The Bridge Boot Camp - What are We Training For?

I got an e-mail today that I'd been waiting on for 2 weeks. It was the first e-mail that I'd received questioning my usage of the military training known as "boot camp" as a metaphor for Christian discipleship training...as well as the entire idea about using military references in general in worship.

I always appreciate e-mails (positive or critiques) and figured this would come, because as soon as I put on a military outfit to go preach...I wondered if I was being authentic. I will admit I don't believe there is anything that is a Christian war or deserves holy battle in this world. There are some wars for good causes, but no war that I believe God jumps for joy at. And as Christians, we ought to realize that as well. That when we are serving in the military we are serving a country. We are not blowing stuff up for God.

However, when we came up with the idea of boot camp in Bridge Planning Team I loved the metaphor. I've studied the work ethic, devotion and blood, sweat and tears that military recruits go through to become part of the marines, navy, air force or whatever and I'm envious that our churches don't do the same thing. The devotion of a soldier is something to be admired for certain. I would love for people to be craving so bad to be a church member that they would do ANYTHING to get in...because they want to celebrate the love Christ has for them so much!

Fortunately, Christ's love doesn't cost us anything. It's a free gift and that's why churches typically don't make people box each other or run the mile in under 8 minutes to get in. We ask you to commit, try to encourage you, try to follow up and hope that we can facilitate your own faith growth through sermons, care, fellowship, study, service, etc.

We can't be a military boot camp. It's just not the way Christ was.

But Jesus demanded a lot. So did Paul and all the early Christians. Do you know that it was a 3 year process just to get baptized at one point?

So that's what we're doing in The Bridge Boot Camp. We're training you, building disciples from the ground up so that we'll be ready for all that life has to offer us and stay strong in our faith. It's a changing of mind-set, similar to the military, to thinking about the we and refocusing your view of the world. From a me or world point of view, to a God point of view.

So if you're confused...don't worry. We're not sending you out to battle. We're sending you out to make disciples and be disciples. Some might call that a battle. I simply call it joyful service.

The battle has been won. We're simply telling everyone.