Knowing the Mission Makes the Difference
Tragically, the current crisis in Ukraine gives us an incredible insight into the comparison between two very different – and in fact, diametrically opposed – responses,when it comes to war-time casualties; a contrast which may very well help to ultimately decide the difference, between absolute victory, and utter defeat.
On the one hand, you have the Russian military – many of whom have absolutely no idea why they are there, or what they are supposed to be accomplishing. With their mission a mystery, their objectives unknown, and their casualties piling up, they have, in many places, not only ground to a deadly halt, but in some cases,begun a caustic retreat.
On the other hand, you have the Ukrainian military. They know exactly why they are there, and exactly what their mission is: To defend their homeland and drive the brutal Russian invaders out at all cost – even fighting to their deaths if that’s what it takes.Hence, as their casualties mount up, they just sadly, solemnly, but ever more resolutely, simply close ranks, and keep on coming.
It is virtually impossible to defeat such a foe; one who knows their mission; understands what is at stake;knows the cost of what must be done; and is hence, willing to take the absolute worst and most deadly that their adversary can possibly throw at them, and just resolutely close ranks, and keep on coming.
It has been that same way in the Lord’s church since day one. Shortly after Christ’s church was established on the Day of Pentecost in 33 A.D. (as recorded in Acts Two), “a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem… As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison” (Acts 8:1-3), where after many were put to death (Acts 26:10). It is therefore not at all inconceivable that in that day and age, from one week to the next, that many of the brothers and sisters who assembled with and sat beside you in worship one Sunday, might very well be gone forever – imprisoned or even put to death for their faith – by the following Sunday, never to be seen or heard from again… a cycle which would have most certainly continued to repeat itself over and over again, as these first-century ‘wartime’ casualties continued to mount up in the Lord’s church. So; what did the remaining saints do? Simple. Because they knew exactly what their mission was (Matt. 28:18-20); precisely what was at stake (Matt. 16:26); and the absolutely infinite cost that Jesus had paid for the souls of all men everywhere (Jn. 3:16); they simply closed ranks and kept on coming; moving forward andfighting the good fight of faith (2 Tim. 4:7); taking the gospel into all of the world and turning it upside down with their unyielding zeal and dedication to the heavenly mission (Acts 8:4-40, 17:1-7; Col. 1:23).
We would note the same thing in the more recent history of the Lord’s church as well. When the 1906 census was released, it showed that the recently re-united church of our Lord in America, which had, only a few mere decades before, escaped captivity to the soul-damning doctrines and commandments of men, then suffered a staggering setback between 1880-1906, as the vast majority of her members had once again been re-captured by Satan, becoming spiritual ‘prisoners of war’ to many of the same sorts of vain and man-made doctrines from which they had so recently been liberated. In fact, the census data from that year reported that when the “Disciples of Christ” sect or division of the Lord’s church left those faithful saints who would continue to stand and march forward on the word of God alone as their sole rule and authority, that they took a staggering 75% of the congregations (7,799) of that day with them, along with a whopping85% (923,698) of her members!
What did that small portion or remnant of the Lord’s church (159,123 members and 2,642 congregations) that was left behind do?Simple. Because they also knew exactly what their mission was (Matt. 28:18-20); precisely what was at stake (Matt. 16:26); and the absolutely infinite cost that Jesus had paid for the souls of all men everywhere (Jn. 3:16); they simply closed ranks, and kept on coming; kept on going; kept on moving forward and fighting the good fight of faith, taking the gospel into all of the world while turning it upside down with their unyielding zeal and dedication to their heavenly mission.Do you know what happened as a result? Just 20 short years later, in 1926, that 159,123 membership number had swollen to over 435,000. Another 15 short years later, in 1941,it was estimated to have grown to around 600,000. By 1965 it was 915,000; and by 1980 it was 1.24 million(www.encyclopedia.com).
However, since then it has not gone so well. Congregations are shrinking, struggling, and in some cases, being forced to close their doors forever. The reasons for this are many and varied – everything from culture, to complacency, to most recently, the devastating 25-30% losses inflicted on many congregations by the pandemic’s soul-poisoning dynamics.
So; what will the Lord’s church do today? Simple. The Lord’s church, will simply do, what it has always done, whenever taking such devastating losses since day one: Because they know exactly what their mission is (Matt. 28:18-20); precisely what is at stake (Matt. 16:26); and the absolutely infinite cost that Jesus paid for the souls of all men everywhere (Jn. 3:16); they will simply close ranks and keep on coming; close ranks and keep on going into all the world with the gospel, starting right next door, at home, and in their own communities; closing ranks and moving forward for the kingdom, as they keep on fighting the good fight of faith (2 Tim. 4:7); turning the world today upside down with their unyielding zeal and undying dedication to the heavenly mission (Acts 8:4-40, 17:1-7; Col. 1:23).
Now… are we the Lord’s church… or not?
