The Power of an Army of Worms

If you’ve ever taken a trip to Europe as a sightseer, you probably visited some of the gorgeous churches and cathedrals in that area of the world. The buildings are worth seeing. With their ornate domes and spires, their intricate facades, and imposing towers, they rise above the cityscapes. Inside, the cathedrals are dressed in marble and are clothed in stained glass that showers the onlooker with a rainbow of light. In the Chartres Cathedral in France, for example, the resplendent rose window and the stained-glass panel, Our Lady of the Beautiful Window, are stunning. Deep reds and blues frame the face of Jesus the King in the Our Lady window while the design of the rose window glass shines like living jewels. But sadly, today in the great churches of Europe the congregations are dwindling and many of the most magnificent buildings are merely museums. When you walk under their arched roofs, all you hear are echoes. The living faith they once embraced has died.

Contrast their stilled beauty with the “army of worms” of China. These are believers who have little of this world’s goods but are rich in faith. They meet in houses to avoid persecution from their government, but still they are not afraid to suffer for their faith. Some have been imprisoned for decades! They believe the hardships they have endured are their training ground—to be an army of worms! Their plan is to make their way from their homes in China to Jerusalem as evangelists, taking the gospel to the peoples living between China and Jerusalem. This includes some of the most difficult places in which to witness for your faith, including India, Saudi Arabia, and Iran.

In the book, Back to Jerusalem, the house church leaders describe their plan:

This is how the Chinese Christians will operate during the Back to Jerusalem mission. We will not make much noise, but will secretly and quietly do the Lord’s work underground. We will be quite difficult to detect. You may not hear many victorious reports of church growth coming back from the Middle East or Southeast Asia, but be assured that our ants, worms, and termites are already there, quietly working away, slowly loosening the foundations of Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism. You will not see any great or small church buildings resulting from our efforts because we are determined to do what the Lord has led us to do in China these past fifty years and establish spiritual fellowships of believers who meet in their homes. We won’t build a single church building anywhere, but the Lord will be building up his church of living stones, with Jesus as the cornerstone.

The cathedrals represent a faith that is no longer alive, but has slipped into tradition and history. They’re like corpses, only a shell of their former life. Although they are beautiful, they have none of the Holy Spirit within them. But the Chinese believers are full of spiritual life. Their faith is growing and spreading. It is alive!

Just a word of caution. I am not suggesting that there is a correlation between the size of a church’s building and the size of its spiritual impact. I know of many churches with wonderful facilities that are thriving and obeying God in faith. But to these churches, the buildings are vehicles to advance God’s kingdom, not monuments to man’s artistic successes. A living faith does not depend on any exterior props for its vibrancy. Not on how we dress, the background of our family, how much money we have in the bank, which side of town we come from, or where we worship. Not whether we get our hair styled in a salon or do it ourselves. Or wear off-the-rack dresses or designer clothing. God is looking for an army of faithful women who will put Him above the routine of life, over the material possession they may desire, even above their families and friends. God is looking for those few who will live totally for Him.

Our living faith relies on the Holy Spirit’s work in the life of each individual Christian. This is the heritage of everyone who follows Christ!

Jesus gives us a picture of how a living faith works. This is what He says about Himself:

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned for greater fruitfulness by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful apart from me. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:1-5).

Ask the Vermont maple grower what the most important part of the tree is and he’ll tell you it’s the sap. When he puts in the plug in the spring, the delicious amber syrup drips into the pail. From the maple sap, he produces his maple syrup and candy.

Every part of every plant is dependent on the process of the sap coming up and bringing water and nutrients to the branches. Every trembling leaf of every maple tree is connected to this life-giving process. If the farmer cuts off a tree branch, it quickly withers and dies. Why? Because it is no longer connected to its life source.

Jesus is our spiritual life source. He has sent His Spirit to take up permanent residence in our bodies and souls. It is through Him that we produce the living fruit of God.

Walking in the Spirit can turn everyday problems into moments of faith. Rather than becoming discouraged or disgruntled, we can let these situations stretch us to become more like Jesus.

We become patient when we’re short tempered.

We become cool-headed when our emotions threaten to erupt.

We use wisdom when our brain is frozen in fear.

We can laugh through our tears.

We can hug instead of blame.

All because we turn to God instead of our egos.

I appreciate the way that Paul puts our responsibility:  “Be on guard.  Stand firm to what you believe.  Be courageous.  Be strong.  And everything you do must be done in love” (1 Corinthians 16:13).

Abraham, that great man of faith is commended in James 2:21-24.  He trusted God so much that he was willing to do whatever God told him to do.  His faith was made complete by what he did—by his actions. 

Do you have that kind of living faith? Are your good deeds only for show, like those cathedrals turned into museums? Or have you joined the “army of worms” who are marching ahead for Christ’s kingdom?

May our churches be filled with an “army of worms”.

By Vonette Bright

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