Though many may rightfully disagree due to the gross misappropriation of the mission, the point of Christianity is not solely to plant the name of the concept; the point is to plant the substance of the concept. I don't care who you say you are. I care about what you do! What does spreading Christianity mean? What does advancing the Kingdom of God mean? When we say we are waging war, what and who are we waging against? Principalities and rulers? Spirits and ideas? Ephesians 6:12 (KJV) says: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." We are waging war against the spirits and ideas that drive and inform principalities and rulers, not necessarily the principalities and rulers themselves. Perhaps we should refrain from waging war against people and take arms against (sometimes our own) spiritual wickedness, for our battle is not of flesh and blood.
Spreading Christianity means spreading the mission of Christ - healing, compassion, love, protection of the neighbor, peace, justice, and freedom - and in so doing no harm. Unfortunately, in spreading Christianity sometimes we do exactly the opposite of the mission of Christ. Judgment and condemnation do nothing but hurt, harm, and perpetuate the lack of compassion and love that we, as Christians, are supposed to be battling. To me, it is more worthy to do the mission of Christ in the name of Christ rather than to run around screaming Christianity.
I've been hearing a lot of problematic warfare talk, and I feel like I need to address it. Claiming and reclaiming territories does not mean staking ownership on a place as Christian, planting the Christian flag in the ground, and merely implementing Christian rule. Instead, claiming and reclaiming territories means staking ownership on a place and proclaiming that only love lives there. Only healing lives there. Only compassion, peace, justice, and freedom live there. As God will judge, do not judge (though we all fall short). As God will condemn, do not condemn (though we all fall short). I have enough faith that God will save souls on His own. In Christianity we sometimes (read: often) get in the way. What I can do is put love where fear is. In places where violence and hatred dictate how individuals operate, I can offer peace. Where there is misunderstanding and hostility, my actions, words, and ideas can be examples of compassion. Where there is bondage and enslavement, I can stand for liberty. Where there is inequality, I can fight for justice by being "as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves" (Matt. 10:16 [NIV]).
Alarmingly and disturbingly we need Christ in every industry, in every phase of life, in every corner of the globe. This doesn't mean, however, that we compromise the very mission of Christ by taking an imperialistic approach towards the spread of Christ and his values. We also cannot section ourselves off in a praise corner and refuse to engage with everyone. We can't just be holy, saved, and sanctified while people outside our church walls suffer. We can't limit our interactions by fraternizing with only Christian folk. To do this is at once stubborn, arrogant, ineffective, and close-minded. We must critically engage. We must enter the fields of finance, business, law, politics, medicine, sports, music and entertainment. We must listen. We must be present. We need God's people everywhere so we may foster environments where love reigns supreme. We must do no harm. We must let love live here.
And they'll know we are Christians by our LOVE – not just who we call ourselves.
amen.
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