The Oxford Dictionary defines Mission Creep as:
A gradual shift in objectives during the course of a military campaign, often resulting in an unplanned long-term commitment.
Which is a good, albeit restrictive, definition. I think it overly restrictive because while its origins are in the military, we all, as persons and organizations are subject to it. We often speak of it in relation to Iraq and Afghanistan, particularly since so many seemed to believe Colin Powell’s assertion that we have to abide with ‘The Pottery Barn Rule’. We don’t, by the time some country has done enough bad things to get the US (or the UK) exercised enough to commit troops to go over and break things, they deserve the pain of living in the mess they made.
And that is one of the primary attributes of mission creep, it applies almost exclusively to those who try to do good. Stalin didn’t have the problem, he simply told his generals to kill as many as necessary and let the rest starve. That simplifies things greatly, although it might compromise your meeting with God later.
Another organization that is subject to mission creep is the church, actually all of them Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Independent, what have you, even the Church of Bosco. Why? Because we take our cue from Christ who told us to ‘Feed His sheep’. That’s all very well but I would submit we have witnessed incredible mission creep in this.
- I don’t really believe feed My sheep means provide cradle to grave security whether or not that particular sheep produces wool or not.
- Nor do I necessarily believe that it is our responsibility to provide for all sheep, whether of our flock or not, a fold.
- Nor do I think that Feed My sheep implies a duty to feed the neighborhood wolves as well.
- Nor am I especially convinced that it was intended that the sheep themselves should be forced to provide for the less fortunate sheep. Isn’t that the Shepard’s responsibility?
- I’m further not convinced that the sheep should be forced to provide education for all the lambs, at no cost to them or their families.
And see that‘s a goodly bit of my problem, none of these things are bad, in fact they are all good, some very good. But they are not the primary mission of the church. The mission of the church is, as Matthew 28 states:
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Anything that the corporate church does beyond that is mission creep. Some, such as programs to feed, house, and clothe the destitute, from our own resources have worked out very well.
But at some point we got confused, and decided that it would be easier to delegate those missions to the state which could fund them by coercing the people to pay for them, and that is not so good, and I think is one of the main reasons we are now raising generations of people who will be dependent on others all of their lives.
- I would submit that it is not the mission of the church to preach on economics, although it surely is concerned with ethics and truthfulness.
- I would submit that it is not the place of the church to preach on climatology, even though man was given dominion over the earth and all its creatures. It is well to remember that dominion is not communion.
We all know the old cliche that states, “Jack of all trades and master of none”. Well, it has become a cliche because it is true: I’m a very good electrician, I’m a passable plumber, and a competent carpenter/cabinetmaker, and HVAC technician. I’m not a competent butcher, baker, or candlestick maker. That is true for the church as well.
In addition, it needs to remember its mission. Its mission is not to be relevant (whatever that might mean), it is not its mission to advise on industrial matters, nor to set fisheries policy, not even to advise on energy policy.
It is it’s mission to build men (and women) fit for the purpose of all those things, if one assumes they are all licit (which is a different discussion), I would submit that it is failing in that mission.
Above all, it is is mission to lead people to the Christ, and it is failing in that mission so badly that it is driving its own members into the wilderness not least because it thinks its mission has become all of the things we have mentioned above, except to save souls, and so not only has mission creep run amok, but we have lost sight of the only legitimate mission of our churches.
When we figure out how to return to our real mission, we will again be relevant, until then, not so much.
Servus Fidelis said:
Yes, I’m afraid that a church which has not suitably trained up their members in the teaching of the faith are rather useless in evangelizing others. On Msgr. Pope’s blog I stated this in a comment and a priest told me that it could be as easy as inviting someone to Mass with me or saying grace in public; he obviously didn’t get it. We have the possibly the worst catechized members since literacy was all but eradicated in the West. And due to shortages of nuns and priests these same uneducated people are asked to teach others the faith and to go out into the world and evangelize. It is an army that looks very much like the Iraqi army. At first time of trouble they will throw down their weapons and slink away.
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NEO said:
In truth, that is all it should take, getting them in the door. But it seems that they don’t have much clue what to do with them, then either.
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Geoffrey RS Sales said:
Good points here, Neo. In fact, not sure the Churches are even very good at doing what they are supposed to do. If the C of E were a business, it’d be closed down; hang on, I think it is closing down! I agree with out friend SF here on the general poorness of catechesis, but in my neck of the woods, pastors tend to be Spirit-led and well-up on their Biblical theology.
We’re best, in my view, when we proceed as Paul and co did – that is working in local churches building Christian communities. Then we can, indeed, include in our mission the helping of brothers and sisters in hard places and hard times.
But if we can’t get the simple stuff right, we’re not trying hard. The Spirit is there, but where are we?
