The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. – Isaiah 9:2
If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? That’s the old philosophical question that, to me, has always had an obvious answer. Of course, it made a sound. We don’t have to personally witness something to know the truth.
When I see all the candles multiplying and being carried out of the Sanctuary on Christmas Eve, it reminds me of our effort to carry the light of Christ – the Truth – out into the world. As Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.”
But despite our efforts to spread Christ’s true message of love and hope, we hear about church attendance declining across the U.S. We hear about fewer Americans believing in God. In other words, it seems there’s a growing number of people who must hear the tree fall in order to believe it made a sound. That can be discouraging… until we hear about the message of Christ echoing across the world like never before.
One of the fastest-growing Christian communities on earth is in China. The Chinese Communist Party once tried to destroy religion. Chairman Mao Zedong brutally persecuted Christians just a few decades ago.
Today, there’s a 263-foot tall Christian church standing in Mao’s hometown. By no coincidence… it resembles Noah’s Ark. Some surveys indicate China will soon be the world’s most Christian nation by 2030, with more churchgoers than America.
Even more amazing is the spread of the Gospel in the Middle East. Pastor Tom Doyle is an American missionary who crosses into countries that are “hostile” to Christians, to say the least. In an interview on Air1 Radio, he talked about sneaking Bibles into places like Iran and Syria. Despite the threat of persecution, he finds many people turning to faith in Christ in record numbers. One group recognizes Iran as having the fastest-growing Christian movement, per capita, in the world.
In his book, Standing in the Fire, Pastor Doyle talks about secret churches in Iran having to meet in the middle of the night to avoid detection. They can never share the Gospel in the same place two consecutive times. They’re willing to risk their lives to know the truth. According to the World Christian Encyclopedia, nearly 2.7 million people convert to Christianity every year – the most of any religion.
So, let’s always persevere in sharing the light of Christ. Billions of people want to know the truth – and they’re listening.
Ed Doney, Staff Writer
