Warriors For Christ? Wha...??

k k , as primadogma isn't here to tell you i will give you a tad of my wisdom. the thought pattern is after you put on the whole armor of God then you are prepared to attack in war.jimp

I can see how one would believe that being in this world is being in a war with the world, I believe that because of the scripture appolus quoted. However, I heard a preacher say something of the like: We are not fighting this war for the victory, the victory is ours! We are fighting from the winning side. The only battle we have is in this world. Our chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever, that my friends, is the battle.

I never really sensed I was in a battle until after I became a Christian. We are seen as warriors most probably because of verbage and symbolism in the Bible, but more importantly because of the reality that we are indeed in a warfare.

1Ti 1:18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;

2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

1Ti 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

2Ti 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

I don't want to fill this page with NT scriptures of warfare, battle and fighting because I think you get the point.

If you are a Christian you will know what battle is being talked about concerning the powers of darkness or the flesh or the world.

Better to be a "Warrior for Christ" than for anything else.

Pilgrim

Speaking of Braveheart, did anyone see the news item about Steven Spielberg is preparing to make a "Braveheart-ish" movie about Moses?

http://lum.k.af

I personally have doubts about anyone surpassing Cecil B. Demil's "The Ten Commandments" even if the special effects are a million times better today. When The Ten Commandments came out (I was but a wee lad) I thought it was the most awesome movie.

Where does it say in scripture that we need “warriors for Christ”?

Interesting, some branches of the church are attempting to remove all war imagery in hymns and such. So now it’s not politically correct. In my view, that’s going the other way too far. It’s throwing out the baby with the bathwater. You lose a powerful picture for the Christian life.

Diane

There is actually a thread on Sermonindex about the "Feminization of Christianity".

There are assaults upon every facet of Christianity and the Bible today by our "modern" culture, today.

The thing about being a warrior for Christ is we fight by loving and forgiving our enemy and the tenderest most delicate soul can die terrible deaths with courage and grace all because of the life of Jesus Christ in them. This is warfare!

This is the overcoming life.

Being faithful to God in the midst of great temptation is warfare and the overcoming life.

Enduring till the end (of your life) when all hope is seemingly gone, this is warfare and the overcoming life.

When you forgive and love when you are slandered and misrepresented by those who say they represent God, this is warfare and the overcoming life.

After donning all of your spiritual armor, warfare is having done all, to stand!

Fighting against the temptation and inclinations of the flesh to fight back in a carnal way and praying for your enemies, instead of defending yourself.

This is warfare. Real men and women, love Jesus and are not afraid to show it.

Fight the good fight of faith. It doesn't take testosterone, it takes faith.

If it took testosterone all the power lifters that hang out in the gym would be raising the dead and healing the sick.

Pilgrim

Spiritual metaphors do have a tendency to assume a sinister flavor in unspiritual minds.

I think this is a good explanation of the problem. It is not the metaphor, but how people apply it to their behavior that we are troubled with. In this case, if we don't see or grasp the concept of spiritual battles, we may conclude that our fight is against flesh and blood. It is certainly tempting!

The metaphor of a Christian warrior is often used to inspire Christians to be leading men rather then following them. However, the rub is that we perceive leadership differently from one another.

For instance, some of us are "command and control" types, and so naturally see leadership as hierarchical and managing. These are more apt to be attracted to Bible verses that paint the Christian as a challenging influencer of men for Christ. Some leaders are consensus builders, and so naturally are attracted to verses that paint the Christian leader as one who humbly serves men needs for Christ. Others view leadership as bringing together collaboration, and are attracted to scriptures that paint the leader as one who inspires others to use their gifts to serve Christ.

All of these leadership perspectives are valid. This is how I explain why there can be multiple differing perspectives among mature Christian leaders, that someow contribute to a single overall picture that is biblical and even prophetic when integrated.

MC

Hi roadsign,

There are countless assaults on the Bible and Christianity, today.

Your post about "war imagery" taken out of hymns is one I had not thought of.

Here are some Intellectual, Political, Humanistic, Religious assaults on Christianity that I have run into.

1. Gender neutral God of the Bible
2. Gender neutral pronouns in general. (humankind instead of mankind).

3. "New Atheism" today says they have the moral high ground over the God of the OT because He was a butcher.

4. Universalism is spreading.

5. Satan is not a real being, but just the antithesis of good (whatever that means).

6. Political correction beginning to permeate new Bible versions.

7. Jesus was not God, because "God is One" argument.

8. Stories in the OT are just myths and superstitions.

9. Jesus was a product of the superstitious day He lived in and that is why He believed in the existence of the Devil and Hell.

10. Paul preached Judaism.

11. Ecumenicalism (Counter-Reformation continues today).

There is much more that I cannot even think of right now.

What did Paul say,

2Co 7:5 For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.

Christianity has always had warfare from within and without.

Pilgrim

it takes a 'warrior' to turn the other cheek, and fulfill the passages in the beatitudes you've quoted

a warrior doing violence to one's "self-life"

in this way, the demons are defeated in our lives and around about us

we're not making this message too clear to youth groups that love the imagery

Lance Lambert is a good preacher on here with messages on our being inducted into a real spiritual army -- " Fight the Good Fight" and "Strong in the Lord" .... given in Memphis, Tenn ... along these lines

Your post about "war imagery" taken out of hymns is one I had not thought of.

