In Matthew chapter 4 verses 18 to 22 we are told of Jesus calling His first disciples. “Follow me” He said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Only once in the Gospels does it say that you must be born again, but 21 times Jesus said ‘follow me’. Almost 2,000 years later, how do we measure up?

Two hundred or so years ago, the era of the great evangelists, social conditions were much worse than they are today. Working conditions bordered on slavery, poverty and starvation were rampant. Yet those years saw some of the great revivals of all time. Without sophisticated electronic equipment and massive advertising campaigns, evangelists like John Wesley drew crowds of 50,000 and thousands on their knees gave their lives to Christ. Do we now have it so good? Has society reached the point where it doesn’t need God?

I sincerely believe that people today need God more than ever before but few have any comprehension of what God is offering them. In my ‘retirement’ (I use the term loosely) I have had time to reflect on why so many do not attend church. My fellow ministers will be well aware of baptisms, weddings and funerals where many that attend feel uncomfortable. They feel threatened by the very thought of church.. They are threatened because they feel that they will be embarrassed if they do the wrong thing. They might stand when they are supposed to sit, they won’t know the hymns, they might be asked to say something, they won’t understand what is being said, and they don’t know anyone. Collectively, those things are a serious threat, certainly threatening enough to prevent them from attending a church service. There are many who are totally confused by ‘religion’, confused because on the one hand the church is telling them about creation, Adam and Eve and Noah’s Ark, the Virgin birth and resurrection; and on the other hand science is telling them about evolution and has an explanation for everything. They are told to repent of their sins but they don’t know how (and probably doubt that they are sinners); they are told to follow Jesus but what does that mean? They are told that they will receive salvation but have no idea what that means either. They are told that God loves them yet they are beset with all the troubles around the place. They are being told these things against a background of wars, famines, death and destruction. Even the church seems preoccupied in disputing the teaching of centuries, thus adding to the confusion.

No, I don’t have the answers but I do believe that we need to present God, Jesus and Christianity as real and relevant and non-threatening. We need to present the story of the love of God just as Jesus taught it – so simply that even a child could understand. After all, it is the simplest of all messages – “Love the Lord your God and love your neighbour as yourself.” When we are faced with situations all around us it is sometimes possible to doubt our vocation. Like the priest who found a young boy in the street, hungry, poorly clothed and obviously homeless. “God” he demanded furiously, “Why do you allow this to happen? Why don’t you do something about it?” And in his mind he heard the voice of God. “I do care” he was told, “and I’ve done something about it, I created you.”

Have a good week. Pastor Ron Optional Bible reading: Matthew 4:18-22; Matthew 13:10-23. This is one of a series of weekly messages of encouragement originating from the Huon Valley, near Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. A companion Bible study page is available each week. To subscribe email < with the words ‘subscribe word’ (or) ‘subscribe word and study’ Enquire about our weekly ‘Kids World’ email newsletter for young people.

Pastor Ron Clarke (Mark 16:15) Email: Internet Home Pages: http://www.pastornet.net.au/word4week (Kids World) http://www.tassie.net.au/~rclarke