Now I may not be a doctor, but I've got enough medical training and EMT training as a diving supervisor and a hyperbaric recompression chamber supervisor in the Navy to know that the reason the doctors, interns, nurses, and medical technicians take your blood pressure is because an elevated blood pressure is one of the indications that something is wrong. It's a sign or an accompanying symptom.

You see, even though the doctors have prescribed me blood pressure medication, I still have the symptoms that I was medically evacuated for, albeit less severe than they were... and my blood pressure will spike, but not so dangerously high.

These episodes allowed me to witness a bit to several folks, including the doctors. I told a couple of them that the God whom I serve, the One who created me, knows exactly what's wrong with me... and I will trust in Him no matter what the circumstances.

I got to thinking about how this parallels much of what we're seeing pressed upon the church these days with Purpose Driven Paradigms and the Emergent Church Movement.

The Purpose Driven Church and the Emergent Church Movement actually make a very good point when they express that our Christianity today is flawed. When they say that we have turned our faith into a plastic, self-absorbed "churchianity", I can shout a hearty, "Amen."

Sadly, their solution is much like perscribing me blood pressure medication. The Purpose Driven Church most especially has gone after social ills, attacking the five global giants, going after AIDS, etceteras; however, the other symptoms remain, and the root of the problem still exists. Certainly, their efforts will reduce the dangers in the areas they go forth to tackle; nonetheless, sin continues to abound because that was never addressed through the Biblical preaching of the Cross.

In fact, what is happening in the church is much worse through their Purpose Driven philosophy of ministry. The blood pressure medication, in my case, may only be a temporary fix until we can know exactly what's going on with my physical health. Treating the social ills of the world when it does not come as a result of preaching the Cross of Jesus Christ and teaching His Word, however, is more like putting a band-aid on a bullet hole!

Certainly, the church of Jesus Christ should be known for her compassion ministries; however, it must spring forth from the reality of the Redemption, the foolishness of preaching the Cross. Compassion ministries should never forsake, forestall, or take first priority over the preaching of the Cross.

The Purpose Driven Church and the Purpose Driven Life are evidences that we have fallen in love with our service in Jesus' name rather than in the Savior Himself.

"I know thy works and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: and has borne, and hast patience, and for My name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee, because thou has left thy First Love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, exept thou repent" (Ephesians 2:2-5).

The preaching of the Cross is not a temporary fix because the Redemption is not temporal. The Cross is the eternal truth that surrounds the throne of God because the Redemption is heavenly.

Keep at the Cross always.

I am ever...

In His service by God's grace,