December 17 I Timothy 1-6 Stay Focused on the Mission

In the HBO series, Band of Brothers, a story was told of a detachment of solders in WWII. It showed them in boot camp and subsequent training in the US as a bunch of self-centered Americans from very diverse backgrounds and communities. They had a lot of infighting and young male testosterone-induced jealousies and jostling for position.

However, something happened when they were sent to Europe to join the fighting on the Continent shortly after the Normandy Invasion through the Battle of the Bulge and finally the end of the war. They were always assigned at a front in heavy fighting from the time they arrived. The intensity of the mission wove them into a band of brothers. They learned to care deeply for each other. They watched each other's back and even risked their lives for each other. Their diversity of backgrounds no longer mattered - they became one.

Focus on the mission changed them. So, what can us American Christians learn from them. Well, it is to get out of training and into the fight. We need to engage the world as Christ commands us - we need to get out of our church buildings and take the fight to where the enemy lives - in the world. Our unity comes when we are actively involved in the mission of the church.

I Timothy begins with a purpose statement and ends with a summary:

• 1 Timothy 1:3-4 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work-- which is by faith.
• 1 Timothy 6:18-20 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge,

A church engaged in only training its people will eventually devolve into a church speculating about what God wants - "godless chatter." A church actually doing God's total work unifies around the mission. A church actively involved and engaged in taking ground for Christ has no time or energy for divisive controversies that divide too many American churches. A church on mission becomes a band of brothers and sisters in Christ. 

We need to stay focused on the mission - not the programs and events and buildings and property and administration - all those are essential - but never to become an end in themselves.