Scholars and practitioners in the worldwide Christian movement are at odds regarding the employment of symbols of battle, conflict, spiritual contest, and militancy, by people and organizations involved in the ministry of the gospel. This study considers the influences that give rise to this language. It examines the issues that make it worthy of debate in the contemporary world context. It also evaluates the rhetoric and corporate cultures of six North American churches which significantly employ militant language.

Based on the assumptions of the constitutive function of language, the study employs Symbolic Convergence Theory (SCT) and Edgar Schein's categories of corporate cultures to gather and evaluate data. Six exemplar ministry organizations are analyzed in an embedded multi-case design. Rhetorical visions are gleaned from a corpus of 160 sermons and other public expressions of ideas. In addition, group and individual assumptions and practices are evaluated based on observations, 229 participant interviews, and 330 completed questionnaires.

Analysis of the data makes clear that, at least within the universe of the six exemplar cases, militant language provides an explanation of reality and motivates action. Due to the metaphorical nature of language and multifaceted influences on organizational culture, groups united under such rhetorical visions do not always have concomitant operational language or systems. While it is appropriate to note cautions, extensive use of militant language is neither a destructive influence nor a panacea for creating effective missional groups. SCT and Schein are found to provide suitable and fruitful tools for evaluating missional organizations.