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NEO said:
I agree with him as well, Yes, I think the church works best as a local, member driven organization, sort of a coop in fact, rather than the top-heavy corporate structure of Rome and the CofE. The CofE is, of course, further encumbered by being owned by the government which must make it amazingly hard. My church is somewhere in between, it has a corporate structure, which it seems. most ignore, which in our case is, I think, all to the good. Does seem silly, though.
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Servus Fidelis said:
I would go more with GK Chesterton here: http://www.catholiceducation.org/en/controversy/answering-atheists/why-i-am-a-catholic.html
Only today those who are to be guarding the henhouse are robbing the henhouse and inviting the wolves to share in the bounty. But the structure and the lessons of Her 2000 years are sound: its only that they are gathering dust at the moment for disuse.
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NEO said:
Much as I like GKC, its like C says, If I believed everything the Catholics do, I’d be a Catholic, i don’t and so I’m not. Doesn’t mean i don’t like and respect them and their church, just am not the same. You, like C., are, and so for you, you are correct.
And that, I think is part of Geoffrey’s point, we, the older sheep control the guards, and so the wolves in sheep’s clothing don’t have a vote because we know them on sight, they aren’t visitors from a far land.
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Geoffrey RS Sales said:
An interesting link there, my old friend. Let me take a look at GKC’s reasons. On the confession issue, as we know, we don’t confess to the priest, but to Christm, though him, so I’m not sure in what sense Catholicism is the only thing that stops sin being a secret; we confess to God, who knows anyway. The superior not being supercilious. I can only speak as I’ve found, and the RCC has its fair share of supercilious superiors; no more than anyone else to be sure, but the idea it has none??? The ‘child of the ahe’ thing was so clearly pre Vat 2 that I shall simply say “Vat 2, ’nuff said.’ I’d say on the other three it’s a stronger case, but not the only body which speaks thus. As you know, I’ve a deal of respect for the RCC – but the sooner Frambling Frank is pensioned off, the better.
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NEO said:
It’s a good one. of course, like JHN, there are few bad GCK links. 🙂
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Servus Fidelis said:
Of course on the Confession side, we also confess to Christ, but we know that our sin is against both God and man and the Church. And as for the penance due to sin, if I only privately go to Christ, I also privately ask myself what penance I will do; in other words, what is acceptable to me and my sensibilities. It may be, if one has a good confessor that you will not only get good advice a price one can afford but also receive a penance you would never levy upon yourself. It is a matter of both humility and of obedience and the strengthening of these two virtues cannot in any way be thought worthless.
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Geoffrey RS Sales said:
I can see that, but from what I gather from Catholic friends, it is hardly worth it – but I do know what you mean if it’s done right.
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Servus Fidelis said:
The difference between being properly Catholic and not. The penitent as well, if properly disposed, develops a sensibility to sin (the number of occasions and the types etc.) which if used for spiritual growth shows him where he is weakest and the means to overcoming this failure on his part. So it is a lack of proper education for both the priest and the penitent in many instances. But the practice is sound; I cannot help it if I go to a doctor that tells me that the pains in my chest are merely indigestion and I die of a heart attack on his examining table.
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NEO said:
True, but it is ultimately your responsibility to pick the best doctor you can find, not least to reduce the likelihood of such occurrences/
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Servus Fidelis said:
That is like doctor shopping after the implementation of Obamacare; you may have to leave the country to find one or die of old age in the looking.
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Geoffrey RS Sales said:
Very true. Many folk I know do what I do, which is a daily examnation of conscience, which does the same think it terms of being consious of sin. I try to spend time with God every day going over what’s been done – and what’s not.
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Servus Fidelis said:
A fine practice, my friend. And for your penance? I’m guessing 20 lashes or the wearing of a hair shirt for a month. 🙂
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NEO said:
I’d bet he’s harder on himself than your priest is on you, because I know I am. 🙂
A lot of us were trained to hold ourselves to a much higher standard than we hold anyone else, actually I’m quite sure that’s true for you as well.
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Servus Fidelis said:
No, I’m a coward and I bruise easily. I’ve substituted the hair shirt for one that is made of velveteen. 🙂
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NEO said:
Actually we all are. That’s why we try so hard to do the right thing in this world. Better some temporary discomfort, than the fires of hell forever. 🙂
But I still prefer cotton, or soft wool. 🙂
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Servus Fidelis said:
But the velveteen is sooo . . soft. You’ll love it. 🙂
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NEO said:
Does Wrangler make a version? 🙂
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Servus Fidelis said:
No, you just have to wad up a bunch of it and pad your clothing with it. It’s just like Guzzler’s Gin . . . it’s sooo smooooth.
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Geoffrey RS Sales said:
I forego serious penances like reading liberal theology on the gounds of age and infirmity 🙂 Been known to read a Pope Francis homily thoi’ 🙂
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Servus Fidelis said:
It must have been very painful. Just think he has a new encyclical on global warming that should do nicely as a penance for the more serious sins. Though you will risk losing your mind and perhaps hanging yourself from a tree in potter’s field.
