16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:16-20
What do you want in a church? Don’t read any further. Think about that for a second and come up with an answer.
Our answer to that question says more about us than it does about what church should be.
What was your response? Do you want your church to be a place you can feel at home, kind of a holy “Cheers?” Should it be a place where you can hear a nice sermon, be with friends, have your needs met?
As good and proper as these goals sound, they don’t resemble the church God intended. It was never supposed to be a place we go to, but a place from which we go forward. The Great Commission is not to gather but to scatter. He calls us to join an army that will bring the gospel into enemy territory.
Satan has no fear of a mega-church with all the amenities. He doesn’t tremble at a cozy group that “really loves each other.” An effective church—one that poses a real threat to the Enemy—is a body of discipled people who have been taught the truth of Scripture, trained for service, and helped to mature spiritually. Church should be more like boot camp.
I remember my first day of boot camp (and I was just in the Navy not the Army or Marines who really do boot camp). I was awaken to a baton being rattle around inside a steel trash can and being yelled at by a very mean man who called me bad names. Doesn’t sound like church. Maybe we can do without the yelling, banging and bad words; but we really need the discipline, training, and focus.
If we ran our churches like boot camp we would sure lose some members, but wouldn’t we be better off with twelve committed that 250 comfortable?
Satan isn’t really against religion or churches; but he’s scared to death of a spirit filled army. What do we really want to do, make him smile or make him run?
Attention recruit. We’ve got work to do.
Nick
Amen, Brother Nick!