We're getting closer and closer to an overarching metaphor for the church. Please understand that whatever we end up with it will not be comprehensive. Any metaphor begins to fall apart at a certain point. That's because no matter how accurate a metaphor it may be, it is NOT the real thing. For instance, Jesus calls us sheep. He is the shepherd. There are many ways in which that metaphor works. But, according to what the experts tell me, sheep are basically dumb, smelly animals. I don't think that Jesus meant to say that we are dumb and smelly. Just one example of how a metaphor always has limits. Please keep that in mind.We know that our metaphor must encompass the ideas of FAMILY, ARMY, and TEAM. Also the ideas of growth (AGRICULTURE) and connectedness -- an ORGANISM -- are very important. I can't help but keep coming back to the MILITARY motif. It was such a strong comparison with at least ten points of commonality. Overwhelmingly more than any other. The ATHLETICS motif had seven points of commonality with the church, but all of them were also found in the MILITARY motif in that an ARMY is very much like a team. The only problem with the MILIATRY motif is the violence often associated with military activity ... but remember ... no analogy will take us all the way.
Let's think for a moment on this analogy: Two ships at sea. One is a Cruise ship, the other a battleship. The Cruise ship has many of the characteristics of the church. There is a warm sense of family. There is a closeness and a spirit of cooperation. There is a feeling of belonging and fulfillment. But there are some very important characteristics missing. Primarily the sense of being on a MISSION, that is critical to any understanding of the church.
The Battleship, on the other hand, will contain all of the characteristics of the Army because it operates on the same MILITARY motif. But I think it gives us an overarching picture of how all of those characteristics work together to keep the battleship moving, working and on mission. The military uses the Biblical language of Mission and Spirit and Corps. I'm told that the control center of the ship is even called "the Pulpit." It may be that we have found a great word picture of the church and our place in the world. It is the picture of a BATTLESHIP cruising at sea, guided by the PULPIT, in sync with the SPIRIT of the corps (from the latin, CORPUS or BODY), in order to complete its MISSION.
Pray and reflect on that ... and we'll talk more about it next time. Stay tuned ...
Ask God to reveal his will for your life and your place in his body, the church.
Blessings,
Pastor Ellis
Well, God forgive us for reaching the point where, surrounded though we are by the distress calls of the despairing, the drifting, the deluded, the drowning, we just can't quite figure out what our mission is.
ReplyDeleteThe battleship metaphor offers a very appealing answer. Throw out the lifeline? Rescue the perishing? Forget that -- let's fire the big guns and make some NOISE! So much more exciting than being an ark or a lifeboat.
Guess I'd better trot on down to the brig now...
While a battleship does indeed have a mission, I agree with LDB that it lacks many of the characteristics I believe are critical to OUR mission as a church.
ReplyDeleteBattleships defend, attack, patrol - sailing on the open sea isolated from the masses of humanity. That in no way captures what I think Christ intended us to be as a church.
What about the images in your very first sermon - city on a hill, light, hospital for the wounded and torn?
I understand the need for the military ideas of discipline and purpose, but surely we can come up with a metaphor that says "welcome - come in" rather than "fear my awesome power".
LDB and Renae:
ReplyDeleteThanks for your insights. I couldn't agree with you more. The battleship metaphor has many interesting points of connection but it breaks down is some critical areas. To many it also sends the wrong message. Although, when not at war, the military does help a lot of people.
I guess the biggest lesson I want to learn from this metaphor is more about the comparison between a battleship and a cruise ship. One exists to accomplish a mission (which is NOT usually to kill people), the other to satisfy and please its members. It would be the same lesson learned from comparing the church to a country club.
Our mission is not the satisfaction and pleasing of our own members. We are one of the few oranisms (or organizations, if you rather) that exists primarily for the sake of those outside the organism (or organization).
Anyway ... your thoughts are pointed and on target (no pun intended) ... and duly noted!
Blessings,
Pastor Ellis
Renae, I think the image of isolationism that a battleship represents one with, might be an inappropriate vessel classification for our metaphor.
ReplyDeleteI believe the military vessel that would best represent the church for our metaphor would be an aircraft carrier. They are ther lead ship (central focus, much like the church) in an fleet of support vessels (the community). They inspire one to search the skies (heavens) with and almost limitless reach/influence (missionaries heading to/in the field).
The give and take relationship of this vessel and its accompanying fleet would easily encompass more of the points we are working to understand. It is very much a symbiotic relationship. It provides the fleet with purpose, guidance, support and defense; all of which it receives from its fleet in return. Fore without the fleet (us), there is no need for the aircraft carrier (the church); likewise, without the aircraft carrier (the church) there would be no purpose or direction for the fleet (us, or would there be an "us" at all... without the church?).
You are so right.
ReplyDeleteYour comparison of the church to a cruise ship raised no objections because it was -- sadly, shamefully -- apt.
"High seas rescue? Missions of mercy? Answering distress calls? Saving shipwreck survivors? Well, shame on those people for being out there in the first place. That's what they get for not booking passage on our boat. Besides, you can only shout instructions from the railing for so long before you just have to give up. They're in God's hands now; if he wants to save them, he'll send the Coast Guard."
Or, if you must, he could send a battleship; at peace or war, every swab and seaman knows the drill for "man overboard!"
Heck, I'm just delighted that we're considering nautical metaphors. I just *knew* my ability to cuss like a sailor would come in handy at church some day.
;-)