On certain episodes of the old and now famous TV show “Star Trek”, there was some interesting dialog that occurred between Captain James T. Kirk and Chief Engineer Scott (aka ‘Scotty”) that went along the lines of:
Kirk: Scotty, we need more power!!!
Scotty (in his best Scottish rogue accent): Aye Captain, I’m giving her all that I can. If I give you any more, she’ll blow!!!
Kirk: Scotty, more power!!
Scotty: Captain!!!, she’s gonna blow!!!!!!
Kirk: Scotty, MORE Power!!!
Scotty: SHE’S GONNA BLOW CAPTAIN!!!!!!
Kirk: MORE POWER NOW SCOTTY!!!
Scotty: Okay (very non-chalant, flippant, and comical sounding)
Scotty then slides the levers to apply more power, sounds are made, the impulse engines are running hotter and on the redline, but the Enterprise survives another catastrophe to continue going boldly where no man has gone before.
And we watch the next episode………..
In many ways, the church has become like the U.S.S. Enterprise. Driven by corporate strategies and truly believing in their ‘five year missions’ (reminds me of communism’s ‘five year plans’) “to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations — to boldly go where no man has gone before…”
It appears that every modern ‘move’ from 1900 to the Emergents really believed that they were really going ‘where no man has gone before’. However, in the end, it appears that they ended up in the same place where ‘relevant’ became ‘irrelevant’ and ‘revelation’ turned ‘repulsive’ (and you thought I was going to say “Rygel 7″ or the ‘Romulan Neutral Zone’).
Yes, there were/are some ’strange new theological worlds’ being explored and some ‘new life forms’ and ‘new civilizations’ sought out as discipleship turned into dialogue. But in the chaos of unexpected circumstances, a similar scenerio between the “Captain of The Gospel Ship” and the “Chief Social Engineer” took place. In desperation, we cried out for ‘more power’ and we were forewarned that we were risking destruction of the engine that drives our machine. Then we saw the pressure from the critics, the regional headquarters, the new ‘megachurch’ down the street with better musicians and a better ‘Jesus for Juveniles’ program, and from the congregation within and we cried louder “MORE POWER!!!”. Eventually, the ‘engineering board of operations’ caved in and pushed the machine beyond the laws and designed specifications…..
And we somehow escaped the impending doom to come back next week (same church time, same church channel……)
But the internal damage and unforeseen breakdown had started because we stressed the engine of the machine called corporate church by our ‘impulses’ instead of surrendering the reigns to God to start with because we replaced miracles with machines, miracles with methods, miracles with manpower, miracles with materialism, and miracles with manufactured ‘moves’ we called ‘of God’.
The Church is heading towards that unforeseen blowup and breakdown caused by internal damage because it has chosen to go by might and power instead of by His Spirit.
We don’t need anymore power!!!! We need to use what God has given us in compliance with the specifications (Bible) that He has given us and go out and fulfill the lifelong Great Commission to:
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
Matthew 28:18-20
(New King James Version)
If we do this, preach the love of Abba Father (instead of the agendas of a ‘fanatical federation’), then we will truly:
Live Long And Prosper
with many blessings.
