Beat The Odds

A recent survey conducted at the casinos in Las Vegas found that people were happy with winning 1 in 6 times. Whether it was roulette, blackjack, or the slot machines, people were happy winning a mere 16.7% of the time, while losing 83.3% of the time. It didn’t matter if the people lost thousands of dollars in five tries, if on that sixth play they won just a single coin they were happy. It just doesn’t make sense.
These statistics though are very similar to the rate at which students stay in church once they graduate from high school. The Barna Group has found that 85% of students leave church once they graduate high school, and many experts are predicting that that number will soon be 90%. Sadly, many youth pastors and churches are satisfied with those odds. It just doesn’t make sense.
What’s the problem then? The problem is, and this is not just for students who have left the church but also part of the reason why baptism numbers have drastically fallen, is that we have wrapped up the message of the Gospel and of faith into a blister pack in which no one can open. Have you ever tried to get headphones, a computer mouse, or a toy out of a blister pack? It will make you lose your religion. Anyone who has ever had to deal with a blister pack has probably had to go to the altar at some point to confess any nasty words they may have said or thoughts they may have had.
Another problem is that we aren’t even sure how to unwrap this blister pack. The presentation looks all nice and neat, but when it comes to opening it up and exploring the package, we do not know how to do that. We present the Gospel, faith, and the church in such a way that we are clueless as to how to get beyond the packaging. We have worried more about the presentation rather than the purpose. We are more consumed with the look rather than the substance.
How do we un-wrap the blister pack? We first have to understand that we are all strategist. We all have different ways in which we can reach different people. Know that you can lay out the Gospel for people in creative and fresh ways that are easy to understand and do not compromise the Truth. Secondly, stay in the battle. It can be tough sharing and living out our faith, especially when it seems we are ineffective. Keep fighting! Thirdly, challenge your own results. Some of you are excellent in presenting and exploring the Gospel message. Don’t get too comfortable with the results. There is more work to do! Finally, as you walk with someone through opening up the blister pack, teach them to do the same with others.
In case you don’t know, 1 in 6 are not good odds. It’s time we stop playing against those numbers on our own and that we play with Christ. With Him, we will always beat the odds.