After my trip to the UK with several ministers, visiting Scotland, Ireland, and Northern Ireland -- which, in the opinion of most pundits qualifies as "post-Christian" nations -- I came across a scripture to the Israelits that seems to address the present situation.
Europe is a unique mission field. Unlike Third World countries in Africa, Asia, and Central and South America, the people living in Western Europe and the United States have plenty. When people have their material needs met, they don't look elsewhere for help. They tend to be independent, self-sufficient, and spiritually callous.
People who have nothing, on the other hand, who don't know where their next meal is coming from or whether they will be able to get treatment for an illness, are more likely to turn to God for help.
This is what makes the missionaries' job in Europe so tough. As the Rev. Michael McNamee said, jokingly but as usual with wry truth, he sees missionaries come back from Africa and say that the $10,000 they received in donations enabled them to start 100 churches and each one is running 1,000 people. In Europe, Michael said $10,000 enabled him to hold an outreach event where he saw one person shaking -- and maybe it was because of the air conditioning.
The dollars don't go as far and the people are not as open to hearing the Gospel when they have a roof over their head, a car in the garage, and a plasma tv in their media room.
Check out the wisdom of Deuteronomy, Chapter 8, Verses 10 to 14: "When you have eaten your fill, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the Lord your God and disobey his commands, regulations, and laws. For when you have become full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in, and when your flocks and herds have multiplied along with everything else, that is the time to be careful." (New Living Translation)
I'd say our countries today are in the same situation God was talking about when he gave these words of wisdom to the ancient Israelis.
Syvlania, Ohio
March 28, 2007