Neil Anderson in Victory Over the Darkness notes how Christians often view the church as a hospital.
"Sadly, one of the common pictures of the Church today is of a group of people with an assumed faith but little action. We’re thankful that our sins are forgiven and that Jesus is preparing a place in heaven for us, but we’re basically cowering in fear and defeat in the world….We treat the Church as if it’s a hospital. We get together to compare wounds and hold each other’s hands, yearning for Jesus to come take us away.But is that the picture of the church in the New Testament? No way. The church is not a hospital; it’s a military outpost under orders to storm the gates of hell. Every believer is on active duty, called to take part in fulfilling the Great Commission. Thankfully the church has an infirmary where we can minister to the weak and wounded, and that ministry is necessary. But we don’t exist for that. Our real purpose is to be change agents in the world, taking a stand, living by faith and accomplishing something for God."
The life of discipleship is hard and service to Christ requires a soldier's mindset.
“Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus” (2 Tim 2:3)
“Wage the good warfare” (I Tim 1:18)
“Put on the whole armor of God” (Eph 6:11)
"Fight the good fight of the faith" (I Tim 6:12)
Thanks for the challenge to think of the Church in Biblical terms. I have often fallen into the trap of thinking of it as a hospital. Your description of the Church as a military outpost under orders (to storm the gates of hell) with its own infirmary sounds like a picture that is more consistent with the Scriptures.
ReplyDeleteManon, it is so good to hear from you! I know you are standing in God's grace and pressing the battle hard against the enemy in Greece and elsewhere through your evangelism and prayers.
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