Waging war alongside Jesus

The apostle loved a good metaphor and frequently used the military as a source. In 1 Tim 1:18-20 he orders Timothy’s to wage a successful military campaign. He is to “fight the Lord’s battle like as good soldier” (v. 18) using “faith and a good conscience as his weapons.” Hymenaeus and Alexander put them aside and “suffered shipwreck” (v.19).  As a consequence, Paul (the ship captain) “ordered them below deck to be with Satan so they’d learn not to blaspheme” (v. 20). Yes, Paul was a master of the mixed metaphor. 
       The campaign that Timothy is to carry out is against all those who are trying to pervert the gospel. He is not to conduct this battle as did those two who deliberately violated their conscience and made a shipwreck of their faith. It is interesting that heresy doesn’t result from careful examination of evidence, but from people who turn a deaf ear to their conscience. Error in the church is motivated not by a new intellectual understanding, but by man’s innate tendency to do the wrong thing. It begins in the heart and is rationalized by the mind. Faith and a good conscience are the Christian soldiers’ weapons to defeat error, not to aid in surrender. 
        In war, a nation trains men and women to face the opposing army as well trained combatants who are deeply committed to the welfare and safety of those they protect. It is an honorable calling to put your life at risk for fellow citizens. Like Paul, today’s Christian warriors need to get ready for the battle. The primary obligation is to remain focused on what the Commander and Chief has to say about the battle that’s underway. And the “Boss” (Hawaii Pidgin for God) has laid it all out in his Manual for Engagement, the Word on God. No one goes out on a sortie unaware of who the enemy really is and how he plans to win the present skirmish. Bibles need to have that well worn look from taking part in the battle. They instruct us how to carry out the assault against Satan; they give us the rules of engagement. I believe he has ordered us forward, not warned us about firing until we are fired on. The battle is aggressive (“Go and make disciples of all nations” Matt 28:19), not defensive. The old hymn we sing with such enthusiasm is not “Backward Christian Soldiers.”
       To borrow a custom of Joni at friends@joniandfriends.org I close with a prayer: “Dear Lord, I may be only a private in your army against sin, but I desire with all my heart to carry out your orders faithfully and in a manner worthy of you, my King. Amen.”