The Church and Culture

The Vision of Heaven (Revelation 5:1–10, 7:9–10)

Scripture paints a compelling picture of heaven where a vast multitude, too large to number, worships before the throne of God. These worshippers come from every tribe, language, people, and nation (Revelation 7:9–10). Often, the tendency is to imagine heaven through the lens of personal experience, assuming it reflects familiar cultures and backgrounds. However, God’s vision for eternity is far broader, encompassing the full diversity of His creation. Heaven will not be dominated by any single nation or class, but will be a beautiful gathering of believers from every corner of the world.

Challenging a Self-Centered Worldview

Many grow up with a view of the world centered around their own culture, often seeing their nation—or even their demographic group—as the center of God’s work. Yet, America represents only about 5% of the world’s population. White, middle-class Americans are an even smaller fraction. Recognizing this reality demands a shift: understanding that God’s epicenter is Himself, not any nation or people group. Believers around the world orbit around Him equally, each one precious and significant in His plan.

The Blessings We Hold (Ephesians 1:3–4)

Those in America are undeniably blessed—both materially and spiritually. Materially, most Americans are among the wealthiest 1% globally, enjoying clean water, stable housing, and abundant resources. Spiritually, believers are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3–4). They have access to the gospel, the Word of God, Christian community, and opportunities for growth that millions around the world have never experienced.

Blessed to Be a Blessing (Genesis 12:1–3)

The blessings believers enjoy are not meant for their comfort alone. God told Abraham, “I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing” (Genesis 12:2). In the same way, modern believers are blessed spiritually to be a blessing to others. God’s intent has always been for His blessings to flow outward, reaching all families of the earth.

The Call to Ambassadorship (2 Corinthians 5:11–21)

Every believer is called to be an ambassador for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). This role is not optional; it is given by God Himself. The motivation behind this calling is twofold: the fear of the Lord and the love of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:11, 14). Believers know they will appear before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10), and this sober reality compels them to persuade others. At the same time, Christ’s love transforms and controls believers, motivating them to no longer live for themselves but for Him who died and was raised (2 Corinthians 5:14–15).

Because of the gospel, believers no longer view others according to worldly standards (2 Corinthians 5:16). Instead, they see each person as an eternal soul, either reconciled to God or still in need of reconciliation. In Christ, the old has gone, and the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17). God entrusts the ministry and message of reconciliation to His people, calling them to participate in His mission across cultures and nations.

Judgment and Urgency (Revelation 20:11–15)

The reality of coming judgment intensifies the urgency of the mission. Every person will stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Those whose names are not found in the Book of Life will be thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15). This sobering truth must fuel the church’s passion for sharing the gospel with all peoples, especially those who have never heard the name of Jesus.

God’s Global Population

Most of the world’s population is not familiar with the gospel. Many belong to religious groups summarized by the acronym “THUMB”—Tribal, Hindu, Unreligious, Muslim, and Buddhist. Hundreds of millions will be born, live, and die without ever hearing the name of Jesus unless the church steps into its role as Christ’s ambassadors.

Responding to the Call

Facing the vastness of the need can feel overwhelming, but believers are not called to save the whole world individually. Instead, each one is called to faithful steps of obedience. Practical actions include learning about unreached people groups through resources like the Joshua Project, praying regularly for the nations, engaging cross-culturally in daily life, reading the Bible with a global lens, and focusing on reaching just one person with the gospel.

Even one disciple made and taught to make disciples can lead to a movement that multiplies exponentially, reflecting the vision of Revelation 7.

The Sufficient Motivation

Ultimately, facts and statistics cannot sustain a lifetime of gospel labor. Only the gospel itself—the love of Christ and the fear of the Lord—can fuel the mission. Jesus did not save His people so they could pursue the American Dream; He saved them to rescue them from it, calling them to labor intensely for the expansion of His church across every tribe, tongue, and nation.

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