In Matthew 28, Jesus Christ tells His followers to “go and make disciples of all nations.” Yet today, increasing immigration means the “nations” are coming to the United States. And as more homegrown Americans reject the God of Scripture, the missionary challenge around us is growing.
How should we respond to this evangelistic opportunity, especially when those around us may believe in false religions, or in no god at all?
Dr. Michael Horton, host of Core Christianity, has a challenge for Christians in the midst of growing religious pluralism in America:
“So many Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, nones–people who say that they don’t identify with any religion–are moving into our neighborhood. What do we do about that? Well, we’re told in Romans 10:13-17, “Everyone who calls the name of Lord will be saved. How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed and how are they to believe in Him, of whom they have never heard and how are they to hear without someone preaching and how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Good News.”
To hear the gospel, it has to be announced to them. We have to all be heralds of the gospel right where we live. Pluralism is not something we should be afraid of. We should embrace it. It’s good that we come in contact with different people from different religious backgrounds. And for us who believe the gospel, it’s an opportunity to share what we’ve received.
With the world at our doorstep, it’s more important than ever for believers to grasp the core essentials of Christianity.
