In order to beat this particular bad guy, they had to use a martial arts technique called a ‘spirit bomb.’ The spirit bomb draws energy from every non-sentient living thing on the planet, which is an enormous amount of energy. To defeat this particular bad guy they need not only the non-sentient energy, but the energy from the people too. In order to get energy from people it is necessary to convince them to give it up. In typical soap opera fashion, it took three episodes to coax everyone into it, but everyone eventually gave up their energy and the world was saved.

This silly cartoon moved me to tears this week in light of the divisions visible in the country over the war. All our energy is required to win this war, but some are holding back. It saddened me, but as I reflected on it, I think I had some insight as well. I have written on several occasions about how the mainline churches are suffering because of how the seek to accommodate a diversity of opinions. Yet the church, like the ‘Z fighters’ of the cartoon, are trying to save the world – but for the church it is literally true.

The church’s task indeed requires the energy of all involved. They must sacrifice that energy to the Lord. At this point we are back to a theme I have hit on time and time again. To sacrifice our energies to the Lord, we must take a subservient position. W must know that we cannot accomplish the task before us with our own strength. We must humble ourselves. Is not this humiliation another form of repentance?

Though not the mainline denominations, Christianity seems to be gaining strength in the U.S. lately. Our President publicly acknowledges his faith. Mega-churches continue to thrive and grow. Worship music is sold on TV. But I am troubled by much of what is passing for church growth today. It seems to lack the appropriate level of humility. I do not hear judge the personal faith of the President, nor anyone else. I am not even sure I can put my finger on exactly what I don’t like or exactly how things should look. I just know it seems slightly out of kilter. There is just a little too much chest thumping. The ultimate victory of Christ came in His death, hardly a cause for celebration.

As things kicked into high gear, the media began to tell us all the stories of where things went wrong. We heard about the dead and captured in excruciating detail. After about 36 hours I made a household pronouncement. I was not interested in the story of GI Joe who died at Al-Nasariah, I wanted to know how far we had advanced, our casualties in comparison to theirs. I wanted a commander’s view of the war, not a grunt’s view.

That is one of the more interesting parts of this whole embedded reporter thing – we are really getting a grunt’s view.

Those who wish to knock me down would be quick to point out that I should be the one that most wants a grunt’s view. After all do I not always rail about how the church is wrong when it puts the needs of the institution ahead of the needs of the individual? This is a fair assertion and requires a response.

By choosing a commander’s view of the war, I am indeed expressing a willingness to let some individuals make big sacrifices for the common good. And while those sacrifices are regrettable, they are necessary. I accept those sacrifices with minimal mourning because I am focused on the larger, over all goal.

The institutions of the church are much the same. They are necessary to manage our affairs, but if we were not sinners I do not think they would be useful. Therefore, the sole reason for the church to exist is to put itself out of existence. If the church does its job well, it will no longer be needed. In the church, the commander’s view is not one designed to preserve an institution, but to make it unnecessary.

If; however, I admit to the need for such an institution until such time as we are re-created, is it not incumbent on those that lead the institution to preserve it? Yes, but not at the expense of the over-riding mission. If we choose the good of the institution over the good of an individual, we have lost the commander’s view; something that leadership can ill-afford.

Here is one of the places where the difference between ‘the world’ and heaven is most apparent. The church commander’s view is radically, radically different than a military commander’s view. The key question is always, how do we find this view? Communion with its source the only way I know. Such communion comes from prayer and scripture, prayer and scripture. It’s an old song, but a really good one.