The “Good Guys’ chose loving one another as their strategy. They included practical ideas such as “praying for one another, mentoring new believers, holding each other accountable, and friendship evangelism.”

The “Bad Guys” strategy was to keep believers from doing what God wants. So their list included “causing divisions through arguments, encouraging power struggles, encouraging people to think of their own needs, making church leaders look foolish and the church irrelevant, etc.”

The exercise was revealing. We concluded that, with a few exceptions, the “Bad Guys” are winning the battle here in North America. The thought made us uneasy, yet we were also genuinely puzzled as to how we could make a difference.

Today, I feel that same uncertainty. I know Christ has put me here to tell others about him, but the task is too immense for me to tackle alone….

Read the entire article " Good Guys, Bad Guys, and a Longing for the Kingdom" as a pdf file.

(This is the 4th article in a series of 4 called "21st Century Pilgrim" articles. They were first published in the Canadian Baptist in 1994.)

Read the rest of this 4-part series:

"But What About Those Gates of Hell?" as a pdf. 1st in the series of 4 "21st Century Pilgrim" articles.

"Mary or Martha, Which One Am I?" – 2nd in the series of 4 "21st Century Pilgrim" articles.

"What Should We Do About Those Lost Sheep, Lord?" 3rd in the series of 4 "21st Century Pilgrim" articles.

I have often been struck with the parallels between what I am doing in the business world and the needs of the church. In many ways, the cell church movement is all about the reengineering of the church….

Read the rest of this article "Reengineering the Church" by Les Lindquist as a pdf.

This question from the chairman of the board of Deacons came at the end of another long meeting. Since I’d been a deacon from the age of 23, I was used to being frustrated by the slow progress made in church meetings. But lately I’d been feeling more frustrated than usual. It seemed as if we never got to anything really meaningful. Or if we did, it was always at the end of the evening when everyone was tired and anxious to get home. I didn’t really know how to answer.

I simply said, “I don’t know. It just seems there must be more to it.”

A puzzled look appeared on Alan’s face.

I tried to explain. “More to being a Christian, I mean. I’m so tired of meetings where nothing ever seems to be accomplished. Nothing that matters, at least.”

“I guess I don’t understand,” Alan replied. “I think we’re doing great. We’ve got a new building. The church is growing. Great people. Good services. The church is sure meeting my needs.”

I went home that night more frustrated than ever. I’d been a Christian since the age of three, an active layman since I was 18. I was now forty-two. Was this part of the mid-life crisis they talked about? Did I have needs the church wasn’t meeting, or was there something wrong with me?

Read I Cried in Church Today

But why do I say, "attended church"? If asked, I would say that the church is not something I can "attend." The church is the people who gather together to worship God. The church is you and me. I know that, but it’s never been important to me to differentiate. Now I find myself talking about 'going to church' and wondering, what do I mean? The building? The service on Sunday? I’m not sure. In some ways, the word 'church' is nebulous to me—no distinct boundaries or meaning. Is that good or bad? I wonder what Jesus meant when He used the word in the first place….

Read the rest of N. J. Lindquist's article "But What About Those Gates of Hell?" as a pdf. 1st in a series of 4 "21st Century Pilgrim" articles.

Read the rest of this 4-part series: 

"Mary or Martha, Which One Am I?" – 2nd in a series of 4 "21st Century Pilgrim" articles.

"What Should We Do About Those Lost Sheep, Lord?" 3rd in a series of 4 "21st Century Pilgrim" articles.

"Good Guys, Bad Guys, and a Longing for the Kingdom" 4th in a series of 4 "21st Century Pilgrim" articles. 

Usually, when we think of the church in terms of a body, we think of a healthy body where each organ, limb, muscle, and so on is functioning perfectly. We think of how each member has a specific function, and uses his or her gifts to perform that function. And we assume that everything is in order….

The moment I accepted Christ, I became part of his body. But I must continually check to make sure I am a properly functioning part. And I must find other members of the body whom I can ask to hold me accountable, and with whom I can share both the joys and the frustrations of living in the body….

Read the rest of this ground-breaking article, Is the Body of Christ Handicapped? as a pdf.