Operation Recruitment

I’ll never forget a busy parent who said to me regarding coming to church on Sunday...(By the way he was one of the nicest people I’ve known.) He said, “I don’t come to church on Sunday morning because in our busy schedule of things I have to do, Sunday morning is the only time I don’t have to do anything.” They were exhausted. I understand. James Dobson said once, “if the devil can’t make you sin, he’ll make you busy.” I’m very sympathetic to people who are exhausted and worn out.

Come to this meeting! You are invited to this ____ ... Sign your child up for _____, it’s only an hour a week are pleas we all hear regularly. I want to present to you a lens which will simplify your lives, and help us establish good wholesome priorities. We are to be disciples of Christ—and most of us know that. We know that clear call and command by Christ Himself. But we also have all these other things in competition for our precious time, talents, and families.

The problem is we are being recruited. I’m not thinking so much of our local clubs and organizations who are made up of friends and neighbors. We are all being recruited to a far more reaching agenda that is ultimately not consistent with the Gospel. Our cultural institutions are no longer neutral. They are not out and out evil, but they are no longer neutral. Our local institutions are affected to varying degrees. They range from the main stream media to even local churches. Some churches are the worst examples of what I’m saying. I was listening to a well known Christian pastor this morning who was laying out an argument about this, and he mentioned some steps, toward indoctrination which I summarized.

1. Recruitment

2. Shaming --if #1 doesn’t work

3. Cancelling –if #1 and #2 doesn’t work

4. Persecuting. --if #1, #2, #3 don’t work

When we are being recruited (discipled) into the these affected institutions, or ways of thinking, and these four stages are used. Let’s look at how this is happening to grandparents as an example. If you want to see your grandchild, you need to get the shot. If your grandchild is transitioning to another gender. If you love them you’ll affirm them.

Now think about the pressure put on kids. And if they themselves feel a certain way on a particular day or for a short season in their lives, the recruiters or influencers are lining up to steal their souls. They have an advantage, with all of us, because our sinful nature is hungry for evil ideas.

We know the world is not neutral. Jesus stated that 2000 years ago. But our western institutions have been overrun with this dark veil. And they are recruiting. In between the last newsletter and this one was the assassination of Charlie Kirk sharing with these very kids on the grounds of one of these institutions.

The answer to this is Operation Rescue from last month’s article. The world’s recruitment is the devil’s discipleship. Operation Rescue is the only remedy. We need to recommit ourselves in the time remaining on this earth to God’s recruitment program—becoming and growing as a follower of Christ.

Maybe this will help. We need to understand God’s chain of command. The concept of chain of command is a type of hierarchical structure within an organization. It refers to a “top down” type of authority. It outlines authority and responsibility and ensures clear communication and accountability by defining how orders and information is passed from one level to another. In business it has advantages and disadvantages like anything else.

I want to suggest we take a look at Christ’s kingdom through this lens for a moment to see if it sheds any light on our priorities. I am not going to suggest that this lens of chain of command is adequate for the entire subject of the kingdom of God, particularly in regards to the beatitudes of Matthew 5, for example, where clearly most of our understandings of kingdoms and power are turned upside down.

But in Matthew 13:41, just as an example, Jesus states, “The Son of Man will send out His angels and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend…” painting a picture of a clear chain of command structure. There are many others as well.

In addition to the above verse, and many others like it, we see the authority beginning with God the father. We know clearly there is the teaching of submission to those in authority. The Ten Commandments are central to God’s chain of command teaching the place of worship, and obedience in the home including marriage. The New Testament teaches husbands to love your wives as Christ loved the church. The chain of command moves from Christ at the top, to the home where men, love their wives, and children. Then men are to lead in worship of God.

The chain of command next is the place and community in which we worship. The church is the “bride” of Christ. The structure of the church is clearly established in the New Testament. It is patterned after the Old Testament. Christ is the head of the church. He is the husband.

We need to understand that we are under God’s chain of command, reporting directly to Heaven for our time and resources, as men, and women. And our priorities must be adjusted accordingly. We need to then ignore the threats of cancellation and even persecution.

I believe if my friend was prepared with these priorities, I think he would have been able to handle the recruitment pressures they faced as a family. They might be sitting in church with their grandchildren today.

That’s my view two cents

Pastor Tom ###