In just a few short weeks, we will be celebrating the resurrection of Jesus. Christian Churches all over the globe are simultaneously preparing for a grand celebration. No doubt Easter Sunday will find most churches packed with people. Unfortunately, outside of one notable Sunday a year, church attendance as a whole is reportedly in decline.
A 2019 study on church attendance reported that only half of Americans are members of a local church. That number is down from 70% in 1999. Most of the decline can be attributed to an increase in percentage of those who consider themselves non-religious, however church membership has still fallen nine points among those who consider themselves religious.
As a pastor and one who is fiercely loyal to the local church, this information not only troubles me, it sometimes has me wondering if all of our efforts are working and/or are worth it. Now before you condemn me, I know of at least one other person that has felt the same level of discouragement and despair. His name was John the Baptist.
John had spent his entire adult life preaching about Jesus and baptizing people, until one day he suddenly found himself locked in prison. In a moment of desperation and discouragement about the mission and ministry that he had given his life to, John asked a tough but insightful question:
“The disciples of John the Baptist told John about everything Jesus was doing. So John called for two of his disciples, and he sent them to the Lord to ask him, “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?” Luke 7:18-19 NLT
To be clear, I am certain about the authenticity of Jesus. He is indeed the son of God. But if we can all be honest and transparent for just a moment, we can identify with John because sometimes our very best efforts at sharing the gospel and expanding God’s Kingdom can feel useless. Especially when we see reports that church attendance is in decline, even among those who consider themselves religious.
Fortunately for John and for us, how we feel is important, but it is also incomplete. We don’t have the whole picture. God is at work, and according to Jesus there is a specific way that He proves that He is indeed the Messiah that the world had been waiting for.
“Then he told John’s disciples, “Go back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard-the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.” Luke 7:22 NLT
Jesus responds to John by letting him know that if you really want to know where to find evidence of my divinity, my sovereignty, and my majesty, look at how I am working among one of the most disregarded communities in our culture. I am working in and through the disability community, and it is proof that I am the Messiah.
If you know the story of John, then you know that he was eventually killed by King Herod. His story didn’t have the hero’s ending as one would have hoped, but there is something that I find encouraging about his life and witness. He didn’t die without knowing where to look for the evidence of Christ’s power at work in the world. The Bible doesn’t explicitly say this, but I believe that John died encouraged, because he knew where to look for evidence that Jesus was active and working and demonstrating his power to change the world.
Serving in ministry can be tough. Wondering whether you’re making a difference or not is natural. Having questions for God about His active role in a world that seems to be retreating from the church and religion means your faith is healthy, and that you care about people. The key to staying encouraged is to know where to look for evidence that Christ working.
In this next season of the church, I believe that if you want to find encouragement and evidence that our mission still matters, take a close look at what God is doing in and among the disability community. We are witnessing the rise of conferences, seminars, curriculum, and workshops that are not only equipping the church to do ministry for the disability community, but equipping the church to do ministry with the disability community.
Next month, Key Ministry will host Inclusion Fusion Live, and it is one of the largest disability ministry conferences in the nation. The lineup of speakers and trainers don’t just include people teaching about disability, the line up also includes leaders who themselves have a disability and are leading the charge to equip and train the church to be an active witness to the disability community.
Even when it seems like the church is declining, I invite you hear the words of Jesus again. If you’re looking for evidence that God is at work, take a second look. You might not find it in the pews or the pulpit. If you’re looking for evidence that God is at work, you’ll find that evidence where Jesus said He would be. Let's join Him. See you at Inclusion Fusion Live 2020.
Lamar Hardwick is the lead pastor of Tri-Cities Church in Atlanta, GA. Visit his website www.autismpastor.com for more information.
