“I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel.”  (Phil 1:27)

12 people came to Taiwan on January 14, 1991 with only one goal in mind.  We wanted to preach the Word to the Mandarin speaking Chinese, in Taiwan, as well as China.  More than 13 years later, the Lord has increased His faithful disciples to close to 700 both in Taiwan and China.  While we praise the Lord for his grace and mighty deeds, we must re-examine our own hearts to understand why we are growing slower than we did before. 

Do we still care?

When the church was small, we all had one purpose, which was to bear much fruit. (John 8:16)  We all had the expectation to bring visitors to Church and to Bible Talks.  Everyone wanted to and was always in a one-on-one Bible Study.  Seeing people courageously repent of their sins inspired us to evangelize even more.  However, these days, do we care if we don’t have visitors with us to Bible Talks?  Do we even care if we have Bible Talks at all?  What I fear the most is that disciples simply stop caring.  I believe this is what being lukewarm is all about. 

Let me outline a few symptoms of people becoming lukewarm.

1.      Always late to gatherings.

2.      No longer bother to take notes or even try to learn.

3.      Can’t remember the last time bringing a visitor to Bible Talk or Church, or don’t even bother to think about it.

4.      Not involved in a Bible Study for a long time.

5.      Hardly initiate spending time with other disciples besides Sunday and Wednesday.

6.      Not eagerly seeking inputs from other leaders.

7.      Harbor many complaints and bitter attitudes in our hearts.

Revelation warns that those who are lukewarm will eventually be “spit out” of the body of Jesus.  The body of Jesus is the Church.  In the coming months, we will ask those brothers and sisters who no longer seem to care about the Great Commission to take time out to decide if being a disciple and making disciples for Christ is what they want to do.  (Or, we can repent and “Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.”…1 Tim. 4:15)

Are we too tired?

“"Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house.”  (Haggai 1:9)

When we get too busy with life’s many demands, we often give to the Lord what is left of our time, money, and energy.  Some older disciples may feel like that they have worked hard in the ministry for the past 5 or even 10 years.  How often have we been tempted to think, “I have been fruitful and have led Bible Talks for many years.  Now that I have done enough, it’s someone else’s turn to sacrifice.”  I know a continual sacrifice isn’t easy, but can we say that what we have done in the past “earned” our salvation?  Of course not!  For it is written, “what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:37)  Since Christ died for us, we shall no longer live for ourselves.  We have decided to live for Jesus and the message of His Cross.  (2 Cor. 5:15)

We care enough to persevere.

All of us became disciples because someone else sacrificed and reached out to us in the past.  Without people cared enough to make radical sacrifice like giving up their jobs, moving to different places, and going the extra mile to help and serve, the Taipei church would not be the same today.  Therefore, we can never allow ourselves to become ungrateful and stop sacrificing for others who do not know Christ Jesus yet.  In the parable of the four soils, it is the one that perseveres that produce the good crop.  It’s never easy to keep the zeal in our hearts serving the Lord, yet it is commanded in Rom 12:11.  It’s never easy to stay focused in the Great Commission when we are busy with the demands of life, yet it is also commanded.  (Haggai 1:9)  That is why we must resist the temptation to become complacent and persevere to produce the good crop.  No wonder Bible tells us to:

“Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.  ‘Make level paths for your feet,’ so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.”  (Heb. 12:12-13)

We will expect ourselves to care about the Great Commission, and we will “spur” one another on towards love and good deeds.  This is the least we can do for God.

Steve Chin