Numbers alone don’t necessarily reveal if Christianity is dying out in any particular part of the world. But it is true that some countries that used to be heavily Christian have become very secular or even anti-religious today.

Could it happen here? Yes, of course it could. One problem is that our society continues to be preoccupied with pleasure and material comforts—and when that happens, God tends to get pushed aside. We’ve also become obsessed with entertainment and sports and technological gadgets—things that aren’t necessarily wrong in themselves, but in time they can keep us from even thinking about God. Our coins and dollar bills say, “In God We Trust”—but do we?

Christians must share some of the blame for many of the trends we see around us. How often do you pray for your pastor, the teachers in your schools, or those who in public office? How often have we failed to reach our young people with the message of the Gospel? How often have we failed to teach them what it means to follow Jesus?

Ask Christ to make you a light for the Gospel right where you are. Pray especially for the young people in your community, that they may come to know Christ and follow Him in their daily lives. Jesus’ words are still true: “You are the light of the world. … Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14,16).

Know Jesus today