Killing for Jesus

The Civil War provides a fascinating study for military historians. The Union forces of the North were much larger than the Confederate Army. In fact, there were more than one million Union soldiers compared to approximately 200,000 Confederate troops. However, one of the most serious weaknesses of the Union forces was a succession of Generals who were not aggressive enough to attack. They always waited for the enemy to begin the battles.

One of these early Generals was George B. McClellan. President Abraham Lincoln described McClellan as "a superb organizer. He has good points, but he won’t fight." Later, he referred to his army as "the personal bodyguard of General McClellan."

Finally, in disgust, Lincoln wrote to General McClellan and said, "Would you please loan me this army if you don’t intend to use it?"

This picture of the Union army reminds me of the church. The church has a massive army of powerful combatants but is losing ground to the enemy every day. In the past forty years, since Richard Nixon used the phrase, we have turned the "Silent Majority" into a strident minority. In many arenas, the church is considered an irrelevant relic in spite of the fact that many Christians are becoming louder and louder.

I believe the church has a large enough army to share the Gospel to all nations, feed the hungry, protect the unborn, and fulfill all the other tasks God has called us to do. But, there is a problem that is keeping all of these good things from happening.

If you will allow me to continue with the military theme, the problem begins with the fact that we are attempting to fight the wrong battle. It seems that many Christians are engaged in a conflict to protect a culture that no longer exists. Some are of the opinion that it was the culture of our nation’s founding fathers that we must protect. Others, not wanting to return to the 18th century, are fighting for a culture from the middle of the 20th century,the "Father Knows Best" era.  

The church is not to be about the business of defending any culture. Christianity can thrive in any environment. In fact, historically the church has probably done much better in the midst of hostile cultures than friendly cultures. While we have spent the past twenty or thirty years fighting for the culture, the center of Christianity appears to be moving to the Southern Hemisphere. We need to stop wasting our resources fighting a war that we have not been called to wage and get about the task of what God has called His church to do.

I also think that many Christians are fighting with the wrong motivation. They are at war in order to maintain their lifestyle. We all want freedom, a strong economy, the opportunity to get a good education, and the security of living in a place that is away from crime and immoral influences. However, as worthy as all of these goals might be, they are not the task of the church. The church has the higher calling of helping people find salvation that is far superior to anything culture can offer.

One of the reasons for the weakness of the church is that we want what everyone else wants. I listened to a friend recently lead a conference and he spoke about the difference in lifestyle between believers and non-believers. There is no difference, was his conclusion.

Our motivation for speaking out against sin is so that sinners can be saved. Our motivation for getting involved in the health care debate is so we can help the poor have their illnesses treated. Our motivation to fix the economy is not so we can have a comfortable home in the suburbs, but so that the poorest of the poor can be lifted up. Our motivation for being on the frontlines of the abortion battle is not to identify those who are going to hell, but to comfort those who are hurting. When sinners are saved, the poor are fed and lifted up, and the hurting are comforted, the attitude of the world toward the church will change radically.

Not only are we fighting the wrong battle with the wrong motivation, but we are also utilizing the wrong method. Our approach to the world can better be described as anger rather than love. We may not think we are angry but just expressing the judgment of God against sin. Sometimes my wife reminds me that I sound angry even though that was not my intent. If we are not careful, we can say good things in a way that communicates dislike.

The world has heard our anger, but they have not felt our love. When they are asked about Christians, they will use terms like angry, hateful, judgmental, and condescending. I grew up loving the church. The place was filled with people who loved me and took care of me. I had no doubts that the people of the church were flawed, but it did not matter because they always loved me.

I was contacted a few days ago on Facebook by an old friend from high school days. It has been at least thirty years since we had contact, but I soon as I saw Steve’s name I was transported back to those great memories of church. We sang in the church choir together and we could drown out the rest of the choir with our great tenor voices. We both stood in the front row of the Billy Graham Crusade choir in Denver. One Sunday night Steve dropped me down the stairs as we heading to the church basement for Training Union class. We spent countless hours together at church.

As a teenager, I knew there was nothing I could do nor any problem I could cause that would keep those church folks from loving me. I was never embarrassed to bring my friends to church because I knew they would be loved as well. Those who most need the church today will not turn to the church for fear of being judged or criticized.

The church is a powerful army with the potential of making a significant impact in the world. However, we are preoccupied with the wrong war, inspired by the wrong motivation, and employing the wrong method so we are in danger of being of little value to those who need the Gospel.

Lest you think I am wandering in a field that has nothing to do with stewardship, remember the Apostle Paul referred to the way he handled the Gospel as a stewardship entrusted to him, and then launches into that great passage about becoming all things to all people so that he might win some (see I Corinthians 9). As stewards, we will be judged on how well we managed our relationships to all those for whom Christ died.

Comments

[David Lane]

I like what you have said here.

I have come to the conclusion that the modern church should be about taking care of it's own first, not only just first. I believe that is Biblical from the descriptions of the organization of the church in Acts. As we do this the world will see our love and the love of Christ and as we reach out to the world as well then God's Love shines. The world should see a difference, as you said, between us and them. That difference should be love! That love will be attractive because it is what they are missing.

Just my thoughts - not fully formed but the direction is there.

[Larry Swift]

I hear what you were saying, but the problem has developed in denominations and churches for years. That is the lack of Biblical truth being preached and taught. Churches centered on number-nickles-non-essentials until they don't know truth from Star Track. They look to men and not to Christ of the Bible. They move with the popular theme like Purpose Driven Church and many other like the Message is now the bible and these books over rule the Bible. I hope you get what I am saying. thank you for your time.

[Kiely Young]

We have indeed missed the point. So many in the local church want it all "our way". Some even close ranks and do not want anyone else in unless they pass the "screening committee", not official, but active.
When we get back to build strong New Testament disciples who are using their spiritual giftedness to impact a dark society, we will begin to see the church again have relevanc. Until then, we will continue to see a complaining decline, apathetic and none effective.

[Steve]

I hear what you are saying, and have to disagree. You are leaning toward saying the church should promote socialism. There never has, nor will there ever be, a society that practices redistribution of wealth that is also a Christian nation. I see no reference whatsoever in any of the disciples or teaching of Jesus that promoted a society outside the church that provided care for everyone equally. What I do see is Jesus calling on individuals to be accountable for themselves. Sorry Terry, but you have lost some perspective among all the politics of the day.

[Terry Austin]

Steve, I am not sure you did hear what I was saying. My point is that the church needs to be about the business of preaching the Gospel, not protecting or changing culture. What does that have to do with socialism?

[Bob Tallent]

Terry, I heartily agree. The church is a sleeping giant. We have been lured into fighting about minor issues and lost sight of the critical task Christ left us with. My question is "How do we arouse the church?" The times are critical. I am just reading the new bioagraphy of G.W. Truett by Durso. we could learn from Truett!!!!

[Del]

I wish more people in more churches and denominations were speaking as you are. The best I can tell, you are in the minority. What will it take to get the Christian church back to the very clear teachings of Jesus?