You may have heard the Christian church referred to as “The Body of Christ.” The Living Christ is Jesus, and Jesus often spoke in parables, stories, simple in nature, that were intended to impart a moral lesson in a form that would be easy for ordinary people to remember and tell others. It seems to me that calling the church “The Body of Christ” makes you wonder what that means. I don’t think the meaning is literal. For me, “the body” is the mass of people and “in Christ” means having faith in Jesus, the Christ. Thus, a Christian church is an assembly of a mass of Christians. If that is correct, the church should be a center of moral power that is there to do something. Logically, what a Christian church should do is God’s will, something God would want organized Christians to do.
I was wondering if you could explain what I think is, by using a description, more easily understood, sort of like a parable is supposed to do. After some research, I found Carl Von Clausewitz, a Prussian military officer who looked at warfare in a new way in the early 19th century. Investigate him to understand the depth of his thought. I thought his description of a Center of Gravity as a primary source of moral strength fit the definition of a Christian Church. The following is my analysis, using Clausewitz’s point of view:
Command Order:
Order: God.
Strategic Guidance Document: The Christian Bible.
God’s Guidance: God’s will is for people to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, sacrificed to bear the sin of mankind. The Effect that God wants: A personal relationship, a connection of the heart between the people and him.
Guidance Document: The Bible, Book of John, Chapter 6, verse 40: “For this is the will of God, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life. I will raise him up on the last day. Note: Other books of the Bible may also be cited to support this definition.
Operational Center of Gravity (COG): The Body of Christ (Christian Churches).
Guidance Document: The Bible, Book of Matthew, Chapter 28, verses 18-20: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the and of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And indeed, I will be with you always, until the end of the world.” Note: Other books of the Bible may also be cited. The definition of COG: A primary source of moral force, power and resistance. Note: The Holy Spirit is how God communicates with the heart of a Christian. Some refer to it as “an inner voice that tells us what is right and what is wrong.”
Critical Ability (CC): A faith-based, disciplined ability used by an operational COG to achieve the effect God intends. The COG of the Church must determine what its CC is and manage it according to God’s Strategic Guidance. The COG of the Church will be fruitful if it achieves the effect that God wants. The definition of CC: The main ability of a COG.
Critical Requirement (CR): Understanding of God’s will. Empowerment of the COG by God, through the Holy Spirit.
Guidance Document: The Bible, Book of Matthew, Chapter 13, verse 12: “To him who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance.” Also, The Bible, Book of Acts, Chapter 1, verse 8: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends.” of the earth.” Note: Other books of the Bible can also be cited. The definition of CR: Essential conditions, resources and means to enable CC.
Critical Vulnerability (CV): Understand the risk of the enemy. Jesus describes Satan as “the other one”, and one who will exploit weakness in faith.
Guidance Document: The Bible, Book of Matthew, Chapter 13, verse 12: “From him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.” Note: Other books of the Bible may also be cited. The definition of CV: A RC, or a component thereof, that neutralizes or prevents the CC from being decisive. This definition can be difficult to understand. It is a warning that failure will come from within, that one resource the church has will be too weak to resist the resistance of evil. In other words, a weakness in resources (such as the faith in the hearts of the mass of Christians who are members of a church) that Satan will find and exploit.
So what does this mean? If this analysis is correct, it is another way of saying that Christian churches grow with the grace of God, who is pleased with how effectively they do his will. If they are not effective, even if they try to do their will, they will fail. If your church is losing members, ask yourself, “Is this church effective in doing God’s will?” If you conclude that it is not, as a member, you have a moral obligation to speak with the church leadership and help the church leader to be effective. If you don’t, consider leaving that church to become a member of another church, one that thrives on God’s grace.