Tuesday, September 26, 2017

BATTLE

In the late 1940s, the United States government commissioned an 80 million dollar troop carrier for the Navy.  The purpose was to design a ship that could carry 15,000 troops quickly during war time.  By 1952, construction on what would be christened the S.S. United States was completed.  The ship could travel at 44 knots, steam 10,000 miles without stopping for fuel.  She could outrun any other ship and travel nonstop anywhere in the world in less than 10 days.  She was the fastest, most reliable troop carrier in the world.

The only problem is that she never ended up carrying any troops.

Instead she ended up housing 2,000 passengers who would enjoy the luxuries of 695 staterooms, 4 dining rooms, 3 bars, 2 theaters, a heated pool, 19 elevators, and the comfort of the world's first fully air-conditioned interior.  Instead of a vessel used for battle during wartime, the S.S. United States became a cruise ship whose purpose was to fully indulge wealthy patrons who wanted to coast across the Atlantic.  

Let's state the obvious.  A troop carrier has an urgent task to accomplish -- it's in a war.  The luxury liner is all about the passengers and maintaining their peace and comfort.

Which was the church meant to be?
And what has it, in so many places, turned in to?

The church was deigned for battle.  We're an aircraft carrier, receiving troops worn out from battle, refreshing them again, only to send them back out into the war.  The purpose of the church is to mobilize a people to accomplish a mission to defeat a mutual enemy -- the devil.

Here's the challenge:  Do we face a world with potentially billions of folks going to hell and move our ship into battle?  Or do we sit on the pool deck and wait for the staff to serve us more hors d'oeuvres?

Journey Burlington -- Journey Beach Park -- Journey Lithuania -- Journey Kenosha -- is a warship.  I don't know what other churches are, but I know what we've been called, equipped, prepared, built and readied for.

One thing -- to be sent into battle.

And be blessed.

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