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My oldest grandson is four. Recently he got a new T-shirt. It features a picture of Buzz Lightyear from Disney Pixar's Toy Story series of movies. The text above the pictures says, "No One Gets Left Behind". Buzz is talking about toys, leaving no toy behind, which is a premise in the movies.
The phrase "No one left behind" has been more often used in military circles. Going into conflict, seeing your comrades wounded or killed, and making sure their body is not left on the field of battle. No matter what, everyone comes home. As a Vietnam era veteran, I appreciate this commitment from our modern army to bringing every soldier home. But what about the church, could it be said that Christians have that same commitment to no one left behind?
In response to a question from the Pharisees regarding the coming of the Kingdom of God, Jesus said, "It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On that day no one who is on the housetop, with possessions inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. Remember Lot's wife! Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it. I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left." (Luke 17:30-36 NIV) Is Jesus using this opportunity to say that it is inevitable that some will be lost? No, I believe he was just pointing to the suddenness of the Second Coming.
I believe that Peter's words are of significance here, "But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:8-9 NIV) In other words, no one left behind.
I served on a church planting team in the early 90's and we spent a great amount of time developing a vision and mission statement. Perhaps in your church you have done the same thing, assembling great words, powerful directions, like my current church has done, "Leading people in a growing relationship with Jesus Christ." But I believe if I was to start a church today, or lead another church through a vision casting process, it would be simply this, "No one gets left behind."
I recently ran across these two verses from the album War is the Answer by Five Finger Death Punch. Could this secular band from the United Kingdom have captured a Christian imperative?
No one gets left behind, another fallen soul
No one gets left behind, another broken home
No one gets left behind, we stand and fight together
No one gets left behind but we all die alone
Have you no honor? Have you no soul?
What is it they're dying for do you really even know?
Have you no backbone? Have you no spine?
Whatever happened to no one gets left behind?
("No One Gets Left Behind", Five Finger Death Punch, from the album War is the Answer, ©FFDP Music, Sony, 2009) | 
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