If you desire for God to walk with you, you must walk in lowliness and humility, you must deny all that this world has to offer, you must find no real joy or pleasure in any company but His.
The church, the assembly of believers, has attempted and many times succeeded in supplanting these truths, the polite church, the one that does not judge is now the standard example of that supposed walk.
There is an old song that is rarely heard in many churches today, as most are not that glorify God, instead they are replaced with emotionally charged lyrics meant to be repeated many times in hopes of evoking an emotional response with little action behind them. It is called “Onward Christian Soldiers” the first two lines are as follows, “Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war.” If you do not know it look it up, and then ask yourself this question, are you a soldier for Christ, have you ever even considered yourself a soldier for the Lord?
It may be one of the reasons it is so rarely sung anymore, for churches that are concerned with being polite and never offending would not consider themselves soldiers for the cross.
A soldier’s duty is to train themselves for battle, to enter into every territory, to fight the adversary, and if necessary die for his commander. Met any Christians like that lately? Is there one in your mirror?
You have the entire armor of the Living God at your disposal, what purpose is there in it if you have no intention of ever entering into the fray, why even put it on if you have no desire to stand in these evil and wicked days?
You will hear few songs in any Evangelical church these days that convict the spirit to move forward into the battle, no, they are meant today to bring about only an emotional response. Polite people do not go to war, people who do not judge with righteous judgment have few enemies. “There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.” (Psalm 91:10) Most would be unprepared if it did.
I find it interesting that people who claim to be servants of Christ do not see themselves as soldiers of the cross, as if it is not their business to defend the name of the Most High when He is dishonored, yet these same people love to hear the account of David and Goliath, do they not? Standing for their faith as long as it does not cost them anything of value, like their position in the world, their relationships with their friends and family, their supposed honor, pride or standing.
Soldiers are sent out to die if that is what it takes, and not only on Sunday morning for an hour or so. Soldiers do not run from the battle, they do not hide when the enemy is approaching, they do not shirk their duties, they give no thought to themselves. “He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” (John 12:25)
Trained, studying to show themselves approved, not concerned in the least with what others think of them, only what their commander has ordered them to do, there is no thought of the world in their minds. The true difference is that these men and women of God serve out of love, a love that will not fear, that will not see the name of the Lord Jesus Christ besmirched.
Onward, Christian Soldier.
