Recently, Universal Christendom crossed a great global milestone. The recorded number of Baptized Christians crossed 2.5 Billion! [1] This is a great landmark for the Kingdom of God! It is the abundant blessing of God’s Grace, and the concrete fruit of so many laudable missionary efforts of the past 2000 years. All who love the Holy Name of Jesus Christ Our Lord should rejoice that Christianity has crossed this tally. Because it took so many sacrifices, so much effort, so many martyrdoms, to reach this number. It has taken the combined labours of all Christians for nearly 2000 years to cross it.
So many good and holy men and women of God, in each of the 200 odd countries on earth, so many righteous Christians, some known to God alone, so many Martyrs for Jesus, have laboured for Christ’s Kingdom and its expansion here on Earth. They are all known to the Lord Jesus for sure, and their Rich Reward is with the Lord for all the sufferings they endured. Here, on Earth, we can and should remember the mighty sons and daughters of God who did wonderful things for Jesus Christ.
However, while there is cause for rejoicing, there is also cause for seriousness. The world’s population is about 7.7 Billion. If about 2.5 Billion are professing Christians, at least 5.2 Billion are non-Christians. Christianity is just under 1/3rd or 33% of the world’s population. By far, the greater majority, over 2/3rd of people, are non-Christians, and live without knowing the Name of Jesus.
Some progress has been made. In 1800, 204 Million were Christians. The World’s Population was 904 Million. Christians were about 22% of the World Population.
By 1900, Christianity had grown rapidly. 560 Million were now Christians. The World’s Population was 1.6 Billion. Christians were about 35% of the World Population.
Since then, Christianity has grown in numbers, adding nearly 2 Billion Baptized Christians over the last 120 odd years. But Christianity has declined to about 33% of the population.
That is because the world’s population has increased very dramatically, and the Church has barely kept pace with it. The number of non-Christians was just about 1 Billion in 1900.
That number has very greatly increased to nearly 5.2 Billion now, as we saw above. [2]
We have to be aware of these facts and statistics to remedy the problem going forward. Christianity has to add more souls to the Kingdom and decrease the percentage of the lost in future.
We can only accomplish this if we all work together with clear strategic goals in mind. We are losing ground in fulfilling the Great Commission. We have to do more to please Our Redeemer.
Pastors and Priests should work together with the common aim of bringing more souls to saving belief in Jesus Christ and to Holy Baptism in future. All Christian denominations agree that, when a convert believes in Christ and is baptized, all his sins are washed away, and he is prepared for immediate entrance into Heaven. Let this Universal Agreement be the basis of Christian Co-operation. If Christians work together, Christianity can cross 3 billion Christian souls by 2030!
Later on, an Ecumenical Council can be called, such as Popes and Patriarchs have already suggested, at which all major Christian denominations and Christian leaders can be present and pray and work to fully re-unite the Church. Our Lord taught Christian Unity was important for World Evangelism.
That is a very practical and realizable goal toward Full Christian Union that can be realistically achieved. All Christians should consider themselves bound to begin praying and working for it.
“And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified through the Truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; That they all may be One; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in thee, that they also may be One in Us: that the World may believe that Thou hast sent Me.” (Jn 17:19-21)
In order for the World to believe Jesus Christ has been sent by God the Father, all Christians must be One in a Universal Church. Therefore, Christian Unity is inseparably linked to World Evangelism.
The World will believe in Jesus Christ when a United Church of Christ gives a Joint Witness to Jesus Christ. This Word of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ should powerfully impel us toward Full Unity.
References:
[1] Source: Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary: Status of Global Christianity 2021
[2] For more historical stats and figures, see: http://christianityinview.com/religion-statistics.html
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