A Staggering Statistic
In a recent survey of 306 unchurched people representing all 50 States (and Canada), male and female, and from all economic and educational backgrounds the following statistic emerged:
“Eighty-two percent of the unchurched are at least ‘somewhat
likely’ to attend church if they are invited.” –Thom S. Rainer, The
Unchurched Next Door, p. 24.
That is a pretty staggering statistic! Eight out of every ten people I invite to the Harvest Festival are ‘somewhat likely’ to attend. You have to be kidding me. If this is true, it makes me even more eager to invite people to the Harvest Festival. Of course, people will be at different levels of receptivity to the gospel, but most people would at least be ‘somewhat likely’ to attend. We need to adopt the mindset that we are going to “Just ask them to come.”
What is the real risk in asking them to come?
If we “just ask them to come,” how could they possibly respond? I would love to come! Sure? Maybe? No! What is the real risk here? What are we afraid of? They aren’t gong to punch us, or yell at us, or arrest us, or persecute us. They might avoid us, but as followers of Christ we cannot be ashamed of His name. Jesus warns us with these sober words,
“For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” -Luke 9:26
Jesus tells us not to be surprised that people will hate us for His name’s sake. In fact, He tells us to expect hatred for His name’s sake.
“And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” -Mark 13:13
This hatred shouldn’t be because we offend people with how we relate to them or speak to them, but it is hatred associated with His name. It’s the offense of the gospel. Maybe if we’re not being hated it’s because we’re not talking enough about our relationship with Jesus. Maybe people don’t even know we’re followers of Christ.
The real risk is they don’t hear the gospel!
I’ll tell you what the real risk is in not asking them to attend our Harvest Festival. The real risk is that people who are ‘somewhat likely’ to attend will not attend because they haven’t been asked. The real risk is that people who need to hear the gospel will not hear the gospel because we haven’t invited them. The real risk is that eight out of ten people who we know will not come to church because we haven’t asked them to come. “Just ask them to come.”
I have to believe that if eight out of ten people are ‘somewhat likely’ to attend church if invited, then at least the same statistic applies to Exploring Christianity – a less threatening environment. There are people all around us who need to hear the gospel. We work with them, live with them, go to school with them, and play sports with them. Eight out of ten of the people you know are ‘somewhat likely’ to attend church if invited. “Just ask them to come!”
