Are
we in danger or have we actually missed the point of why the Church exits, why
were called out and into? C. S. Lewis once observed "there exists in every
church something that sooner or later works against the very purpose for which
it came into existence. So we must strive very hard, by the grace of God, to
keep the church focused on the mission that Christ originally gave to it."
What are we to do when a local church has been
reduced to a remnant of faithful, albeit disheartened people, especially
compared to days of former strength and glory? Surely, it has now got to do something radical (but what?) -
for mere survival (if it is to survive). And can it possibly thrive once more –
perchance to rediscover its missional identity - each congregant becoming a
passionate disciple of Jesus, and the entire church joining with Him in what He
is doing – globally where and when possible, in the life of the particular
community and communities all around it.
