In a poll conducted by the Pew Research Center in October of 2012, the center concluded:
The number of Americans who do not identify with any religion continues to
grow at a rapid pace. One-fifth of the U.S. public – and a third of adults under 30 –
are religiously unaffiliated today, the highest percentages ever in Pew Research
Center polling.
In the last five years alone, the unaffiliated have increased from just over 15% to
just under 20% of all U.S. adults. Their ranks now include more than 13 million
self-described atheists and agnostics (nearly 6% of the U.S. public), as well as
nearly 33 million people who say they have no particular religious affiliation (14%).
Later in this study, they speak of 46 million unaffiliated adults – including the ones who claim some level of spirituality in their lives. Among those who stated they have no particular religious affiliation (33 to 46 million), 10% said they are “looking.” The next time you hear someone say that the reason the church in general isn’t growing is that people are just not interested in spiritual things like they used to be, let them know that somewhere between 3.3 and 4.6 million people in the United States ARE currently searching for answers which the Bible provides. Our task is to find those who are engaged in that search.
As huge as the number may indeed be of individuals who are actively searching for the Truth found in scripture, finding them is still a monumental task. In order to find those who are searching for truth, you have to talk to the millions who could care less – thus the title of this article. Whenever you become engaged in a conversation with someone who (as it turns out) is not interested in discussing the Bible at all, you can (as sad as it may sound) tell them “thank you” for saying “No.” Why? – because every “No” moves you one person closer to finding a “Yes, I’d LOVE to study the Bible” response.
Years ago, there was a story told about a company which employed travelling shoe salesmen. Two salesmen in the company had become noted for two totally different personality traits. One was painfully optimistic while the other was dismally pessimistic. When selling rights opened a third-world country as a new market for the company, the company president sent both of these men into the new territory. The pessimistic salesman lasted a week before he sent a telegram back to the head office saying – “Get me out of here! In this culture no one wears shoes!” A second telegram soon arrived from the optimistic salesman. His message declared – “Send every available salesman to help! Everyone in this country needs shoes!”
Everyone needs to hear the message of the Gospel. While in many cases that message will fall on deaf ears, there are hundreds of thousands who will not only listen, but will become members of the Lord’s church. We will never know who we can reach and who will be baptized into Christ until we talk to everyone – one person at a time. If, when you find someone interested in a one-on-one Bible study, and would like to take someone along with you to help conduct the study, please let me know. Please also remember to share the business card sized World Bible School cards with others this week.