Pilgrim Soldier

For the majority of humanity life is pretty much a constant struggle. A struggle simply to survive in a fallen world in which God’s promise to Adam in Genesis 3:17-19 is fulfilled. This is not true only of the majority world, but also of many in wealthy nations as well.

Those of us privileged enough, in the world’s eyes, to live both in the West and who don’t have to struggle to survive, life has become far more about the pursuit of leisure and pleasure. Of course this also goes for many of the wealthy and powerful elite of the majority world.

I’m beginning to wonder whether this is part of the problem that is causing decline within the Church. Is it possible that for many of us Church is simply another leisure activity that we pursue for pleasure? Could it be that we have become so comfortable in our Western struggle-free lifestyle that there is no longer an understanding of the life-transforming and liberating nature of the Gospel?

This would certainly go a long way to explain why the Church in the West is in decline, whilst in those places where life is a constant struggle it thrives.

True discipleship is not about leisure. Yes, the Christian path is one of fulfilment and that leads to pleasure, but ultimately it cannot be divorced from the struggle that is the Church’s mission. If we see Church as leisure then how can we ever work towards seeing God’s redemptive plan fulfilled on earth?