Something has been on my heart lately when it comes to the question—can a nation ever be too far gone for God to still care? I am an expat from South Africa that is used to a nation who is mostly dependent on God. Around every corner you will find someone who is Christian and believes in God. However, when I moved to Belgium, I experienced something totally different. It felt like coming into a nation where the people knew of God through old religion but no longer depended on Him because of a misrepresentation of who He is.
A Post-Christian Nation
‘Post-Christian nation’ is a more recent term used by articles and people to describe the decline of Christianity within a nation. For Belgium this is factually true. Since the 1950’s the Christian faith has decreased amongst people by 31%. According to a 2021 Eurobarometer survey the current statistics look comparable to these percentages: 49% of the people are Christians, 2% of the people are Muslims and 41% of the people are non-religious. Statistically, the nation may be experiencing less and less people believing in the organized religions of the past. This does not mean that the nation is being forgotten by a faithful God.
The nation is, in my opinion, in a perfect spiritual place to encounter God. A people that are tired of a harsh religion and are in need of a loving Savior.
My Encounter With Jesus
At the age of 16 I gave my life to Jesus after having a supernatural encounter with His presence. From that day, Jesus has set me free from depression and suicidal thoughts. He has brought healing to areas of my life that were damaged from childhood, like my identity and rejection. He has restored my relationships with my family. Jesus has also become my closest friend who guides me through my faith. The funny thing is that because of my previous image of who God was, I never expected to encounter Him where I did. It was on the floor of my parents’ bedroom where Jesus met me exactly as I was and changed my life forever.
God as a Father
Before encountering God, I believed Him to be an angry and distant God. One that requires religious perfection just to be accepted by Him. There was a week where I tried to follow all of the commandments without messing up. By the end of the week, I had so many tallies against my name that I thought I was too far gone to be loved by a righteous God.
After encountering God, He showed me that religious perfection was no longer needed to come to Him because of Jesus Christ. Only through the sacrifice of Jesus can my sins be forgiven; I can have a personal relationship with the God of the universe. And because of Jesus, I am made righteous in the eyes of God.
He has also shown me that He is not an angry God but a Father who deeply cares for the people He has created. I love how the author Max Lucado describes Jesus in his book called Jesus: “I think Jesus smiled. I think he smiled a bit at people and a lot with people. I think he was the type of guy that people wanted to be around. I think he was the type of guy who was always invited to the party.”.
God is also not a distant God. He made a way so that we can have a very personal and face-to-face relationship with Him.
knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
Galatians 2:16
The Love of Jesus
Jesus cares for the nation of Belgium. In a book of the Bible called Galatians, the author Paul says something very important. He says that the Gospel of Jesus is for every person on earth. Not just for specific people or those who hold titles. Jesus came to save every single person. For the lost, the fatherless, the broken and the sick. He even came for the most dangerous criminals in the world. Jesus came to save every nation and culture in the world. The French, the Dutch, the South Africans.
‘But from those who were of high reputation (whatever they were—in terms of individual importance—makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality—He is not impressed with the positions that people hold nor does He recognize distinctions such as fame or power)—well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me [that is, they had nothing to add to my gospel message nor did they impose any new requirements on me]. ‘
Galatians 2:6
and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith [in Jesus]. Now then, why are you testing God by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we have been able to endure? But we believe that we are saved through the [precious, undeserved] grace of the Lord Jesus [which makes us free of the guilt of sin and grants us eternal life], in just the same way as they are.”
Acts 15:9-11
The Great Commission
Let’s look at the words of Jesus in the book of Matthew. Before He ascended into Heaven, Jesus left the disciples with a crucial message, even for us.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20
He told them to go and make disciples of all nations– all nations including Belgium! Jesus also promised that He would be with us always. He says that regardless of circumstance, He will be with us till the end of age. This squashes the idea that a nation of people can be post-Jesus.
Final Thoughts
I have hope for the nation of Belgium and the plans that God has for its people. If people of the nation were to let go of the misrepresented version of God and open their hearts to Jesus, to adopt the truth that Jesus came to save everyone regardless of culture or differences and to have hope that Jesus is alive and actively seeking the hearts of the people then change would take place. I have hope that instead of being labelled a post-Christian nation, it will be known as a nation that is on fire for God.
For anyone who has only known an angry God or a cold religion-I encourage you to seek the loving Savior whose name is Jesus. Don’t try and perfect yourself spiritually before coming to Him. Come as you are, with every mess and broken piece of your heart. He will gladly welcome you and faithfully pursue your heart. God has not forgotten this nation, and He cares deeply for every single person in it.