Mission Drift

The recent protests on college campuses many of which resulted in violence, destruction of property, and physical confrontation and intimation of Jewish students captivated the 24 hour news cycle of cable news as well as the attention of the American public.

Various pundits and commentators observed that these universities and their administration, as well as many professors had lost sight of their mission. Instead of educating students and preparing them for life, they were indoctrinating them in far left radical ideology.

This reminded me of the original mission statement of Harvard University founded in 1636.

“To be plainly instructed and consider well that the main end of your life and studies is to know God and Jesus Christ.”

In their early days Harvard exclusively employed “Christian professors,” who not only taught their discipline, but emphasized character development in their students. Every graduates’ diploma carried the Harvard motto inscribed in Latin which is translated “Truth for Christ and the Church.” In the 20th century, they dropped the last part of the motto, so today is only reads “Truth.”

In our secularized culture that champions relativism and proclaims “there are no absolutes,” you wonder if there is anyone left at Harvard who knows what Truth is?

The late Steven Muller, former president of Johns Hopkins University commented at Harvard’s 350th anniversary that “the university had become godless.”

One writer labeled what happened at Harvard, as well as other universities like Yale, as “mission drift.”

In their book “Mission Drift,” authors Peter Greer and Chris Horst, claim that this is the unspoken crisis of our age. It impacts churches, charities, and leaders in every profession. They offer this chilling prediction.

Without careful attention, faith-based organizations will inevitably drift from their founding mission.

It’s that simple. It will happen.
Slowly, silently, and with little fanfare , organizations routinely drift from their original purpose and never return to their original intent. It has happened repeatedly throughout history…

Churches and Christians are also suspectable to “mission drift.”

The history of the Lord’s church affirms the validly of this assertion. Even in the latter part of the first century, churches had begun to drift. Such warnings are issued to the 7 churches of Asia in Revelation 2 and 3. Ephesus had become careless, Pergarmos compromised the Truth, and Thyatria had become corrupt.

Both Christians and churches are reminded throughout the Bible about the possibility of apostasy. To this end the Hebrew writer warned “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away” (Heb. 2:1).

Too many churches today have become more interested in a political agenda, solving social ills, providing people entertainment and recreational activities as well as amassing great wealth. Some have even renounced Biblical morality, the sanctity of life, and God’s design for sexual fulfilment in a heterosexual monogamous marriage. Truly, they have lost their way. And drifted from God’s way.

Even churches that have not compromised the Truth are too often just meeting without a clear sense of their mission and purpose.

Preachers, pastors and all churches need to return to the Biblical pattern clearly enunciated in Acts 2:42-47 and exemplified by the Jerusalem church.

42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,
45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.

46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

Their purpose and mission is clearly seen in this text and can be enunciated in 5 words. Worship Discipleship. Ministry. Fellowship. Evangelism. This was the focus of first century Christians and Churches.

To avoid “mission drift” we need to return to our spiritual roots.

J. D. Tant, a pioneer preacher of the the late 19th and early 20th century often warned and lamented, “Brethren, we are drifting.” I wonder what he would say today?

–Ken Weliever