Assaulting The Gates

January 12, 2011

Just finished re-reading Paul Borden's book "Assaulting The Gates: Aiming All God's People At The Mission Field." I highly recommend the book to anyone seeking to move toward becoming a missional church.

The thought that started my mind racing has to do with what Borden calls the "Pacification of the church." His words ring too true! In most churches, districts, denominations, or associations (whatever your flavor may be) across America we have allowed the mission of the church to be replaced. Once a driven, passionate, soul winning movement, we have become an institution that values peace and harmony at all costs. By in large the Church has become a place where strife and friction are no longer tolerated. In fact, peace has been so elevated in the economy of the church that it has been put up on a pedestal, admired and worshiped. The church has now become a place designed to meet our personal needs and dissent is not tolerated even if those who are correct are right in pointing out that the church, denomination, district, association or etc, has lost its way in relation to the mission Christ has called us too. If any real debate does creep into the church it is often over issue of structure, methodologies or styles rather than essential issues like sin, evil or righteousness.

Why? Too often those in leadership fear the loss of money, people, clout and influence. A leaders temporary, earthly status trumps their calling to preach Christ to a needy world. Think on this quote from Paul Borden;

"In this process of pacification we have lost the idea that the church of Jesus Christ is to be militant against sin, the forces of evil, and unrighteous systems; we have forgotten that the church is called to convert those who use such systems to create injustice, war, and great inequities of civilization. We have lost the idea of being a soldier of the cross, an army marching for the salvation of people, and lifeboat captains rescuing the perishing."  What we want now is "a wonderful place to worship each Sunday and meet the needs of me and my family without upsetting anyone." Worse yet, "the silent majority of most churches would rather allow the spiritual terrorist church bosses to keep the congregation from mission rather than raise issue that might upset the church's illusory peace."

I don't know about you, but that causes me to stop and think! Has peace in the church become a higher value than mission? Are we willing to militantly follow the call of God and lead our churches in the proper direction or will we allowthe "immature majority" of our churches to govern the direction of the church? Could this be the reason so many churches are experiencing decline and plateau?

Posted 1/12/2011 in Stephen Gray | 0 Comments - Add Comment