“Pursue one great decisive aim with force and determination.”
Clausewitz – Pursue one great decisive aim with…
From the Field Nov. 28, ’14
Carl von Clausewitz
The Prussian military strategist gives us some useful quotes for our work in evangelizing, preaching the Gospel throughout all creation. One of these is “Pursue one great decisive aim with force and determination.” When Paul worked with the Corinthians he pointed up his focus, “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” 1 Cor. 2:2 Writing to Timothy he stressed the central focus again, “No soldier on service gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to satisfy the one who enlisted him.” 2 Tim. 2:4 Our task is to present Christ to the world and not get distracted by anything or anyone.
After all everything we are is Christ’s; we were bought with the price we could not pay. There is “…one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.” 1 Cor. 8:6 We seek to have all center on Him, “For from Him, and through Him and to Him are all things..” Rom. 11:36
Yes, we help our overseas brothers and sisters in a variety of material and physical ways. These all though no matter how worthy and emotional they may be, are secondary to the Preaching of the Gospel. Yes, we help orphans and widows as James tells us pure religion manifests itself, but never to the detriment of giving the One Thing Needful, that Mary at the feet of our Lord knew about and received. Paul’s one great decisive aim is epitomized in his words to the Corinthians “I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls…” 2 Cor. 12:15 While many Christian churches have shifted their emphasis to providing for physical needs and alleviating social ills, we are not deterred from providing first and foremost what is needed to propel the soul to God who gave it.
God would have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of our Savior. He would have none perish. God does not have pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked repent and live. This is our objective also as a church body. No secondary objective no matter how noble or how well supported must interfere. We have to evaluate how do these fit in: orphan work, Christian educational efforts, business development for church self-support, tentmaking assistance, charitable efforts of any kind. We need to ask how secondary objectives contribute to the attainment of the principal objective. And if manpower or budget difficulties arise hard questions need to be answered.
What a joy to bring Christ the light of the world to the darkness in this world due to unbelief. For this task we Christians are commissioned.
We beckon others…
Onward, then, ye faithful, join our happy throng, Blend with ours your voices In the triumph son: Glory, laud, and honor Unto Christ, the King…