We all work together to advance the Gospel. When Baptists in Indian Territory first began to work together in 1883, they declared their desire to “give the Gospel to destitute places.” They opened their eyes to the fields of Indian Territory and saw people and places that were dark and waiting for the Gospel light.
If we open our eyes, we would still see people who are dark and destitute. Think in terms of sociology instead of geography. There are a lot of broken people in Oklahoma. Jesus teaches us to embrace brokenness as an opportunity for the Gospel:
“And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written, ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.’ And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, ‘Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:17-21).
Every time you read about a social problem in Oklahoma, you are discovering an opportunity for the Gospel. Think about the words of Jesus—poor, captives, blind, oppressed. We have a state filled with children waiting for a foster home, immigrants longing to learn English, prisoners yearning for a better way of life for themselves and their families. We are often divided by race. Many of our public schools are struggling with a lack support from parents. And, let’s not forget, we are repeatedly a place of natural disasters begging for relief.
Open your eyes; we are a state filled with addicts! Gambling, opioids, alcohol and pornography are wrecking our families and killing our neighbors.
We must embrace brokenness as an opportunity for the Gospel.
This is the way of our Master. “It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:31-32).
