Essential Church (139)

It has always struck me that in places where churches function in less comfort, amongst increased persecution or with minimal resources, our friends become increasingly focussed and intentional to walk obediently in the fruitful mission of God. This may feel incongruous to our mindset when we come from comfortable "large" churches with "well established" programs, big budgets and where "intended goals" are presented with the finesse of an APPLE product launch. When the future is so "mapped out", flexibility is limited, change cannot be nimble but is often considered extensively, energy zapping and complex. This in itself raises the questions of stewardship and the fundamental issue of how much we are following God's lead in the circumstances he has placed us in, and how much we are expecting him to get on board with ours. However, there are 3 other distinct advantages of being in a bare bones church where your back is truly up against the wall and you are living hand to mouth to prioritise core essential church.

1) Unity is so fundamentally essential that disrupters, false teachers, selfish consumers, and deceptive practices are such a liability that they are not unduly entertained, but unanimously dealt with by the entire community (if willing for restoration 2 Cor 2:5-8) or shown the exit without delay if disruption grows (Titus 3:10-11). A special forces division emerges for accurate coordination of spiritual operations.  

2) Mobilisation happens naturally. In intensification of the spiritual battle The Spirit of God equips his people who walk in obedience and faith. This is attractional. Everyone wants to work, no-one sits around waiting to be asked, waiting to be defeated, and all are willing to be redirected. Cost of self sacrifice is relative when the consequences of defeat or capture are considered. 

3) Love: The counterculture of Christ at work is so obvious when the stench of opposition and hatred towards the church is so destructive and damaging to people. This prompts a binary approach, either I am on the side of spiritual life or death. Either I love God's people with all that I have, and love those without Christ through sacrifice, or I am being compliant with the infiltration of the enemy who seeks to divide, breed suspicion, distrust and inertia. When caught in the crossfire of two tribes at war, there is no place to hide for neutrality. Those who fight for Christ, gather the artillery of love together, and amass those skilled in protracted bombardments of kindliness to lead them. Mortar bombing of grace is hard to withstand. Transparency, integrity and authenticity in grace come from the commander.  

Essential church in the spiritual trenches means shared provision, owned vision, unconditional trust, and a constant supply of the Spirits enabling. Patience in affliction (Romans 12:2), right motivation, eternal perspective (Psalm 90:2, Hebrews 12:1-3), the many dying without Christ (Luke 15:4)  (Matthew 9:35-38) are natural prayer topics. No-one needs to set a time or order of service, everyone is of one heart and mind. Those who gather are led by God. There is nothing more essential or glorious. (Psalm 37)

In this context we pray for our brothers and sisters. May the LORD give you essential provision, for essential fruitfulness, for this critical battle in the war of eternity which has already been won. May he in turn bless us with clarity to live in the same way. 

New conscripts welcome:

But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, he King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honour and eternal dominion. Amen.

1 Tim 6:11-16

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing...

2 Cor 2: 14-15

 

Museums are taking "essential items" into storage... read about it here in TIME. 

Whilst Churches are motivated to protection, continuing to be historical monuments to the past, they will like the museum... closed for gospel business in the spiritual battle, busy reshuffling things in storage where no one can witness or be impacted what is going on. Where the church finds itself on the battle frontlines of eternity... its immediate task will always be attending to the many wounded (a hospital for the broken hearted), going into "no mans" land (frontier mission), and engagement with the battle of grace (ready to take up spiritual arms for the capturing of lives) with a sense of urgency.