I am familiar with your list of prohibitions, Pilgrim. Sometimes I function in that context. I’ll paste one of my subtle attempts at confronting the “paranoia” over military imagery: At first I was criticized for using it here, but I think it worked in the end. (see my footnote)

PLEASE read this through the eyes of one who THINKS “politically correct”:

A Mighty Trojan Horse

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay [or a mighty Trojan horse] to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." 2 Cor. 4:7

The Trojan horse may seem like odd imagery for God’s calling. I see it as helpful. Let me explain it. In Greek mythology, a hollow wooden horse filled with Greek soldiers was left at the gates of Troy. The Trojans assumed it was a gift and dragged it inside. During the night the soldiers climbed out and defeated Troy. We are like the Trojan horse in that we carry within the force of Christ’s nature and presence. We live and move among people who see us outwardly and have no idea what’s inside. When the door opens they see what’s there. They see an all-surpassing power that they know must surely come from God. It can’t come from the “horse”. The horse, after all, isn’t much. Indeed, it is powerless in itself.

This does not suggest a life of powerlessness and passivity, as in “fear of initiative, unquestioning lethargy, or compliance to a group ego”2. That kind of passivity merely empowers controllers, and is, in fact, the breeding ground of totalitarianism. That kind of passivity is a “denial of human destiny as appointed by God”3. It is really a failure to embrace our calling as Trojan horses in the midst of an evil world.

The Trojan horse is the very opposite of passivity. It is clever and effective strategy. The Armour of God passage in Ephesians 6:10-17 describes this clever strategy. The various armour parts listed there enclose the entire body, and together they form our defense. The suit consists of the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. The imagery suggests armour parts for the body’s exterior, but it is obvious that they function internally. These are precisely the spiritual blessings endowed to us through Christ’s indwelling. They are embodied in Christ himself. In that sense, Christ is truly the “all-surpassing” power within.

An important observation is in order: The Armour of God passage warns us not to fight against “flesh and blood people”. People are not our real enemy or the powers opposing us. Our real adversary is comprised of spiritual forces at work within us and without us. Only the spiritual weapons in Christ can help us overcome them. It is our God-given duty to apply this armour in our character formation. 4

Footnotes:
1. The use of military imagery occurs frequently in Scripture. Avoiding those references because of (justifiable) aversion to violence strips God’s people of key spiritual realities. It is better to show how to apply them as intended spiritually. We are, after all, in a monstrous battle of spiritual forces.

4. The idea here is to combat the effects of sin and evil by using the endowments given us through the Spirit.

Thank you for that, roadsign.

Essentially, the armor of God is the Lord Jesus, isn't it?

Rom 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Helmet of Salvation - He is our salvation
Breastplate of Righteousness - He is our Righteousness
Sword of the Spirit - He is the Sword, the Word.
Shoes of Peace - He is our Peace
Loins gird with Truth - He is the Truth

etc, etc.

Pilgrim

I have always liked the name, Frank.

It rouses the troops!! Reminds us who we are.

Pilgrim

Appolus, shame on you for posting those hymns! Don't you know that they should be censored - I mean, ARE censored!! I never dreamed I'd see the day when these innocent old favorites hymns (and many more) would become so polemic.

Even this Sunday School song raised a dispute when I used it once:

Standing by a purpose true,
Heeding God’s command,
Honor them, the faithful few!
All hail to Daniel’s band!

Refrain:
Dare to be a Daniel,
Dare to stand alone!
Dare to have a purpose firm!
Dare to make it known.

Many mighty men are lost,
Daring not to stand,
Who for God had been a host
By joining Daniel’s band.

Many giants, great and tall,
Stalking through the land,
Headlong to the earth would fall,
If met by Daniel’s band.

Hold the Gospel banner high!
On to vict’ry grand!
Satan and his hosts defy,
And shout for Daniel’s band.

Diane

Essentially, the armor of God is the Lord Jesus, isn't it?

Rom 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Imagine those Christian readers who are disturbed by the use of military imagery. They have that hurdle to overcome before they can receive the rest of my reading. I admit, I perspired over that, and prayed my way through it – in view of the obstacles it would face.

Diane

Since we're posting battle hymns, have you heard this one:

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/s/o/soundbat.htm

Never heard it sung in church before.

"No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier" (2 Tim. 2:4).

Yes, "Sound the Battle Cry", a favorite hymn in bygone days. I've posted the words here.

I've also posted "A Mighty Fortress" by Martin Luther. It does NOT have military imagery but you see clear reference to the devil and also the spiritual armor. I think this hymn is superior in its theological clarity and its focus on God as the shield and victor.

-------------------------------
Sound the battle cry! See, the foe is nigh;
Raise the standard high for the Lord;
Gird your armor on, stand firm every one;
Rest your cause upon His holy Word.

Refrain
Rouse, then, soldiers, rally round the banner,
Ready, steady, pass the word along;
Onward, forward, shout aloud Hosanna!
Christ is Captain of the mighty throng.

Strong to meet the foe, marching on we go,
While our cause we know, must prevail;
Shield and banner bright, gleaming in the light,
Battling for the right we ne’er can fail.

Refrain
O! Thou God of all, hear us when we call,
Help us one and all by Thy grace;
When the battle’s done, and the vict’ry’s won,
May we wear the crown before Thy face.

A MIGHTY FORTRESS

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.