The Church, A Mission Field?

As I was writing to various people yesterday, telling them about In Our Midst, I experienced one of those "aha" moments; the kind that makes you sit back in your seat and go, "Hmmmm." I was telling someone about our ministry to the Church -- equipping the Church to minister to those hurt by abortion and sexual sin -- referring to it as a unique mission field. As I wrote those words it occurred to me how appropriate and yet incredibly unusual it was to refer to the Church as a mission field. Unusual and uncomfortable.

Africa is a mission field. Eastern Europe is a mission field. Even the good ol' US of A is a mission field. But the Church...?

The truth is many of our churches are made up of walking wounded. Those who have trusted Christ for their salvation, and even some who have surrendered to Him as the Lord of their life walk around attempting to serve God from still broken lives. Abortion, infidelity, pornography addiction, eating disorders, food addictions, codependence, control issues, rage, and even the seemingly lesser sins of gossiping and harboring unforgiveness keep the body of Christ from walking free and serving Him unhindered.

We are called to "run the race," as Paul put it in 1 Corinthians 9:24 and Hebrews 12:1. We are to be as disciplined as marathon runners, strong, conditioned, toned, running with all our might toward the goal of bringing glory to God. Yet many of us though trying to run faithfully are limping at best. Sadly, some are lying along the side of the road, too wounded to participate in the race.

Although some parts of the body are strong and effective in fulfilling their purpose and role, the parts that are wounded and weak hold back the body as a whole. If a runner has rock-hard legs but his lungs are weak, he will never make it in a marathon. If his heart is strong but his knee is out of joint or his foot is infected, the best he will be able to do is limp.

Perhaps it shouldn't be such a unique and unusual thing for us to think of our churches as mission fields. After all, Jesus referred to them as hospitals. So why then do we walk around ignoring the wounded in our midst? Is it because their wounds are so well hidden? Or is it that we don't want to see them? Perhaps the true reason is somewhere in between.

One thing is certain: we have our work cut out for us!