Your recent write-up “The Changing Global Religious Landscape” seems to reflect a concern for the decline in “Christianity’s continued status as the world’s largest religious group.” We need the Light of Truth to enlighten us. Paul, perhaps the greatest missionary of Jesus, was very casual about the statistics of those baptized by him. He tells the Corinthians who were divided among themselves due to their cultivating special loyalty to the person from whom they received baptism: “I am thankful that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius… I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else. Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel”
(1 Cor 1:14-17). He also speaks very little about baptism in his authentic letters. Paul was clear: Jesus called him to walk His way, and not to belong to any sect. Jesus sent him to proclaim the Good News and help people become good. Jesus did not send him to sacramentalize people and make them members of some sect.
I do not wish to sound pessimistic, but as one reflecting on the mission of Jesus and of His Church, I cannot but say that today we have many Christians, but not enough disciples of Jesus. In saying this I am not alone. More than ever before, the world needs disciples of Jesus. That should be the primary concern of pastors of all ranks and all denominations. Right now we seem to be more worried about the size of our flock, for that determines our prestige, power and pomp.
Subhash Anand
