In the last page of Missional Church Guder brings up a point that I had not thought about until reading it. A point that I think is critical as the church presses forward into a missional identity. He says that “missional ecclesiology… must reject every proposal to restore the trappings and privileges of Christendom. It must boldly question every temptation to indulge in compromises with worldly power and jeopardize the institutional practice of servant hood after the model of Jesus.”

                The era of Christendom is generally considered to have started during the reign of Constantine. At this time the church was growing at a very fast rate and was beginning to gain power in the Roman world. As this happened Constantine had the foresight to bring what was becoming a powerful institution under the arm of the government. It was not through the government that the church got its power but it was because of the power of the church that it was acknowledged by the government. I would argue today that the church is not really losing power because it is the end of Christendom but that it is the end of Christendom because the government sees that the church no longer holds power.

                If the missional church obtains its goals, the church will reach more of the population once again. More people mean more power for the church. With this power, I firmly believe the government will turn to the church once again and the temptation to start Christendom again will be present for the church. How do we expect to combat this enticement? The early church was coming out of a time of persecution and was wary of the government, yet it could not resist the temptation of earthly power and privilege that comes through alliance with the government. I feel if anything we will be less able to resist than the church in fourth century. Yet this is what must be fought if the church does not want to fall away from its Biblical calling. As the church looks to take further steps into the mission of God, it is important that we continue to look for and fervently resist the temptations that will come with the growth of the church. It is important to have a plan that includes forethought about and insight into the temptations the church will face as we move with the power of the Spirit under the rule of our Lord.

-Jeremiah