Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
–Matthew 28:19-20
When I lived in Florida decades ago, one thing I remember is the large amount of bird sanctuaries we had. These were places of safety and security for the birds where hunters weren’t allowed to hunt and predators were severely limited or even taken away altogether.
Maybe that’s why I don’t like to call the church a “sanctuary.” Because when we come to worship, I truly believe that’s the time when we’re engaging in serious battle with the evil one. And one of the main reasons we gather together weekly is so that we’re empowered to live with boldness and urgency to reach others for Jesus Christ. That is a wartime mentality!
Your time fellowshipping with others should equip and empower you to do battle in daily life. Yet so many just go home from church, keep to themselves, and never obey the marching orders of our Commander in Chief who said to every Christian, “Go, and make disciples of all nations.”
The Christian life is not to be lived in a sanctuary, separated from risk and danger. No, every believer must answer the call to step into the unknown and unsafe areas of life, obeying the Commander-in-Chief’s call to preach the Good News of Christ to the ends of the earth!
DON’T TREAT THE CHRISTIAN LIFE AS A SANCTUARY. INSTEAD, LIVE YOUR LIFE UNDER GOD’S MARCHING ORDERS AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH!
