LIGHTHOUSE: a structure, a building, whose purpose is to signify, to passing ships, the dangers (rocks and shallow depth) among which the building itself stands; which, building, is constructed of such materials and in such a manner as to enable it to withstand the most severe weather conditions.The idea of a "lighthouse", as such, is the "organizing principle" which guides the design of the structure, including the selection and arrangement of materials, as well as the placement of the building. Importantly, every "organizing principle" is an idea which is intended to redress some perceived need or problem. Thus, it is clear that such and such a need or problem needs first to be perceived and understood, before any meaningful organizing principle may then be developed as an answer to that need or problem. The image, above, dramatically reveals the 'need' (to protect ships) as well as the 'problem' (dangerous shoreline), for which reasons the 'idea' (organizing principle) of a lighthouse was conceived as an answer to that need and that problem.
Let us use the foregoing illustration as an analogy. Instead of ships, let us say 'souls'; instead of rocks and shallow water, let us say 'principalities and powers'; instead of storm, let us say 'demonic forces'; and, lastly, instead of lighthouse, let us say, 'Christian Church'. Try to imagine then, if you will, what the above picture would look like. It is easy to imagine any number of souls, as ships, plying the waters of the 'sea' of life. It is easy, too, to imagine the Christian Church standing as a lighthouse in the world. But what are the "principalities and powers" just mentioned? And how do "demonic forces" relate to a 'storm'?
The "principalities and powers" are the rulers of this world, the so-called 'elite', who, similarly as the dangers which hidden rocks and shallow waters pose to passing ships, worldly rulers devise their greedy and wicked schemes largely in secret. And much like a 'storm' is the result of invisible winds which tend to drive both waves and ships toward hidden rocks and shallow water along the shoreline: invisible, "demonic forces" continually lash at men's souls and their circumstances; and, if they cannot outright sink those souls at sea, as it were, demonic forces will yet try to wreck men's lives upon the 'rocks and shallows', that is to say, upon the brutal regime contrived and imposed by rulers of this present evil world.
Above, it was said that, before any meaningful organizing principle can be conceived of, it is first needful to (rightly) perceive and understand the nature of a given need and/or problem. Do we, then, rightly perceive, and do we well understand the nature of, the NEED, as well as the PROBLEM, for which reasons the Christian Church, supposedly, exists?
What is the need? The need is: the salvation of souls. They are, as it were, the ships at sea. And what is the problem? The problem is two-fold: 1) the presence and the working of invisible demonic forces, which ever strive to destroy souls; and 2) wicked rulers and their deeds, which comprise the worldly system, and which seek to destroy men's faith in God.
The Christian Church is intended, by God, to be His answer to that NEED, as well as His solution to that PROBLEM. In other words, the mission of the Church is to save souls, which amounts to answering the 'need'. But in the course of attempting to save souls, the Church must of necessity confront and overcome the aforementioned 'problem'. Which is to say, that the Church must be capable to stand firm amongst the 'rocks and shallows' of the worldly system, while furthermore withstanding against the howling--albeit invisible--winds of demonic furor!
The Church evidently is not doing a good job of fulfilling its mission of saving souls. Why is that?
It is because there is no lighthouse. There is no 'Church'; there are only scattered Christians. To be sure, there are lots and lots of churches--the vast majority of which are apostate: and, so, they are not lighthouses, but they are really more a part of the worldly system, those hard and jagged 'rocks' in 'shallow waters' which threaten to destroy unwary and unstable souls.
The "Christian Church", by contrast, is clearly characterized (though not explicitly stated) in Scripture as being that great "organizing principle" which God ordained among men, for the purpose of saving souls. Sadly, most Christians have a terribly inadequate conception of what is meant by "saving souls"; supposing, as many do, that salvation has only to do with 'forgiveness of sins' and, some day, 'going to heaven'. Whereas, the salvation of God involves the entirety of the human soul's experience in this present world as well as in the world to come. Therefore, the Christian Church, in order to fulfill its mission of saving souls, MUST not only prevail against the stormy winds of demonic attacks but, furthermore--and no less important, the Church must be capable to serve as a stronghold and refuge for souls, in the midst of the host of worldly rulers and their worldly system. And that, no one person is capable, alone, to do.
But the IDEA: that Christians must purposively come together, with full understanding of, and with determination to do, the will of God, in order to successfully evangelize, disciple, and nurture souls unto the Kingdom of God--while withstanding against the forces of hell and the machinations of ungodly men; that IDEA is the "organizing principle" which the Bible calls the "Church" of Jesus Christ. That IDEA is what ought to serve as the guiding light whereby Christian persons may seek, through God, to build a Lighthouse, wheresoever they may build--not a building, but the living Church, a Community of Believers, the Body of Christ.
Most people have no idea whatsoever of how vast and how powerful an array of forces are conspiring together in a grand effort to unify and solidify control of all global resources including, especially, of 'human capital'--that is, of people. Those whose worldview rules out the God of the Bible, are no longer constrained by any meaningful sense of morality. But they believe themselves to be the masters of a man-made World Order, whose Utopian Dream envisions themselves as rulers over all. While modern technology phenomenally assists in advancing their unholy purpose.
So, where is the Church? Where are those (still scattered) Christians who understand not only the will and purpose of God but who also understand the real nature of the problems related to the Church's mission in this world?
Or, do we not understand that mission? Or, is it because our vision of Eternity, of Hell and of Heaven is so obscure that, consequently, we are so little motivated to yield ourselves to God's will and purpose...in being the Church?
How, then, do we begin to BE the Church? For, the existing 'model'--which is the basis for the organization and operations of practically all contemporary churches--is clearly not working, nor is it at all workable. The true Church, then, must be something else, something very different.
Indeed, it is. Let us begin by asserting that the IDEA of the "Christian Church"--as an organizing principle--serves to guide and direct Christian persons both as to WHY and HOW they must come together, and in such a way that their relationships and activities are "mutually supportive" and, thus, as a community of Christ's disciples, they are "collectively strong".
Such a perspective, significantly, highlights what I have been saying about the disastrous implications of the "mixed multitude" (see my essay by that same title).
Yet there is more--much, much more--which this little teaching, involving an understanding of "Church" as being an "organizing principle", is capable to instruct us--in the case that enough of us (in any locality) may be willing to take it as seriously as it deserves to be taken....
If ever the Church--as a "city of refuge"--was needed, it is right now.
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