The Church will prevail, will you?

One of my favorite verses and one that I have come to rely on as I see the rapidly deterioration of the society we live in is Matthew 16:18.

The part of the verse that gives me the most hope, the most peace, the most confidence in Christianity’s ability to survive anything raised against it is in the concept expressed in the latter part of the verse: “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Unlike some, I don’t care who Jesus was speaking to.

I don’t care what he meant by “this rock” that He was going to build His church on. What means the most to me, what should mean the most to all of us is Jesus said He was going to build His Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it!

Have you noticed how prevalent the thought has spread that if we as Christians “don’t do something” and “do it quick,” the world is going to “win” the culture war, we are going to “lose our rights” and the ungodly is going to “take over” everything destroying our Christian heritage?

How do we reconcile the frenzy of fear generated by this type of commentary with this verse? How can we say we trust in Jesus, believe what He says, read this verse and think the world can prevail against the church?

We can’t.

Either Jesus meant what He said, and no matter what the world or Satan, e.g. “the gates of hell” brings against the church, it will not prevail or Jesus didn’t know what He was talking about and all those who would have us believe Christianity is on the verge of failing because Christians aren’t doing enough. I know which one I’m going to believe.

So, why should we be concerned about this thought?

Let’s look briefly - I know, I know - can a preacher do anything briefly? - at why we should be concerned.

First, if the sustainability of the Christianity depends on something we do, it denies the ability of God to sustain the Church. Ouch.

Harsh words. Yes, but true.

We can’t have it both ways.

Either He builds the Church or we do.

Secondly, it keeps us occupied with everything BUT the commission given the Church - reaching the lost. We become engrossed in protecting our Christianized version of the world and lose sight of the fact the Bible teaches us that God’s kingdom is not of this world and this present world and everything in it is going to pass away. (2 Peter 3:10)

Thirdly, we are giving

Pastor’s CornerSatan an advantage and putting a stumbling block in the path of the lost by using worldly means to fight a spiritual battle. The Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 10:3-4: “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)” Notice what the verse says about our weapons? They aren’t carnal. This means the way we are to do spiritual warfare is to not to use the same tools and means the world uses.

Our weapons are supposed to be mighty “through God” to the pulling down of strong holds.

Now, honestly, can you see Jesus carrying a protest sign or boycotting a store because a store has a carnal worldview? What kind of worldview do you expect the world to have? Does the world know God? Does the world see the truth? Do we? Our efforts to pull down Satan’s strongholds and break his grip on the world fail because the Church tries to fight them with carnal weapons.

How does this put a stumbling block in the path of the lost? Satan uses our failed attempts to convince the lost there is no power in the Church, no difference between the Church and the world. The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 4:20: “For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.” Not in what we say but in the evidence of changed, restored lives and power of God resting on the Church. Where is the power of God on the Church? I fear it’s been set aside in favor of our ideas, signs, boycotts and methods.

The evidence is before us. When was the last time you wielded a weapons of spiritual warfare, mighty through God and saw the strongholds Satan has built in this world crumble? The choice is before us, believe Jesus is in charge and building, providing and keeping His Church or rely on our methods. Which will you do? The Church will prevail, but will YOU?

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Editor’s note: Charlie Newman is pastor of Avoca Christian Church. To contact him, e-mail [email protected], or write in care of The Times at prtnews@ nwaonline.com or P.O. Box 25, Pea Ridge, AR 72751.