Stop Blaming the World. Start Preaching the Word.

Many times we hear—and even say—that the church isn't growing because Canada is a hard place to minister. We blame secularism, the cold hearts, and the post-Christian culture. But, honestly, that's just another excuse. Look at Paul and the early church. They went into places that had never heard the name of Jesus. Places steeped in idolatry, immorality, and spiritual darkness. And yet, those men—armed with the gospel and filled with the Spirit—shook those cities to their core. The problem isn't how hard the ground is. The problem is how weak the seed is being sown—or even how little it's being sown at all.

Christians today often blame the culture, the government, and the lost world for the decay we see around us. Worse, we blame these same things for the poor state of the church. But the church in Canada is not weak because of the world; it is weak because the pulpits have become weak. And as the pulpit goes, so goes the church.

We, pastors, must take responsibility. A shallow church reflects shallow preaching. A timid church reflects timid leaders. Someone once said the church never rises above its leaders. If our churches are cold, perhaps it's because our pulpits are.

True revival will not come through music nights, Christian events, or flashy conferences. It begins when pastors stop making excuses and start doing their job. Revival starts when men of God return to the Word, preach it with boldness, pray with conviction, and shepherd with courage. History makes this clear. Every revival began with faithful, humble preachers standing in the gap.

Canada is not too hard a place. The gospel is still powerful. What we need is not softer soil, but stronger sowers. Revival begins in the pulpit. Let's stop blaming the world—and start being faithful to our call.

Nino Marques