3 Ways Christianity Spread

Here are 3 ways that Christianity spread in the world since 2,000 years ago.

Through Persecution

In an ironic way, the enemies of the church have been her greatest friend because every time the church was persecuted, it spread even further as in the case in Acts 8:1 where “there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles” and “those who were scattered went about preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). China is the fastest growing segment of the Christian church and they are facing some of the worst persecution of all. God’s church spreads ever outward and thanks in large part to persecution. It’s like trying to put our a grass fire; the more the stomp their feet to put it out, the more it spreads.

Through the Word

I remember stories of men in Africa who lived in predominantly Muslim nations that would secretly come together and exchange different books of the Bible that they had separated from one another. One man exchanged the Gospel of Matthew for the Book of Romans, both parties of which had memorized the whole book so that they could take back the Word of God to their family and village. They risked their lives to read the Word of God because that’s how precious the Word of God was to them and I ask myself and you, “Is He most precious to you?”

Through the Spirit

Before Jesus went to the cross to die to redeem sinners, He said “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever” (John 14:16) and “the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26). Jesus concludes by saying “I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me” (John 16:7-9).

Conclusion

With persecution, the Word of God, and the Spirit of God He is making the children of God and Christianity spreads through our witness, through His Word, and by conviction of the sinner and their need for the Savior. It is not our responsibility to save anyone; it is their response to God’s ability but they must hear the gospel because “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Rom 10:17). I pray that is you that they hear how they must be saved.