Is there a noble cause worth fighting, even dying for?
I ask this of Christian men -- young men particularly -- is there any cause that would motivate you to take up arms risk your comfort, security and even your life?
In a culture that parrots the ridiculous mantra "violence never solves anything", we see contradictions in entertainment, film and literature, politics and government, and social order. It seems like every day someone is shouting a "call to arms". For a Christian, what would be a valid reason to take up arms and confront evil?
Would you defend a helpless child from being killed (accidentally or by force)? Is that
worthy enough? How about saving people
from dying eternally? Men of God, ask yourself this question: what is the most noble, most worthy thing you can possibly do in this short
life? This: enlist in the army of God.
Spiritual Warfare is Part of the Christian Walk
We
are engaged in a war right now, whether you realize it or not. Sides have been chosen, lines have been drawn
on the map. You are in one of three
camps:
- you are either on God's side in His army fighting for Good,
- you are on the side of evil (and you will lose), or
- you are a prisoner of war in detention under the control of the Evil One. If you are a POW, by the end of your life you will have to choose sides anyway.
"A warning which needs to be repeated is that “the
cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches,” and the lust for other
things, will choke out the life of God in us (Matthew 13:22). We are never free
from the recurring waves of this invasion.
If the front line of attack is not about clothes and food, it may be
about money or the lack of money; or friends or lack of friends; or the line
may be drawn over difficult circumstances.
It is one steady invasion, and these things will come in like a flood,
unless we allow the Spirit of God to raise up the banner against it." ~ Oswald Chambers - My Utmost for His Highest
Welcome to the Battle....
What
is the war about? It's about our will
versus God's Will. It is spiritual, and
the forces that are in battle are awesome and beyond our ability to cope with. As men, we are tempted, lied to and accused
by the Evil One so that we will cower and take cover, or worse, give in and
join him. God is whispering to
you, sometimes in pain and difficult
circumstances to get your attention. Satan's greatest tool -- besides lying to you that you have plenty of time
to choose sides -- is to tell you that you don't even have to choose sides. But you do...
God
won't force you to join His side, but if you choose to let your will rule over your life, you have chosen the wrong side. If you surrender to God's will, you
win. Your own power is insignificant. The war being fought is interdimensional and multi-generational, using weapons of spiritual warfare we cannot even fully comprehend. We aren't smart enough, strong enough, or even brave enough to face the forces of darkness arrayed against us who have been destroying men's souls for millennia. Let Christ show His Power through you -- and you
will see miraculous victories.
God is looking for a few good men.
To be in the army of God means going against the grain of the entire world. The fight is personal "hand to hand" combat, resisting temptation and serving others as Christ commands. Living a righteous life to the glory of God makes you a military target on the spiritual battlefield. Did you know Satan is the ruler of this
world right now?
2 Corinthians
4:4-5 ...if
our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case, the god of this age has
blinded the minds of the unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel
of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God NKJV
Christians
are an obstacle to Satan's plans.... because we remind the world there is another way, and through the Holy Spirit, we resist his kingdom by shining the light of truth on a darkened world. The darkness hates the light and doesn't
want to know the truth.
John 15:19 If you were
of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not
of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you. NKJV
You
join with God, and you stir up a lot of anger and hatred from the Devil and his
minions. And you will feel the pain.
But
the truth will set you free. Darkness
keeps us captive, through lies and temptation and accusations. If you join the Lord's army, you will get some
serious backup. God can send in "air
support", that defines "shock and awe". Sometimes He sends help in mysterious ways -- like spies with decoder rings -- we can get His secret messages through the Holy Bible. And He can give you the courage, authority, and strength of a lion and the discernment and wisdom to fight
against temptation and lies of the Adversary.
2 Chronicles
16:9 The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts
are fully committed to him... NKJV
The majority of humanity reside in POW camps in this spiritual war. There are also some who have enlisted with the other side, thinking their cause is right -- but they are deceived. Some believe they are their own side, they are their own "ultimate purpose" (think: strident atheists, cult leaders, political tyrants, the wealthy elite trying to rule the world). Others sadly are victims of indoctrination in false religions and trapped by their heritage and culture and have enlisted as a zealot in a lost cause.
