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Focus on America
No one is unreachable
The most cataclysmic event of my lifetime happened on September 11
and the shock waves are still being felt. Some have predicted that our
way of life has been changed forever and we will never know normalcy
again. Many of the social and economic standards of the past will be
no more … so say the experts.
While these factors are of great concern to followers of Jesus Christ,
they must not be our major focus. We are in the soul-winning business,
and the opportunities to reach the lost have never been greater. Granted,
much of our nation’s interest in God is based on fear, but our
task is to take advantage of the opportunity, not to analyze the cause.
We will leave the analysis to others and use our energy in fulfilling
the Great Commission.
We have this worldwide backdrop of hatred, violence and murder, and
against this backdrop, we can demonstrate the love and forgiveness of
Jesus Christ that leads to redemption. Unfortunately, the church has
assumed that there are some people groups that are not reachable; this
is often said of Muslims. Nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus
said if we would lift Him up, He would draw all men unto himself. No
class of people is exempt. Our responsibility is to do the lifting;
Jesus will do the drawing.
This issue of the Pentecostal Evangel provides information,
reports and testimonies that will enable you to reach out to Muslims
in your community. The love of God and the truth of His Word set Christianity
apart from all other beliefs. We have not been commissioned to debate
or defend our faith, but to demonstrate the love of Jesus that is available
to every human being. No one will be changed through our anger or critical
words, but people from all backgrounds are touched when they see the
love of Jesus flowing through us, even as we speak the truth that Jesus
is man’s only hope. This is not a time for compromise or political
correctness. This is the time to boldly and lovingly proclaim Jesus
as the only way to God and this truth will bring forth fruit as well
as persecution. Regardless of the consequences, let’s be faithful.
— Charles E. Hackett
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