The SIAFU Guidebook

46 The SIAFU Network Guidebook

God’s Chosen Method to Heal the City: Rediscovering the Centrality of the Church

I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. ~ 1 Timothy 3.14-16 The Church is the buttress, guardian, and foundation of the truth, the family of God, the body of Christ, and the temple of the Holy Spirit. She is God’s mighty army, and granted spiritual weapons in order to engage the enemy and declare Jesus’ victory to the nations. Each local assembly of believers is a platoon, a righteous company of salvation called to represent Christ with honor in their locale, bearing witness to the Lord’s kingdom victory to all in their sphere of influence. This is why the SIAFU Network takes seriously the need for churches to approve and endorse this movement. We are unequivocal in stating that God’s chosen means of transformation, his army, his deputy, is the Church. No lasting change will occur unless we as believers recognize our responsibility to stand up and represent Christ and his Kingdom with a new power and clarity. Without the Spirit reviving God’s people, liberating them to do revolutionary, heroic acts of kingdom display and proclamation in the most dangerous communities on earth – without the Church being the Church, the city is lost. But, thank God, Christ has stated clearly that no power of the dark side, of the gates of hell, can prevail against the holy aggression of the Church. Our weaponry is effective and devastating to the works of darkness – we need only move forward, under the Spirit’s leading and