Introduction
In the midst of many specific instructions in his closing, Paul suddenly
gives an exhortation which is universally applicable to Christians. It
contains five brief imperatives—four of which are closely related.
Taken together, these (four) imperatives remind us of a crucial insight
into the nature and purpose of the church.
Today, most Christians prefer to think of the church as a FAMILY (emphasizing
personal relationships) or as a TEMPLE (emphasizing God's presence).
These metaphors are biblical and important. But here is another metaphor
which is equally important (read vs 13).
All four of these imperatives "have a military background and are
like a commander's orders to his soldiers."
[1] This is one of over twenty passages in the New Testament
which picture the church as an ARMY AT WAR. There is an unmistakably militant
dimension to the Christian life. Jesus' first statement about the church
viewed it as a great army that would attack and overcome Satan's fortress
(Matt. 16:18). Paul tells us we should view ourselves as soldiers
and be armed for battle (1 Thess. 5:8; 2 Cor. 6:7). He
also calls on us present ourselves for active duty (Rom. 6:13), and
to seek out and destroy enemy installations (2 Cor. 10:3-5).
Of course, this war is not physical, and it is not against people—it
is a spiritual battle to liberate people from spiritual forces of evil
(Eph. 6:12; Col. 1:13). But it is a real war nonetheless—a
war with real objectives, real wounds and casualties, real victories
and defeats.
Most of us don't come into the Christian life with this perspective;
we come to get relief from our personal problems. That's OK, but we
must cultivate this perspective—we must expect the Christian life
to be a battle, and we must learn how to fight effectively—or we
will not mature and the war effort will be hindered. In these two verses,
Paul helps us to understand how to play our roles effectively by
describing 4 distinctives of militant Christianity . . .
Spiritual Alertness
"Be on the alert" was a term commonly used to describe a sentry
at his post. It means to be wakeful and watchful because there are enemies
in the area. The sentry's role is crucially important. If he falls asleep
or allows himself to be distracted, the enemy may infiltrate or achieve
surprise in his attack—and lives may be lost.
We are likewise to be spiritually alert. We live in a spiritually hostile
environment, and so we must learn to live with our "guard up."
Many Christians live as though this were not the case. They live as though
we were at peace and slumber spiritually. How can we cultivate this?
Be aware of the enemy's covert tactics. Spiritual warfare is usually
subtle rather than obvious. Contrary to what Hollywood says, most of
Satan's tactics are covert rather than overt (8 IN THE New Testament
LETTERS). If you don't know what these tactics are, and if you don't
cultivate a watchful attitude in these areas, you will be easily defeated.
EXAMPLES: tolerating unrighteous anger (Eph. 4:26,27) and refusing
to forgive (2 Cor. 2:10,11); becoming consumed and distracted
by the affairs of everyday life (2 Tim. 2:4 >> GOSPEL
HERE).
We should not be ignorant of these covert tactics (2 Cor. 2:11).
We need to vigilant in areas like these, forsaking foolish self-confidence
and asking God to help us see and overcome these attacks . . .
We need to go beyond merely looking out for our own selves in this
area and also be involved with other Christians in helping each other
to stay alert. As in human warfare, individual soldiers are easy prey.
But when we are organized as a unit, we present a much more formidable
defense (ROMAN MANDIBLE). Are you involved with other Christians enough
that they can help you in this way, and so that you can do the same
thing for them? This is an essential part of effectiveness in spiritual
battle!!
Uncompromising About the Truth
"Stand firm" was a term commonly used to describe the proper
response when under actual attack. It means to "dig in" and
stubbornly refuse to give ground. Notice that the specific area in which
we are to stand firm is "the faith." This refers to the content
of our faith—the truths of scripture, the message of the gospel.
Christian militancy involves being uncompromising about the truth.
Resist cultural and religious pressure to conform ideologically.
The Corinthians had been falling prey in this area. They wanted to be
accepted by their culture as wise, even though it was permeated by a
Greek philosophy which was in many areas antithetical to the biblical
message. They didn't want to be viewed as fools for believing in bodily
resurrection for example, so many of them began to view this area as
dispensable. Because of this, Paul had to get after them and point out
that they were selling out by doing this (1 Cor. 15).
Paul stood firm against the Judaizers' pressure to tone down grace,
and called on the Galatians to do the same (Gal. 5:1). Luther
did the same thing at the time of the Reformation. The early church
stood firm against Rome's insistence that they also worship Caesar.
Many Christians in China have refused to compromise their faith in
spite of tremendous pressure.
