“But many who are first will be last and many who are last will be first” Mathew 19:30.
This phrase from the word of the Lord while on his earthly ministry seems happening already. Perhaps it is part of fulfilment of the last day’s prophecy.
Whichever way, one obvious thing is that Christianity is fast declining in parts of the world that once went round the globe to spread the good news. While those nations that was once closed and classified as dark continents to the gospel are those in the fore front of propagating the gospel presently.
it is reported that countries like; Australia, Holland and other parts of western Europe are fast renouncing the faith for either new age religion or identifying as non-religion at all. From the report of the state of church, Australia and a study by St. Mary university; In 1971, Christians represented 86.2% of the Australian population. In 2021, Christians were down to 43.9% of the population.
While about 55% of young Europeans aged 16-29 identify with no religion.
On the contrary eastern Europe is catching fresh fire for Jesus.
Places like Hungary, Poland and Ukraine have all long identified with the Christian faith.
One particular phenomenal event was the way people of Hungary demonstrated unrestricted hunger for the gospel at an Christian event organised in 2021. The venue was the country’s national stadium; organised by a man who caught a vision in 1997 while UK to organise worship service.
The turnout was unprecedented and the convener has conceived as a small seed back in 1997.
The lesson to be learned is; that; Africans should not shrink back from the current wave of revival blowing over the continent so we will not slide back to a state of lethargy if not outright extinction of the gospel from our continent. Extinction in the sense that the rate at which technology is evolving, our kind of doctrinal emphasis in may be out fashion by the time AI is fully integrated into the fabrics of our existence. It is high time for various Christian bodies come together proactively and conduct research on potential challenges that may come with AI dispensation, and way out.
By Rev Joseph S. Oyewole