I must confess I am a science fiction geek.    I enjoy entertainment that is about as far away from reality as I can get it.  If I watch movies or read books that are set in the real world I end up working.  I want to counsel bad relationships and help broken people. I find that I neither escape nor relax after watching a movie set in the real world.  But Star Trek that is another matter.   I don’t have to worry about the missionaries on Vulcan! 

In the Star Trek universe there is something called the Prime Directive.  Simply stated it forbids Starfleet personnel from interfering or impacting the internal development of alien civilizations.  Unfortunately all to often the Church has adopted the Prime Directive.

Having discovered that “the world” is alien with desires and motivations that are completely at odds with all things Christian.  And discovering that interacting with this world is hard work that sometimes results in things like criticism, mocking, and resistance we adopt the Prime Directive. We take our ball and go home.  We develop a little mini-society where everything we do is Christian.  We have Christian friends, watch Christian shows, and even in our service we end up serving Christians.  We adopt the Prime Directive, and just let the world go where it is headed.

Christ’s calling is higher than Starfleet’s.  We are called not to ignore the world, or isolate ourselves from it, but rather to serve.  We are not called to conform to the world, but rather do our best to transform and influence as many as God puts in our reach.  We are to love, serve, care for, visit, and encourage.  It is our hope that we do indeed impact and interfere with where their “alien” culture is headed.

This week we are once again be reminded of our targets in Vision 2020.  We are going to specifically be looking at how we will accomplish our call to service.

Come be encouraged to ignore the Prime Directive.

Live long and prosper and Go Hawks, 

Pastor Chris