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NEO said:
But, but, but, the poor damaged tree, better hug it quick!
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Servus Fidelis said:
Yes, the Pope says we spend too much money and time on our pets but not enough time and money on our trees. He is very deep and hard to understand. You have to be one of the smart people to get it.
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NEO said:
I am beginning to understand how he survived the junta, alright. It’s too bad he didn’t pay more attention to what those guys with the White Ensign of the coast were saying though. 🙂
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Servus Fidelis said:
Maybe he thought the sea level would rise and come to him.
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NEO said:
May well be! 🙂
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Geoffrey RS Sales said:
Oddly though it may be,I’m not putting that one on my readling list. 🙂
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Servus Fidelis said:
If you had a confessor like we do in the Catholic Church you might be forced to. 🙂
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Geoffrey RS Sales said:
Thought you were supposed to be giving me reasons to convert, not stay 🙂 🙂
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Servus Fidelis said:
Good point. Scratch that last one from the comment box.
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Geoffrey RS Sales said:
I’ve always thought that if they were true to their beliefs, liberal theologians would all be pagans.
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NEO said:
Yep, I’ve always thought they would cease to be either liberal,, or theologians, or maybe both! 🙂
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Servus Fidelis said:
They are pagans, my friend, they are only on a mission to make the rest of us pagans as well.
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Geoffrey RS Sales said:
Yes, you are both correct. Well, we know the direction in which they are headed.
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Servus Fidelis said:
Round and round with their head in the ground?
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NEO said:
Good plan, it’s likely to be even worse than the one on economics, and it was painful.
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Geoffrey RS Sales said:
From the well-meaning vapour trails of trendy lefties, may the Good Lord defend us all 🙂
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NEO said:
Amen, and Amen! 🙂
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Geoffrey RS Sales said:
Aye, the less bureaucracy, the better – we’re not saved by works, after all 🙂
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Servus Fidelis said:
Aye but a good map that is readable is quite useful to keep one from falling over a precipice or butting up against a stone cliff. No sense in repeating continuously the mistakes of others only because today the mistakes sound like they are new and they have no memory of the failures of the past. 🙂
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NEO said:
i doubt you’ll get an argument from either of us but, I suspect we’ll trust a grizzled old sergeant-major before a shiny new lieutenant from across the water, with all his new-fangled ideas.
Too many young one haven’t learned yet that sometimes the only way, is the old, hard way, it seems..
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Geoffrey RS Sales said:
True that. A shame the Kasper/Marx brothers seem to think otherwise. At some point they’ll all die off. I’m not thinking they’ll get anywhere at this Synod later in the year, but I do wish they’d shut up 🙂
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Servus Fidelis said:
I think Chesterton has an answer for these as well and it is found at the same place I found the other. It is, in fact, a good explanation of what is going on in most aging mainstream churches today: http://www.catholiceducation.org/en/culture/other-topics/the-first-progressive-generation.html
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Geoffrey RS Sales said:
AYe – funnily enough, I’m just penning a post on the subject of liberal theologians – I think you might like it 🙂
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Servus Fidelis said:
They are a humorous lot if we did not have to live under their yoke. 🙂
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Geoffrey RS Sales said:
Aye – what will be humorous is when they shuffle off 🙂
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Servus Fidelis said:
We will need a lot of janitors sweeping out the place and picking up the shards of broken pieces from the floor when all is said and done.
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Geoffrey RS Sales said:
An exorcism and fumigation too 🙂
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Servus Fidelis said:
It goes without saying, my friend. 🙂
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Geoffrey RS Sales said:
Then, I’d think a good Latin Mass with plenty of incense!
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NEO said:
And the bells, so you know when he’s saying something important, even if you can’t hear him! 🙂
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Servus Fidelis said:
Indeed . . . as opposed to the pig latin Mass that Bosco might like to see with plenty of incest.
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NEO said:
And in a good many ways that goes to the heart of the matter, i think. If the RCC can’t figure out what it believes and present it in a singular form, it makes it very hard to believe that it has the sole right to rule on the truthfulness of a teaching. And so this unseemly wrangling in public undermines the whole church, doint things that most of us do in the local congregation, although that does have it own set of problems, as well.
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Servus Fidelis said:
The RCC doesn’t have to figure it out . . . it is all there in the teachings of the faith if they would bother blowing the dust off of it and teaching it again and practicing it again. It is only a bunch of again hippies that have run afoul of it all and decided to be progressive just to be progressive . . . and each of them has their own idea of how to be more progressive and more relevant than the next fellow. The Church knows . . . the pundits of novelty do not. And the public disagreements is what one expects when they have no standard to rely upon. It is a scandal that I pray will soon end.
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