Re-Establishing Evangelism As Our Primary Purpose Series

But, because of political upheaval and infighting that was taking place in Europe, there was a long

delay in anybody coming. In the end, only 2 representatives of Christianity were sent and even they

lost heart soon and turned back. Because of the failure of the church of that day, Kublai Khan turned

instead to Buddhism and that has been the predominant religion in the area from that day to this one.

B. I think the main problem with most churches is they forgot the cycle has to continue.

1. Instead, they’ve become contented with the way things are

--Let’s just keep it nice and respectable

2. Too many Christians have retreated from being fishers of men and instead have become keepers of

the aquarium

C. Jeffrey Allyn Collins has caught this problem in a piece entitled A Different Drummer:

He was not so much to look at. He was neither tall nor short.

He had no outstanding features – a rather ordinary sort.

But when He came among them He began to play,

They soon began to listen, in no ordinary way.

He shoulder up His big bass drum and thundered out a beat,

Which moved the crowd to dancing and laughing in the street.

“How rude!” said some whose ears were deaf. “Without doubt this must cease!”

“What kind of rabble disturbs the public peace!”

But those with ears rejoiced the more, the drummer’s beat to hear

And soon began to drum along, His message loud and clear.

But when the deaf ones’ anger rose, they hung the drummer high,

But silence could not hold him long. He rose to die no more.

He came to those who followed the sound that made them glad

And said, “I must leave for a time but you must not be sad.”

“The drum I now leave with you. Don’t forget the beat.”

“For, O so many, that we have not yet to meet

Are sitting in silence and waiting for a sound

To fill the empty spaces with the joy, in Me you’ve found.”

And so the marchers took the drum; they place it in a room

And played the songs that turned all laughter into gloom

At first they danced with reckless joy, the doors flung open wide;

So that anyone who passed the door would hear and come inside.

But then they thought, “The wind and rain will surely hurt the drum.”

“If we’ve got no drum to play, the people will no come.”

And so they closed the doors up tight – while inside they still played.

The folks outside, hearing no sound, passed by or stayed away.

Inside, the children never learned the beating sound of joy.

Their parents said, “We must not treat the great drum like a toy.”

“If we were to beat upon it, someday the drum might break.”

“Then we’d be left behind with nothing. Let’s not make that mistake.”

Though they still met almost daily, they could not remember why.

The drum became neglected; the skins were cracked and dry.

There really were no players. They’d all forgotten how.

Their parents hadn’t taught them and there were no players now.

“This really is a lovely room,” one room-goer was heard to say.

“Why don’t we take that ugly drum and put the thing away?”

And so they could have a “nice” and “pretty” little room,

They put it in the closet with the mop and with the broom.