In 2008, 56 million people died1 and 37 million of them went to Hell!  “How can you say that?” you might ask.  Of the six billion people on earth, those of the Christian faith comprise only 33%2. Thus, 66% of the 56 million people who died did not know Jesus as their Lord and Savior and therefore Hell is their eternal home.

A recent Pew report3 paints a more dire picture:

  • Most American Christians believe many religions can lead to eternal life and the majority believe you don’t have to be Christian to go to heaven.
  • 65%  of all Christians believe there are multiple paths to eternal life rejecting the exclusivity of Christ’s teaching
  • More than half of white mainline Christians and white Catholics say Hinduism can lead to eternal life (33% of white evangelicals and 44% of Black Protestants believe the same)
  • 46% of white Christians and white Catholics and 26% of white evangelicals believe that many religions lead to salvation and that even atheism can lead to eternal life.

 The Church has a lot to do – and a lot to answer for if so many “Christians” view the path to heaven to be so wide as to include Hinduism and atheism.  The bottom line is that doing things the same way isn’t going to get the job done…because if we were doing it right 66% of the world’s population would be in the Body of Christ and NO Christian would believe anything except what Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man comes to the Father except by Me.”

“If you always do what you’ve always done you’ll get what you’ve always got.”  That phrase may not be grammatically correct but it is accurate.  Afterall, the definition of insanity is “doing the same thing but expecting different results.”  The church of the past served its purpose but it is no longer getting the job done.  That is why a Barna4 survey found that the number of unchurched Americans (those who have not attended a religious service of any type during the past six months) has reached 100 million.  It is no wonder so many fail to see Jesus as the only way to salvation.  How can you make a difference?   Fulfill your vision but first create a strategic plan.  God has one and so should you.  Before you even begin the planning process there are three steps you should take:

1.   ASK YOURSELF “WHY?” 

 “Why do we do this?”  Why do we do it this way?”  What was its original purpose and does it still apply?”  Jesus spoke vehemently against tradition so we must guard against falling into its trap.  There’s a story of a young girl who asked her mother, “Why do you cut the corners off the beef roast before you cook it?”  The mother had to admit she didn’t really know so she called her mother, “Mom, why do you always cut the corners off the roast before you cook it?” She thought for a minute and realized she didn’t really know so she called her mother, “Mama, why do you cut the corners off the roast before you cook it?”  Her mother replied, “I only had one pot and a pot roast never fit in it so I trimmed the corners so it would fit.”  There were two generations who had maintained a tradition for reasons that no longer applied.  It would have become a tradition of yet another generation had the daughter not asked the simple question, “Why?”

2.   LOOK AT THE MAN IN THE MIRROR

When change is needed the first place we should always look is in the mirror.  Honestly assess where you are flowing in your anointing and where you are not “wired” to function in that role.  Pride is insidious because we seldom recognize it within ourselves but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.  There is a difference between being tenacious and bull-headed.  It’s ok to admit, “I don’t know the best way to get from A to B, I just know we have to get to B.” Pastors and visionaries are often the last to realize that they don’t know how to accomplish their vision.  There’s nothing wrong with not knowing but there is something wrong with not knowing and not listening to those who do, it’s a five letter word that precedes “ goeth before the destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

The saying “Jack of all trades and master of none” is a true statement.  Yes, there may be a lot of things you can do but are they the things you should do?  At the end of the ages, God is not going to assess any of us on what we were capable of doing but on whether or not we fulfilled what He called us to do.  The more time you spend on what you can is time lost from doing what you should do.  If you were called to preach, then preach but don’t try to do marketing, graphic design or administration.  God has given those gifts and anointing to others – let them flow in their anointing and you will be able to flow in yours.

3.   REALIZE THAT GOD HAS ANOINTED OTHERS TO HELP YOU

You may recall when Solomon was building the temple he did not have the skills that were needed among the people of Israel. He had to go outside his nation/congregation to acquire what was necessary to get the job done.  He sent for Hiram of Tyre to do the work that was required.  It is often difficult to take an honest, hard look at ourselves because we judge ourselves by our intentions (yet we judge others by their actions).  We can always justify why we did things a certain way or got certain results and we’ll thing those reasons make it okay unless we have the help of an unbiased, impartial third-party.  A mother never thinks her child is ugly though others can clearly see it.  Everything you have done in the past is “your baby” and it may be difficult to let go of it or admit that it has no purpose other than that brings comfort (often the foundation for tradition).  However, God knows that which is why He has anointed others to fill that gap on your behalf.  Invite them to the table.  If you are really serious about making a difference; if your focus is on advancing the Kingdom and fulfilling the call on your life; if the results of the past are insufficient for your future, then create a strategic plan with the help of those who are anointed for that process.  They can help you create your future and fulfill your vision.

If you haven’t created a plan for 2010 it’s not too late but don’t wait too long…153,000 people die each day and over 100,000 are making Hell their eternal home.

1http://www.hebrew4christians.com/About_HFC/Death_Rate/death_rate.html
2 http://www.adherents.com 
 3 http://www.articlesofinfo.com/article.php/19-12-2008Many-Americans-Say-Christianity-Not-the-Only-Way-to-Eternal-Life.htm
4 Unchurched Population Nears 100 Million in the U.S., Barna, March 2007

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