American industry muscled military production to colossal levels once President Wilson declared war on Germany in 1917. All belligerents knew that the GAME CHANGER had chosen sides. The only question in world capitals involved TIMING. The Allies wanted to hang on till American doughboys arrived. The Central Powers hoped to land a knock-out blow before they arrived.
The usual confusion in America when transitioning from peace to war seemed to favor Germany. For while they lacked guns, ammunition and uniforms, American training camps bulged with willing recruits. As a result, enthusiasm waned as delays continued. A Christian evangelist in the camps had posted a sign for the men that read, "Where will you spend eternity?" A waggish recruit scribbled under the quote, "At Camp McClellan". Life History U.S., Vol. 10, p. 14 The problem badgering Christians in the 21st century isn't a lack of spiritual ammunition to shoot at the enemy, or a lack of disciples willing to engage the Enemy. It IS a lack of personal lifestyle evangelism in Christians and planned programs of evangelism in churches. Lifestyle evangelism occurs when Christians naturally embody Christ I Peter 3:15. Planned programs occur when churches sponsor efforts directed at opening conversations with the unsaved. Maybe, as Erwin W. Lutzer wrote in We Will Not Be Silenced, we can't eliminate all the damage Christian lethargy has allowed into society. But we can stop further deterioration by returning to personal evangelism. Where we at least say with Philip to a skeptical Nathaniel, "Come and see" Jesus John 1:46. And, if at all possible, convince a sinner to accept Jesus, so we can say with Jesus of Zacchaeus, "Today salvation has come to this house" Luke 19:9. We cannot "strengthen what remains" by continuing to hold entertainment-centered, music-filled worship services, with fun-filled sermons. Or Bible studies which are often anything but. Surely even the least-aware Christian can understand the folly of the models being used. Since as churches got bigger audiences on Sunday, daily morality plummeted in culture. Back to personal evangelism, Christians! With new approaches that make it pleasant, not onerous, lifestyle oriented, not plagued by memory verses and sales-like pressure. THAT return, exposes spiritually darkened minds to the LIGHT of the WORLD, John 9:5, 11, 15, 17, 19, 21, 25, 26-27, 30, 39-41, and enlightens them spiritually as it removes their sins in forgiveness.
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