If you are living for yourself, you
aren't thinking big enough. Your cause
isn't noble, and it isn't very important - in fact it's selfish and trivial. Your goals and passions in this life will
vanish and nobody will care 500 years from now unless your goals and passions
are set on eternity and God.
Put on the Armor of God
So
take up your ammo pack, your gear, and your weapons and get into the battle
before you are swept away into the enemies camp. Get your game face on and start thinking
about serious stuff - that's what being a man is about.
Ephesians
6:14-18 Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist,
righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled with readiness
for the gospel of peace. In every
situation take the shield of faith, and with it you will be able to
extinguish all the flaming arrows of the
evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is
God’s word. Pray at all times in the Spirit
with every prayer and request, and stay alert in this with all perseverance and
intercession for all the saints. NKJV
Honoring and Protecting Your Family
Now
let's talk about what this all means in terms of honoring your family. What
is a family? There
are basically three different definitions of family:
1. First there is the
"nuclear family" that includes (hopefully) a mom, dad and kids
2. Then there is your church
family - we are all spiritual brothers and sisters in Christ and children of
God the Father.
3. Finally there is the
"brotherhood of man" which means we are part of the special creation
made in the image of God - we are "fellow human beings".
God made the Nuclear Family Genetically you are
bonded to a mother and a father. If you
have brothers and sisters, they are genetically closer to you than any other
human beings on earth. You
don't choose this family - God assigned you to this family. Remember that next time you complain about
them. Warriors are assigned to their
Battalions and platoons and fight with the soldiers that wear the same badge from the same unit. You belong to that
outfit your entire tour of duty on Earth.
God made the church You don't choose who goes
to your church, or who God chooses to join in the spiritual battle with you. If you are in the church, you are in the same
army together - all wearing the righteousness of Christ as our uniform. We have chosen sides and whether we are
taking it seriously or not, the Evil One views us as the enemy. Your local church is like battalion headquarters - it is both the field hospital for the wounded and a command center to advance the battle toward the enemy. Your congregation has been supplied by God with provisions, resources, tactical gear and trainers and leaders to support you throughout the battle.
God made humanity. Outside of the church is the combat theater, where hostile engagements take place. This is where soldiers encounter hostile fire and interact with the wounded, POWs
or enemy combatants. Most people haven't
decided yet to join with Christ, and so they are POWs -- held captive
by sin. Others you will encounter are soldiers fighting against you and the church already. Outside of Christ, these people are lost - most of them don't even know it. They have believed the lies of Satan and think they have all the time
in the world to pick a side.
2 Corinthians
10:4,5
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the
world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension
that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every
thought to make it obedient to Christ. NKJV
So
how does all this apply to "honoring your family"? How you honor someone in battle may be
different than how you honor them at a picnic or an awards ceremony. Since we are in battle at all times, let us use the analogy of military service - because in fact, that is what you are
engaged in - military service. And...this is the Analogy Blog....
Honoring your nuclear family
The
main thrust of the commandment to honor your father and your mother is to
understand that God has set up the nuclear family for defense and protection
for you, your parents, and any brothers and sisters you may have. You don't leave a man behind - you don't
neglect or abandon your family. As a
son, you learn obedience and discipline of a soldier. You learn to obey commands. You show bravery and fight shoulder to
shoulder with your brothers and sisters, not against them, as long as they are
fighting for the Lord.
As a father, if you -- through neglect or failing to resist temptation -- introduce
evil into your home, you are allowing your family to be vulnerable to the
enemy. As a son, if you disobey your parents
regularly, you are AWOL in the battle and are in dereliction of your duties. When a crisis hits the family, you should be
at battle stations ready to defend your unit. All hands on deck
means you aren't focusing all your energies on your friends or dating or sports
or games instead of supporting the family. The home is your fortress, and you are part of
a unit God assigned you to defend it.
If you are a son still living at home (at any age), serve your family without being asked. Volunteer to do
chores. Blow your
dad's mind by sweeping out the garage or mowing the yard without being
asked. Amaze your mom by doing the
laundry for the whole family, or vacuuming the whole house. Be home when you say you will. Be a serious student at school. Be reliable and trustworthy. Always tell the truth - a man's word is
always true.
