Nov./98
This month we will be celebrating two special days: Remembrance Day, and a day of prayer for the persecuted church throughout the world. These two events are related: as Remembrance day celebrates those who died in a war while Christians are persecuted because we are in a war. . Christians need to know that we are at war:
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. (2Co.10:3-4)
They need to know that we do not fight as the world, but rather our war is a spiritual one, for the souls of men. Around the world, Christians are put on trial and dying because of their testimony for Christ. I fear that if Christians in North America were to be placed on trial for their actions from Monday to Saturday, many would be found not guilty due to a lack of evidence. For many Christian attend the strategy meeting on Sunday, but spend the rest of the week hiding for fear that they be recognized by the enemy and face persecution:
In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. (2Ti.3:12-13)
Christ wants us to live holy lives which places us in direct confrontation with the enemy- persecution is merely a spiritual fire-fight. Many have forgotten that they are a soldier of Christ and have compromised their objective.
Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No-one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs--he wants to please his commanding officer. 2Ti 2:3-4
Christians need to be taught not to be sidetracked by issues; our chief objective is souls. For by winning an issue, many souls have been lost, but by winning a soul you have begun to win the issues,. Many worldly battles have been lost due to the half-hearted commitment of the common soldier in a single offensive. Many Christians are willing to sacrifice our objective, in order to avoid persecution on the job site and in our community. Paul said:
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Php.1:21)
Why do so many Christians want to go to heaven, but few are willing to die- even suffer as they live their faith? In worldly warfare, many battles have been won by one man laying down their life in a heroic effort- which either gives a decisive advantage or spurs his fellow soldiers to a new zeal. Paul's willingness to be a martyr was heroic:
As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly. (Php.1:13-14)
In North America we so readily accept death as a natural part of a physical war, but we have been taught that there will be no deaths or casualties due to the spiritual conflict via persecution. People need to know the answer to this hymn, "Am I a soldier of the cross, a follower of his name?"