Have you ever thought about the amount of money spent globally trying to clean up the mess that human brokenness – sin – makes? Try to add up what it costs to address addiction, greed, fraud, corruption, criminality, violence, sexual brokenness, family breakdown, injustice, oppression – let alone the exploitation of creation. It’s a very hefty bill!
When I talk to people about investing in gospel ministries, I suggest that $1 spent on effective evangelism may prevent $100 or more needing to be spent on the bill above. As a trained economist, I suspect it’s much more.
People often nod and say, “I know what you mean – better to build a fence at the top of a cliff than a hospital at the bottom, right?” But I’m suggesting much more than that.
What the gospel does in receptive hearts is much more than stopping people sinning. When God pours his love and power into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, what we can expect is what Paul wrote to the Ephesians:
Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (Eph 4:28-29 NIV)
Do you see? Those who receive Christ not only stop thieving but are to become anti-thieves – generous givers! They not only stop cursing others but will become anti-cursers – encouragers and instructors! Not only is a Christian less likely to succumb to addiction, they’re also more likely to help others who suffer it. Not only far less likely to be violent, but far more likely to become a protectors of the vulnerable.
The gospel does a power of good – an enormous power of good. We should not be ashamed of it, but ashamed of the enormous non-gospel efforts at fixing the world that fall so far short of fixing the human heart. Prevention is indeed better than cure – but transformation is far better again.
So look at your giving and investing. By all means let’s attend to the broken in Jesus’ name – he did and still does. But allocate a good portion also into gospel effectiveness. (Consider the multiplier effect of supporting Crossover to provide encouragement, training and resources to help 1,000+ Australian Baptist churches share Jesus!)
The heart of the world’s problems is the human heart, and Christ the only one who can truly make a bad tree good. Let’s point everyone to him!
*Andrew Turner is Director of Crossover for Australian Baptist Ministries.
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