Galatians 5:12-13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” NIV
If
there are problems within the family, do your duty to God and let Him handle
the problem. If a brother or sister is
trapped in a sin or destructive habit, give positive support and offer to assist. Be an example.
Be a leader. Use the weapons God has
provided, especially the artillery of Prayer. Do you pray for your parents, wife and children regularly? Start today. Is your conduct worthy of a soldier of God? If not, fix it today. Honor God in all your actions and you will be
honored.
Honoring your church
family
If you are lucky to receive the gift of salvation, these people around you and all over the world who have been part of the church (or saints of the Old Testament) will be your eternal family. Do you realize after 500 million years or so, you will have met and gotten to know every single person living in heaven? A hundred trillion years from now, you will probably know every intimate detail about every person's life, their memories and experiences from here on Earth, their testimonies, and memories from time spent together in fellowship in heaven. Every single person you meet will be perfect in Christ - they will all be your best friend forever (BFF's literally!) and will be sisters and brothers in the family of God. Forever.
If
you can't stand your fellow church members now, heaven doesn't look like a good
choice for you. You should re-examine your motives for attending church if you dislike all your fellow believers. Be mindful not to leave someone out - shun
people in church, and never ridicule them in private conversations or post hateful things on social media. Constantly consider how your actions (or inaction!) affect others in life, especially fellow believers.
Everything we do here on Earth is
recorded in heaven (Revelation 20:12). Would you be embarrassed
to have every cruel and unfair posting about a brother or sister in Christ read
out in front of all the redeemed of heaven and all the angels? All the while, your victim is standing there - perfect, holy and righteous in Christ now - hearing and seeing this. You will feel and look like a fool.
Romans 12:9-11 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. NIV
Hebrews 10:23-25 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. NIV
Honor
fellow believers by committing to have no cliques at church. No one should be left out when one of the purposes of corporate worship is fellowship. If
church isn't a safe place to come and not be judged like the world does (by
outward appearances), then what's the point of going to church?
Pray for each
other. Build each other up - not with
empty flattery, but treat them as fellow soldiers. Check your fellow soldiers' ammo packs, make
sure that they have full canteens - ensure their spiritual weapons are in good working order! Watch out for each other! Leave no man behind.
And whatever you do - don't trip up your
brothers and sisters with temptations you bring into the camp. Don't open the outside gate to let the enemy
into our camp! If you need help - shout
for a medic. The church body was designed by God to support each
other and bind up wounds so we can get back out on the battlefield tomorrow.
Honoring the Family of
Mankind
If
you have joined God's army, then your task is to face those who hate Christ
with courage, but you fight with Spiritual weapons with the goal of saving the
enemy, not destroying them. In a way,
you are more like the battlefield medic, rushing across enemy lines to give aid and comfort to the
wounded and maimed on the other side of the trench. Satan and his legions will try and stop you, try to hurt you - and may even
physically kill you - if they think they are doing their "god" a favor.
1 Peter 3:15-17 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. NIV
Show
the world the truth by living as an example. Make yourself available to speak the truth in love - if you are caught
up spending all your time on pleasure and entertainment, you won't have time to
prepare yourself with the Truth.
Be a
peacekeeper, don't pick fights. But if one comes to you, finish it the way
Christ showed you how - with the truth spoken in love. Satan is the real enemy, not people. They
are foot soldiers that were conscripted; drafted into the enemy's army by virtue of the place and time they were born. The ones who volunteer to fight on the side of evil have sold
out cheaply, and you may be the only person they ever meet that can show them
the other side of the story.
Help those who are seeking the truth. Have
courage to speak the truth. God promises that if you speak the truth, even if
you don't see any results yourself, God's Word never returns void.
Isaiah 55:10-11 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. NIV
Getting Prepped for Battle
Finally,
consider these questions.
· If you haven't chosen sides yet - why not? This is the most important decision you ever
will make. Why are you putting it off,
and what do you need to make a decision?
· If you have enlisted into God's army, what are you doing to accomplish
your mission? What support do you need
from your family and your church to get the job done?
· What can you do to support your own unit, and strengthen the fortress of
your home? Are you effectively serving your church and your community?
· Are you prepped be a Man of Honor in God's army?
_____________________
Scripture citations are from: Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) © 2009 Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville TN or New King James Version®. (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson or Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
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