I was talking with a friend this morning about how Christianity has largely become a defense of the Gospel, and subsequently, a defense of Jesus.  We seem to have developed this mentality that it is our job to protect the Gospel (and therefore Jesus) from the naysayers and the critics.  Subsequently, much of our Christian witness and the proclaiming of the good news of Jesus takes place in our church buildings or in church settings.  In Kingdom terms, it takes place in the Castle. 

Now understand this though, the only time the battle comes to the Castle is when the Kingdom is in danger of being annihilated. The Castle then becomes the remaining stronghold and it is there that the enemy descends with his final blow.  I agree with many who feel that the ‘church’ as we understand it is very much in this danger; that the world and our enemy have overrun the kingdom and have us backed into a corner.  However, I disagree that the true Church, the Church (or body) of Christ, is to be on the defensive. Upon Peters confession that Jesus was the Christ, our Lord proclaims that it is on that confession that He would build his Church, and promised that the very gates of Hell would not prevail against it (Matt 16:18).  And of the Kingdom, Jesus reports that it is forcefully advancing, with forceful men taking hold of it (Matt 11:12).  These are very different pictures than our understanding that the Kingdom is somehow in trouble.

I suppose that maybe something has changed, but I suspect that it is really our perspective that has changed.  I wonder if we have fallen so in love with the castle that we have forgotten that it is us who are more than conquerers; that it is us, the son’s of the King, who are to be about the advancing of the Kingdom … outside of the walls of the castle.  I wonder if we have forgotten that our God is more than capable of defending himself, and I fear that perhaps what we have viewed as a threat on our God has been more of a threat on our beloved castle.

It is once again time to leave the castle, to take our places at the right hand of our King and to enter the battle field, advancing his Kingdom.  Don’t worry, the castle will be waiting when we return .

To the King,

David