An unchanging mission

by John Wenzel

           Much has happened in the last two millennia. Empires have risen from ash and then returned back to dust. Kings and lords have reigned, only to be burned in the fires of revolution. A new world was discovered and made into a land of the free. Wars have been instigated, fought, and ended, only for new ones to begin. Great feats of engineering have been constructed and marvels of science discovered. Humanity has taken its first steps off our planet. Indeed, much has happened. But one thing has remained constant through these great ages of war and discovery. Under the providence of the all-powerful God, the Christian church has remained ready to continue her great endeavor: to tell the world about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

           Since Jesus ascended to claim his rightful throne in heaven, this has remained the mission which he assigned to the church. Indeed, this arduous task has been our chief purpose in this world. There is no greater deed, in difficulty or satisfaction, than bringing unbelievers into the kingdom of heaven. It is difficult, because the entire world is aligned against your goal, yet it is easy, for we are only the messengers and the Holy Spirit is the true inspirer of faith. Likewise, there is nothing more satisfying than sharing the joy of Jesus with someone just saved from hell.

The apostle Paul understood this great task, as he traveled upon the dusty roads of Asia Minor, traveling village to village, preaching to unbelievers and encouraging congregations in their efforts. He valiantly preached and confessed the message of Jesus, under threats of violence and persecution, because he knew this was all that mattered – for to live or die in Christ is a victory.

Although the mission of the church has remained the same over all these years, her face has changed much. At the beginning, the small congregations of Asia Minor were atypical of their society. They were a small and extremely active community that practiced what it preached, helping the poor and the widows in this life but also preaching the message that would save you in the next. They recognized that their church must be a part of the community. If not, others would just see them as a cult. And so the churches’ secondary mission has been established. This mission is to adapt to best reach out to the community without betraying the word of God.

And so the church has changed much in physical form. From small vibrant congregations to secret enclaves, from majestic, splendid basilicas to rustic hardy wood buildings in the outposts of the frontier, the church has seen it all. Yet her duty remains true. Whether she is under persecution of state or atheism, or whether endorsed by the state itself, nothing has changed at all. Paul’s urgings for congregations to be bold in proclaiming the message of Jesus echoes only louder as the Last Day draws ever closer. Although the church has physically changed much, her spiritual mission stays constant.

With this on our hearts, we can only be encouraged to perform the mission of the church with more vigor than ever before. We do what martyrs have died to do and proclaim what people of all ages have proclaimed. The endless cycle of war shall continue. Civilizations will rise and once again fall back into oblivion. Generations shall live and die. But in a world of change, the mission of church under the omniscient God will never change.