Perspective - Summer 2005
Prisons, Power and Proclamation
by Jim Murray - CMI Executive Director
Last fall, my son Craig and his wife
Laura celebrated their honeymoon in Rome. As any
self-respecting tourists would, they returned with
dozens of pictures from this ancient capital. As
they shared with us their photos we were awed by the
beauty and wonder of places like the Coliseum, the
Roman Forum and Saint Peter’s Basilica.
Yet one unlikely picture stood out
from the others.
It was a picture of a dark, dank dungeon – the
prison reputed to have held the Apostle Peter and
the Apostle Paul in their last days.
It was quite a contrast.
Outside the prison walls stood the
greatest city of its day. Inside was the blackened,
coarse stone of a jail cell. Outside was the full
majesty of the world’s greatest empire. Inside were
aged disciples at the end of their race. Outside the
power of the age sought to uproot an upstart
religion. Inside sprang forth writings that were the
Words of God.
2,000 years later this great world
power rests on the ash heap of history. Its majestic
buildings lay in rubble, its glory erased and its
power stripped bare. Yet the words of Scripture
composed in that prison stand for eternity and the
Church they cultivated reaches around the world.
These thoughts serve as an
encouragement to me. At CMI we firmly believe that
the local church is essential to discipling nations
for Jesus Christ. In fact, this belief frames our
mission of “helping urban churches evangelize their
nation.” Still, at times, the church seems an
imperfect vehicle for accomplishing such a goal. It
is formed of diverse groups of people, saved by
grace, but still bringing in their quirks, personal
baggage, and sinful tendencies. Building unity,
purpose and vision is challenging and sometimes
slow.
Yet somehow God uses this weakened
vessel to reveal His glory. Somehow he takes this
fragile institution and forges it into a force that
no human or spiritual power can overwhelm. In a
short-sighted perspective the church may appear
frail, but indwelled by the Spirit it is a force
more powerful than any other in the world.
For 2,000 years the Church has been
destroying the Enemy’s strongholds, rescuing
captives and proclaiming the love of Christ.
Empires, nations, dictators, philosophers and
zealots have mounted their assaults. They have risen
only to fall. But the Church endures by the power of
Christ, declaring hope, salvation, freedom and
redemption to the world.
EQ Summer 2005
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