Persecution, People, and Proclamation

Recently, I came across a map that showed the progress of the gospel in foreign countries. As I was looking at it, I was amazed at how well it corresponded with two other maps I had seen previously:

Here is the first map, based on the research of Joshua Project (http://www.joshuaproject.net/):

As you can see, northern Africa, the Middle East, and most of Asia is where the most unreached people groups are. That means that these groups can have less than 5% Christian among them; some of them do not have Scripture in their language; many of them of never met a Christian in their entire life.

Then I remembered this second map:

Considering these are some of the most unreached people groups in the world, why aren’t there more Christians working there? What is holding them back from going out and seeing these lost souls saved? America is rich with capable Christians, not to mention the other countries all in the West. Why then so few?

I think mainly because of our comforts. We are unwilling to abandon our comforts and go out and preach the gospel. We’re in “velvet chains”, as I heard one author state it. We are enslaved to our comforts. At first they made our lives better; but now, they are spiritually killing us.

Because we so love our comfort, we are unwilling to go somewhere that is uncomfortable. And when people see this map, it makes them recoil from considering going to these countries:

So let’s put this all together: among the most unreached people groups are little to no Christians working because we are unwilling to go to the dangerous places. Where the most work is needed, the least workers are going, because the most danger is there.

As I propose this question, know I am asking myself as well. Ask yourself, “Am I willing to go to the darkest pits of hell on earth in order to bear the light of the gospel? Am I willing to suffer and die that Christ may be glorified?”

I encourage you to visit the Joshua Project. You can subscribe to receive by email a new unreached people group daily.

There is much work to be done. In these countries, “the harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest” (Matt. 9:37-38). More than that, consider going to these people. God is not being worshiped as He deserves; He is not gaining the glory He deserves from these people. As John Piper said, “Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn’t.” This is our impetus: the glory of our God and King; this is our weapon: the great gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the power of God unto salvation. And may God receive all the praise due His name.