The turning point in Jesus’ ministry on earth is in Matthew chapter 16. Jesus said something to his wild-eyed disciples that was absolutely radical. “[O]n this rock I will build My church, ” he said, “and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” He then gave “keys” to Peter, a metaphor for authority and accountable stewardship.
In our world where church means comfort and security and Aunt Mildred’s Sunday school class bazaars we overlook the huge impact of this statement that would have shocked and excited the young men standing there.
They would have understood church, εκκλησια (ekklesia) in the Greek, as the gathering of God’s people for a specific military purpose. The Old Testament is full of stories about kings and prophets sounding the alarm through the blowing of the trumpet to assemble the army. At the sound of the trumpet they stopped everything, picked up weapons, and went to the gathering place for orders.
Israel had been the gathering of God’s people in the wilderness, as they moved toward the promised land to invade it. The entire exodus was a military operation. Now Jesus is calling forth a new nation, a new army, to invade a new promised land.
Jesus’ military intention is clear. “The gates of Hades will not prevail against it,” he said. The clear suggestion is an offensive military action against the walled fortress Jesus called Hades, where all its defenses will fail and the invaders’ action will succeed. The church’s movement is aggressive, forceful, decisive, and successful. It advances forcefully.
This is not the first time Jesus used language of force. Another time, another place, Jesus said, “[F]rom the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matthew 11:12). Still another time he said, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.” He goes on to talk about how his movement will disrupt and divide, not bring peace (Matthew 10:34-38). It’s enough to make Aunt Mildred spill her tea in her lap.
Just what foe is the assembled church taking on? Hades, Sheol of the Old Testament. The place of death, decay, and nothingness. The inherited result of Adam’s passivity and disobedience. In Hebrew thought everything living is active and fruitful. There is no state of being, only action and result. God’s Spirit moved over the face of the waters, and continues to move and create and produce today. To discontinue action is to be dead, unproductive, lifeless. A horrifying thought in the Hebrew (biblical) way of thinking. When we finish this life we are buried in Hades to await the restoration of life in the resurrection, where we are redeemed from the curse of Adam’s inaction.
To be in the church is to be called to arms, to prepare for war, and to move into action. Jesus began the militant kingdom movement to take back everything Hades had absorbed. Listen to what Jesus told his hometown synagogue folks about his ministry:
Jesus intends for the kingdom to advance forcefully, as a conquering army, overcoming the grip of Hades on the lives of people. He has called men, redeemed from the effects of Adam’s passivity, to become alive and dangerous and passionate to his cause. Take back ground. Restore. Rescue. Rebuild. Subdue. Fill with good things. Sounds like what Adam was supposed to do to begin with. It is what is hard-wired into our DNA.
So what are you doing? Sitting around on your blessed assurance singing about going to heaven? Setting up tables for Aunt Mildred’s bazaar?
This is a call to action. A call to war.
In our world where church means comfort and security and Aunt Mildred’s Sunday school class bazaars we overlook the huge impact of this statement that would have shocked and excited the young men standing there.
They would have understood church, εκκλησια (ekklesia) in the Greek, as the gathering of God’s people for a specific military purpose. The Old Testament is full of stories about kings and prophets sounding the alarm through the blowing of the trumpet to assemble the army. At the sound of the trumpet they stopped everything, picked up weapons, and went to the gathering place for orders.
Israel had been the gathering of God’s people in the wilderness, as they moved toward the promised land to invade it. The entire exodus was a military operation. Now Jesus is calling forth a new nation, a new army, to invade a new promised land.
Jesus’ military intention is clear. “The gates of Hades will not prevail against it,” he said. The clear suggestion is an offensive military action against the walled fortress Jesus called Hades, where all its defenses will fail and the invaders’ action will succeed. The church’s movement is aggressive, forceful, decisive, and successful. It advances forcefully.
This is not the first time Jesus used language of force. Another time, another place, Jesus said, “[F]rom the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matthew 11:12). Still another time he said, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.” He goes on to talk about how his movement will disrupt and divide, not bring peace (Matthew 10:34-38). It’s enough to make Aunt Mildred spill her tea in her lap.
Just what foe is the assembled church taking on? Hades, Sheol of the Old Testament. The place of death, decay, and nothingness. The inherited result of Adam’s passivity and disobedience. In Hebrew thought everything living is active and fruitful. There is no state of being, only action and result. God’s Spirit moved over the face of the waters, and continues to move and create and produce today. To discontinue action is to be dead, unproductive, lifeless. A horrifying thought in the Hebrew (biblical) way of thinking. When we finish this life we are buried in Hades to await the restoration of life in the resurrection, where we are redeemed from the curse of Adam’s inaction.
To be in the church is to be called to arms, to prepare for war, and to move into action. Jesus began the militant kingdom movement to take back everything Hades had absorbed. Listen to what Jesus told his hometown synagogue folks about his ministry:
The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,This is the language of a conquering king, changing the regime and setting up a new government with definite plans to help the poor, bruised, oppressed, captive, and blind. It is reversing the death and decay that Hades has claimed.
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.
Jesus intends for the kingdom to advance forcefully, as a conquering army, overcoming the grip of Hades on the lives of people. He has called men, redeemed from the effects of Adam’s passivity, to become alive and dangerous and passionate to his cause. Take back ground. Restore. Rescue. Rebuild. Subdue. Fill with good things. Sounds like what Adam was supposed to do to begin with. It is what is hard-wired into our DNA.
So what are you doing? Sitting around on your blessed assurance singing about going to heaven? Setting up tables for Aunt Mildred’s bazaar?
This is a call to action. A call to war.
Rise up, O men of God!
Have done with lesser things.
Give heart and mind and soul and strength
To serve the King of kings.
Rise up, O men of God!
The kingdom tarries long.
Bring in the day of brotherhood
And end the night of wrong.
Rise up, O men of God!
The church for you doth wait,
Her strength unequal to her task;
Rise up and make her great!
Lift high the cross of Christ!
Tread where His feet have trod.
As brothers of the Son of Man,
Rise up, O men of God!
This is an awesome blog! Thanks so much for sharing your heart. I will show this to my husband. I know he will be blessed!
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