“Move Faster, Hit Harder”
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin ArticlesIt is indeed strange, sometimes, where we get our insight. In many ways Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) was inferior to previous Hollywood efforts to tell the story, however, four words stand out as a formula for our success today.
It is the first meeting of Robin of Locksley and John Little. Robin and company must pay a tax to the men of Sherwood to cross the river. Robin refuses and John Little steps forward with quarterstaff. The battle ensues and John Little is getting the best of Robin who calls to his companion Azeem for advice. It is this advice that many Christians (especially preachers, elders, and deacons) need today. Azeem calls out, “Move faster, hit harder.” Robin was calling for some trick or technique to best the woodsman. He was not impressed with the advice, but lacking any trick it’s what he did. The secret of success, however, was not found in new techniques but in greater speed and intensity.
This, precisely, is the secret to our success in church growth, spiritual growth, world evangelism and any other endeavor we might take on. We don’t need new techniques, or tutorials for growth from the denominations. What we need to do is to do what we do better. The Gospel remains the same, it is “the power of God unto salvation” (Romans 1:16). Preachers must be ever learning how to better deliver that Gospel. Visitation programs need to be enhanced rather than abandoned. New training in personal work needs to be done rather than a program of attracting the world by “special music” or a “contemporary service.”
Is this not precisely what we tell our children when training them in their early years? When they’re learning to walk and not doing it very well and not getting very far do we tell them, “those old-fashioned methods don’t work anymore, try something else.” Indeed no, we tell them to try harder and if that fails we tell them the same again. Why do we abandon this idea in the church?
Preachers, are the sermons not having the effect they used to? “Move faster, hit harder.” Elders, is the community not aware of the church’s existence? “Move faster, hit harder.” Deacons, is the visitation program not having the effect it once did? “Move faster, hit harder.”