Every Knee Shall Bow

If I were to ask you what percentage of Americans believe that Jesus was born of a virgin, what would you say? Would you be optimistic and say nearly 100%? Or would you be pessimistic and say something like, less than half, or 50%? What number would make you feel "good" about our country? 

The actual number, or at least the one determined by a new Pew Research study, is 73%. Roughly three out four individuals believe this part of the Christmas story. Does that surprise you? Does that number encourage you or discourage you? Or does it motivate you?

When I first saw this yesterday I thought, "Wow, that's great! That's a lot higher than I thought it would be!" But then I thought about it for a minute... We live in arguably the most Christian nation in the world and there are still one in four folks that don't believe in a core, foundational belief of the Christian faith. When you dig into the numbers (which, of course I did given that's what I do!) it makes sense that the level of belief is higher among folks who actually go to church weekly (92%) and much lower for those that do not go to church at all (42%).

The more I look at these numbers though, the more troubling they become. Nearly one in 10 folks that go to church weekly, do not believe in the virgin birth. And yet there 4 in ten that believe, but don't even go to church? The more I read this report the more I feel we still have a lot of work to do. Why are those that believe not going to church? Why are they not in an environment where they can grow their faith? And what of those folks that are sitting in a church every week, but they don't believe in one of the basic tenets of the faith?

We all learn early on in our Christian upbringing about The Great Commission:

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”



It appears from this study that we still have a lot of work to do! Not only in foreign nations but in our very own! It isn't enough that "most" folks believe, Paul said that,
"at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord" 

That's EVERY knee and EVERY tongue. Not 73% of them, but ALL of them. 

So, what can we do? What can YOU do? As we've discussed in this space recently, Christmas is a great time to share your faith with others. It's probably the easiest time of the year to do so. What that looks like is up to you. We're all different and we all have different styles. Maybe it's asking someone to go to church with you. Maybe it's having a deeper discussion than usual with your small group at church. Maybe it's decorating your office for Christmas and seeing what conversations follow. The "how" is up to you. My prayer, though, is that we all become more intentional about introducing others to our wonderful Savior, Jesus Christ.

(Image Credit: http://www.portraitartistnc.com/GWsanta.html)





Location: Milton, GA, USA

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