First Evangelical Free Church Sioux City, Iowa

The Church’s Mission

I wrote not long ago a few thoughts on the purpose and mission of the church. Recently, I came across a great quote from C.S. Lewis' Screwtape Letters which seems to speak to this very issue (for those who don't know, the book is meant to be a fictional record of how the forces of evil try to trip up the followers of God, so you must read the quote from a "devil's advocate" perspective to understand what is meant here):

"About the general connection between Christianity and politics, our position is more delicate.

Certainly we do not want men to allow their Christianity to flow over into their political life, for the establishment of anything like a really just society would be a major disaster.

On the other hand, we do want, and want very much, to make men treat Christianity as a means; preferably, of course, as a means to their own advancement, but, failing that, as a means to anything—even to social justice.

The thing to do is to get a man at first to value social justice as a thing which the Enemy [=God] demands, and then work him on to the stage at which he values Christianity because it may produce social justice. For the Enemy will not be used as a convenience. Men or nations who think they can revive the Faith in order to make a good society might just as well think they can use the stairs of Heaven as a short cut to the nearest chemist’s shop. Fortunately it is quite easy to coax humans round this little corner." (p.126-127)

On the webpage where I found the quote, there was a very helpful comment made which I believe helps to sum up Lewis' point:

"In other words, don't confuse the Gospel with the results or implications of the Gospel, or you'll lose the Gospel."