the Gospel. But does that mean that the Gospel is no longer relevant in today’s modern world?
Not at all. If anything, the Gospel is even more relevant today. People are desperate for some good news. They need a message of hope more than ever before. Yet, few Christians seem to be sharing it. Many believers simply don’t think people in America want to hear it, so they stay quiet about their faith.
But people want to talk about it. This year, LifeWay Research Group released the results of a study conducted in partnership with Evangelism Explosion International to gain insight into how open people in America are to the Gospel. The study confirmed what we (at EE) have seen through our Equip America program. People are interested in having spiritual conversations.
LifeWay found that half of Americans were curious about why some people were so devoted to their faith. Most (66%) were open to having spiritual conversations with a friend. Just over half said they would even be open to having that conversation with a stranger. But many (40%) also said that they would never bring it up unless a friend or family member mentions it first. The problem is that most people (60%) said that their friends who are Christians rarely talk about their faith (LifeWay Research Group, February 2022).
This is a huge, missed opportunity that we have to reach our friends and family with the Gospel. Most people (88%) are searching for hope, peace, and meaning in their lives. These needs are universal and are certainly still true today in America. Many people recognize they are missing something, but they simply don’t know what it is or what to do about it. We can meet them where they are by sharing our own experiences about how the Gospel has met our needs through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research, said it well. “While some Americans have reached a firm conclusion that they are not interested in faith, most are open to hearing about faith when someone can show it matters or when it is shared by someone who matters to them.”
So, what are you waiting for? Ask someone what they think about the results of this study. Share what you think, and begin the conversation. They might just be waiting for the opportunity to hear how they can find the hope that they have been looking for – the hope that you have already found in Jesus.
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Rev. John B. Sorensen, D.D. is the President/CEO of Evangelism Explosion International, headquartered in Arden, N.C. EE has been a leader in equipping Christians to share their faith for more than 50 years. For more free tips and resources, visit evangelismexplosion.org, or follow John on Twitter, @jbsoresen.
Read more good Christian news from John Sorensen HERE
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