Unlimited: The Church That Broke My Heart
Oct 16, 2017 1550
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? (Romans 10:14, NIV).
The smallest church I ever preached in was in India. Little more than a dozen people could sit crossed-legged and pressed together under the tiny thatched roof of this village building.
I asked them, “How long did it take the thief on the cross to be saved?” Being a community-oriented culture, they consulted among themselves for a minute or two, and then the spokesperson confidently answered, “15 years.” I had been hoping that the answer would have been that he had been saved instantly.
Later I found out that the people had given this answer because that is how long they thought it would take to learn all the teachings of Christianity properly, and to have perfected your life sufficiently in order to be saved.
That little church broke my heart. I hope it breaks yours.
There are many thousands of churches across India just like that little church. Who knows how many there are around the world? How many people are living and dying, even today, without knowing that they are loved by Jesus?
There is no work more important, anywhere on earth, than to announce Jesus Christ and the Good News of his salvation to those who need to hear it. How can they believe if they have not heard? – Eliezer Gonzalez
Eli’s Reflection: The story of the thief on the cross astonished the members of this little church; they really struggled to believe that Christ could have saved that thief then and there. What is it that most astonishes you about the grace of God? With whom will you share that today?
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