But sadly, it is even more common pattern for the church down through
history compromise the truth. Instead of exposing the emptiness of
worldly philosophy and religion with the biblical world-view, it usually
begins to assimilate the world's thinking in order to be accepted
(EXAMPLES: SELL-OUT UNDER CONSTANTINE; 19TH CENTURY NATURALISM; CHURCH
SELLING OUT TO THE STATE IN FASCIST & MARXIST STATES).
Today, in our own culture, there is strong pressure to compromise
the biblical message in a fundamental way. It is increasingly unpopular
to believe that there is even such a thing as absolute truth. The
position that Jesus is the only way to God, and that there is such
a thing as absolute morality (ABORTION; SEXUAL ETHICS) is dismissed
as close-minded, bigoted, and ignorant. We should also remember that
while we may be co-belligerents with other religious groups on ethical
issues, we are not allies (CATHOLIC-EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE). These are
crucial areas, and we need to be willing to take a stand on them—even
if it means that we pay a price . . .
Ready To Suffer
"Act like men; be strong." These two go together. The contrast
is not between men and women, but between acting like grown-ups and acting
like children. Children are often very cocky until they meet formidable
enemy—but then they panic and run away. To "act like men"
and "be strong" means to ready to be suffer. This is a crucial
feature of Christian militancy.
In time of war, soldiers must be ready to suffer hardship (2 Tim. 2:3).
Those who run away in the heat of the battle to save their own skins
are deserters. In the last resort, we overcome the devil by "not
loving our lives even to death" (Rev. 12:11). Peter challenges
us to arm ourselves by being prepared to suffer death if need be (1
Pet. 4:1).
Paul isn't advocating some form of spiritual machismo. We are to be strong
"in the Lord and in the strength of his might" (Eph. 6:10;
see also Ps. 27:14). Because Christ will ultimately prevail, we can
take courage because we are on the winning side ("I read the ending
and we win!"). Because he has promised to be with us until then
and supply us with all we need to play our roles, we can draw strength
from him to persevere even in the midst of great fear and personal weakness
(2 Cor. 12:10). It is not a sin to be afraid, or to be acutely aware of
your weaknesses and inadequacies—as long as you don't allow them
to dictate your decisions.
This is a distinctive of Christian militancy which is desperately needed
today. We live in a culture that is historically unparalleled in its narcissistic
aversion to suffering. Most people in our culture believe it is their
inherent right to be happy at all times, that suffering is an outrageous
indignity, and that virtually nothing is worthy of pain and sacrifice—let
alone worth dying for. How do you think most people in our culture would
respond to this statement by Winston Churchill:
"I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat. We
have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us
many, many long months of struggle and suffering. You ask what is our
policy; I will say: 'It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all
our might and with all the strength that God can give us, and to wage
war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark, lamentable
catalogue of human crime.'"
I hear cynical cracks rather than a rousing cheer! The result of this
kind of narcissism is a spoiled softness, and a cringing fear of suffering
which makes us weak. This is the sign of a deteriorating culture.
Most western Christians have been affected by this softness. One evidence
of this is the rarity with which American Christians (including Xenos
today) view themselves as soldiers in an army, and how quickly we suspect
fanaticism when this image is used. Another is the rarity with which
you hear Christians exhort one another like Paul does here. In fact,
many Christians think this kind of exhortation is unloving! Another
is the fact that we have virtually no category for the idea that it
is heroic and a privilege to suffer for a worthy cause—yet that's
what Paul says in Phil. 1:29 . . .
Others have done this—even paying with their lives—and we
are the beneficiaries. Out of loyalty to Christ and for the sake of
others, let us ask God to cultivate this virtue in our lives, and let
us not complain when he works through suffering to answer our prayers.
Love As Our Controlling Ethic
This is a key difference between biblical militancy and worldly militancy.
Worldly militancy says winning is the only thing that matters—the
end justifies the means. It therefore thrives on hate and frequently fosters
cruelty. But biblical militancy operates by the controlling ethic of love.
What does this look like?
We may have to fight for the truth—but we shouldn't relish a fight.
Rather, we should strive "if possible, as far as it depends upon
us, to be at peace with all people" (Rom. 12:18).
We must be willing to not yield an inch over truth issues out of loyalty
to Christ—but we should be equally willing to sacrifice our own
desires and "rights" to help other people come to know Christ
and grow in him (Phil. 2:1-4).
We must have the toughness not to wilt under hate and unfair attacks—but
we must not get down in the mud with them by returning evil for evil
(Rom. 12:14, 17a, 19-21).
We must be able to be tough in our own suffering—but we should
also be able to be tender with others in their suffering (Col. 3:12-14).
We must be willing and able to admonish one another when needed—but
we must also have patience with one another (1 Thess. 5:14).
Footnote
[1] William Barclay, The
Letters to the Corinthians (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1975),
p. 106)