There are 2 passages in the scripture that outlines the mission objectives that Christ gave to His disciples and the embryonic church. The first is the Great Commission in Matthew 28:16-20 while the second is the calling in Matthew 5:13-16 to be the salt and light of the world.
These are calls for those who would follow the resurrected Christ to be evangelical, calling all people to repentance, teaching Jesus' simplified fulfilment of the rather complex, unattainable mosaic laws, [to be] useful in highlighting the true purpose of this existence, preserving godly order and acting as a guide to Christ. These objectives are the first "Mission Impossible" ever given. In fact, it would have remained impossible, were it not for the Pentecost.
Despite the intense, persistent and sometimes lethal persecution, the early Church flourished far beyond the composite abilities of its leaders. Were the early Church and its leaders flawless? Far from it but it is clearly evident that the noise arising from its flawed nature was far less in comparison to its work towards the mission objectives.
If we compare the workings of the present-day Church & the Christian against these mission objectives, an interesting but complex picture emerges which requires simplification [for this medium]. There are elements within the body of Christ who are working tirelessly according to the mission objectives - teaching the undiluted gospel while at the same time useful at being the practical salt and light of their communities.
However, the noise arising from all kinds of scandals, bankruptcies (morally and spiritually), excessive love of money, pursuit of political influence and its [the Church] apparent ineffectiveness in the community, is becoming too loud to ignore.
I went to the cinema recently to watch Man of Steel - the latest release in the Superman films. One of the film's pleasurable moments to me was to watch the fictional, almost indestructible superhero go to a Church for guidance when he faced a moral crisis.
If we compare the workings of the present-day Church & the Christian against these mission objectives, an interesting but complex picture emerges which requires simplification [for this medium]. There are elements within the body of Christ who are working tirelessly according to the mission objectives - teaching the undiluted gospel while at the same time useful at being the practical salt and light of their communities.
However, the noise arising from all kinds of scandals, bankruptcies (morally and spiritually), excessive love of money, pursuit of political influence and its [the Church] apparent ineffectiveness in the community, is becoming too loud to ignore.
I went to the cinema recently to watch Man of Steel - the latest release in the Superman films. One of the film's pleasurable moments to me was to watch the fictional, almost indestructible superhero go to a Church for guidance when he faced a moral crisis.
Where does the ordinary person go to, when s/he faces a moral crisis? Therapy, counselling, drugs, drunkenness, life experiences and all kinds of self-gratification acts very often are put ahead of a visit to the Church. This begs the obvious question - what, on earth, has happened to the mission objectives?
These seem to be strange times when the Church's efforts at its perceived mission objectives appear to be drowned by its own ungodly noise. Where is that biblical salt that is preserving the saints for the bridegroom and enhancing the true meaning of this life for all who would listen? Where is that light which is undimmed, guiding all along the narrow road, lest they stumble?
I sometimes hear some mature Christians say that their spiritual lives are getting increasingly stale and that they are praying that God's impact in their lives be restored to what it was before - "God, if only you could be like you were in my life before". I hear some lament about how it was easier to serve God in the past than in today's hectic and increasingly godless society.
When the body of Christ is observed through these glasses, I am tempted to borrow my daughters' plea for help - "Abba Papa, it's broken! You need to fix it".
The Ecclesiastes is one of my favourite books of the Bible. Oniwaasu [in my mother tongue], literally means Preacher, which is also the meaning of Ecclesiastes. In the book, Solomon tried to find meaning in the various and seemingly dysfunctional life scenarios that he observed. From trying to find godly meaning in these microcosms of life, Solomon escalated his quest to the meaning of life itself.
Using almost the same approach, Oniwaasu is plotting a course to examine the body of Christ. Is it broken? If it is [broken], does it need fixing? Will it be fixed?
The critical questions that Oniwaasu will endeavour to answer are - Are the mission objectives compromised? Is the salt indeed tasteless? And is the light now too dimmed for purpose?
These seem to be strange times when the Church's efforts at its perceived mission objectives appear to be drowned by its own ungodly noise. Where is that biblical salt that is preserving the saints for the bridegroom and enhancing the true meaning of this life for all who would listen? Where is that light which is undimmed, guiding all along the narrow road, lest they stumble?
I sometimes hear some mature Christians say that their spiritual lives are getting increasingly stale and that they are praying that God's impact in their lives be restored to what it was before - "God, if only you could be like you were in my life before". I hear some lament about how it was easier to serve God in the past than in today's hectic and increasingly godless society.
When the body of Christ is observed through these glasses, I am tempted to borrow my daughters' plea for help - "Abba Papa, it's broken! You need to fix it".
The Ecclesiastes is one of my favourite books of the Bible. Oniwaasu [in my mother tongue], literally means Preacher, which is also the meaning of Ecclesiastes. In the book, Solomon tried to find meaning in the various and seemingly dysfunctional life scenarios that he observed. From trying to find godly meaning in these microcosms of life, Solomon escalated his quest to the meaning of life itself.
Using almost the same approach, Oniwaasu is plotting a course to examine the body of Christ. Is it broken? If it is [broken], does it need fixing? Will it be fixed?
The critical questions that Oniwaasu will endeavour to answer are - Are the mission objectives compromised? Is the salt indeed tasteless? And is the light now too dimmed for purpose?
Great observations Jide. Well said, We need Him to fix it...
ReplyDeleteInteresting read and true in every respect. Only God can fix it as all we need to do in hopeless or stale situations is to look to the cross.
ReplyDelete...and He will (ultimately) fix it. We will never be perfect, but we do need to strive toward it, even as our Father in Heaven is perfect.
ReplyDeleteI think we are speaking about pockets of ineffectiveness as opposed to the ineffectiveness of the whole body. In light of this, consistent self-examination is key, pray for the working of whole body, and then looking at how we, in our small corner to be even more effective in mission and ministry.
It's never bad to highlight a problem. It's even better to find or even be (if possible) the solution.