Guest Post by Sam S. Rainer
The local church is the front line of ministry. In the battle against the spiritual forces of evil, the church is the trench. Christ’s bride is dug in, charged up, and ready to die for the freedom of souls. I relish the trench. It’s messy, at times gruesome, and the noise makes it difficult to sleep.
But I love it.
While there is no beauty in warfare (spiritual or otherwise), the battling bride is a gorgeous organism. Despite the muck, despite the damage, and despite the fight, she remains pure, white, and righteous. She belongs to Christ. She combats for Christ. She never stops engaging in the mission of reclaiming captives of darkness. The fighting white bride shines in the gray of spiritual war.
As a pastor, I realize the gravity of decisions I make. Vision isn’t just a compelling statement of future growth. Programs aren’t just tools for assimilating more people. Church events are far more than ways to make the community come to the campus.
When you invite someone to church, you’re calling them down into the trench. When you talk to someone about joining the mission, you’re asking them to suit up and grab a gospel grenade. The church is currently fighting a battle which will lead to ultimate victory. We win. Satan loses. And Jesus reigns. But we still must fight. The beautiful bride is a battling warrior.
Let’s stop pretending our churches are polished platforms of sanitized morality, speaking sentimentality apart from Truth. Let’s burn the preferences of wooden traditionalism. Let’s quit the silly game of worship experience one-upmanship. Let’s elevate spiritual grit above smooth and seamless operations. We’re in the middle of a serious war. Let’s get real about what we believe and who we’re really following.
When King Jesus returns, will he find the faithful in the trenches or in comfortable country clubs?
So we dig in. War is not won when soldiers retreat. Victory does not come to indifferent combatants. I’ve been guilty of placing myself on a pedestal. I’ve tried to climb into the ivory tower. I’ve ridden a few high horses. And I’ve found I’m at my best when I’m covered in mud in the trench of the local church. I’m fighting most fiercely when I’m not worried about my personal brand. I’m fighting well when I’m more concerned about the local pregnancy clinic than who retweets one of my pithy—but ultimately useless—140-character oddments.
So I fight.
I fight for people in the womb.
I fight for diversity in the local church.
I fight to help the poor.
I fight against injustice, and I fight for the widow.
I fight for every tongue, tribe, and nation.
I fight so sinners can clearly hear the deafening and all-consuming gospel.
The trench is the front line. I never want to leave until the battle is done. I want to die here: old, leathered, scarred, and exhausted. I can’t imagine approaching the throne of God unless I’m ready to collapse into the arms of Jesus.
I won’t stop until King Jesus returns, offering the victory promised. God, please don’t ever take me out of the trench. I want to die fighting.
Sam S. Rainer is the senior pastor of Stevens Street Baptist Church in Cookeville, Tennessee.
Pastor to Pastor is the Saturday blog series at ThomRainer.com. Pastors and staff, if we can help in any way, contact Steve Drake, our director of pastoral relations, at Steve.Drake@LifeWay.com. We also welcome contacts from laypersons in churches asking questions about pastors, churches, or the pastor search process.
Amen Sam! What great imagery; what great truth has been captured in this blog. We have failed so many by not being clear that the Christian life is not a walk in the part; it isn’t accomplished on a path of roses but on the way to the cross. This blog is clear; “easy believism” is not a proper model for the Christian pastor. We fight against the forces of spiritual darkness led by Commander Apollyon. I pray for a generation of pastors who share your commitment to join the march toward the gates of hell behind Jesus, the captian of our Salvation, and rejoice in the certain victory.
What an incredible post! I am framing a copy for my office. It will be a reminder of my call and need for commitment. Thank you Sam for letting God use you to give me new vision and new hope as a pastor.
I really appreciate the way you’ve summarized what I’ve been thinking and hearing for a while now! My one step away from your position is simply that the people I deal with IN the church are hardly putting me in the “front line.” The church gathered is more like the boot camp or outpost from which spiritual warriors are trained, encouraged, rallied, and sent out TO the front lines… wherever they meet the world. The world often tries to infiltrate the church gathered, but for the most part I think the REAL battle lines are out in the world.
Really helpful and encouraging article.
How do we get our folks to move from seeing the church as a polished platform of sanitized morality and to commitment to get in the trenches?
Thanks!
Blog of the year. Period.
To all -
Sam is running a half-marathon today, so I don’t know if he will see your comments until later. I’ll get word to him to check the blog tonight. Thank you for taking time to comment.
Yes! Thank you, Sam!
Blessings.
David
Celebration Church
Hoover, AL
Thank you for putting into words what I have been feeling for a long time. I am a pastor’s wife dug into the trenches with my husband here in the northeast. I have to say I have been very weary as of late with the muck of sickness, sadness, broken marriages in our churches…I guess I don’t have to tell you what goes on in the trenches. I have found myself just weeping in the middle of a service because of the heartache I feel. Thank you for the reminder the church, full of sinners, is Christ’s Bride and it is worth fighting for, and I will die there too.
Sam -
I am on the edge of quitting. I am tired. Tired of the hurt. Tired of the critics. Tired of the demands. I had this idealistic view of ministry. I expected there would be hurt, I expected there would be warfare. I just didn’t expect that most of my pain would come from within. From brothers and sisters in Christ.
You have reminded me that these negative brothers and sisters are worth fighting for. You have reminded me that are no worse sinners than I am.
Maybe i can stay in the battle now. Maybe I can make it day by day.
Thank you for giving me hope.
Brandon – Pastors must lead by example. As you know, people in the church are all at various stages of spiritual development. Some immature believers need to be taught. And sometimes even the best, most mature warriors go through a valley and need healing. One of the best traits a pastor can show the church is perseverance through it all. It’s tough, but you must go out in front and show the way, with truth and love.
Jody – Pastors’ wives not only fight alongside their spouses, they carry the double burden of supporting pastors when no one else will. I’ll be praying for you. Pastors’ wives have a lot of spiritual grit and fortitude. I know my wife does. I could not lead my church without her.
Pastor H – Some of my most painful battles are the ones that have occurred within the body. I’ll be praying for you today. A spiritual war is brutal when it rages within the congregation.
Thank you Sam. Simply, thank you.
Great post Sam
Well said. Amen.
What a timely and appropriate reminder! Thank you so much for reminding us of who we are.
Wow! What an awesome and well-written post. It encouraged me and fired me up! You have we’ll stated the position of the church. May many people read and heed this timely message.
I very much appreciate the imagery here. We need to get beyond the idea of seeing this present life as a country club to realizing it is a war zone. Thank you for reminding us of this.
MOST excellent and needful.
Thanks so much to everyone who commented. It’s encouraging to think of all the warriors across the globe in local churches fighting for Jesus. May God give you great gospel fruit!
Pastor H,
We seem to be in the same trench. Know that you are not alone
Wow is that good stuff. Thank you, sincerely, for the swift kick to the pants.