19. Christian Soldier

Sermon 19 Christian Soldier

Looking at the subject of Christianity from the standpoint of war, we readily see that soldiers must be engaged, and that they are expected to fight.

Paul, at the close of life, said, "I have fought a good fight." He also argued that if he pleased the world he would not be a servant of Christ. He argues that in this conflict we fight against principalities, against the powers of darkness, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

At one time in my memory the church of Christ stood not only as a peculiar people, but as a deadly enemy to all religious sects. The church of Christ fought sectarian doctrine with the same zeal as the Jews fought when God said for the Jews to fight the nations around them, to make no arguments with them, but to break down their altars, and exterminate them from the face of the earth (Deuteronomy 7:14).

But the time came when we wanted to be a great people. Many of our preachers wanted it published about them that the sects loved to hear him. Then we began to compromise the truth; we quit fighting the sects; we sought the praise Of men rather than the praise of God. Our strength, like that of Samson, was gone, and many of us were only known by name, and not by what we taught.

I now call attention to the diagram. It is understood that in all well regulated governments a standing army is kept to fight their battles. This army is composed only of enlisted soldiers. A man may be brave, and able to fight, yet if he is unknown as an enlisted soldier he cannot draw a soldier's reward from the government.

Each government has its own standard of measurement by which all soldiers are measured before they can enlist under said government. While different governments may have the same measurements in some particulars; and you have been measured and fulfill the requirement in one government, yet the fulfillment of those requirements under one government does not give you credit in another government. If you are measured by the American standard and become an American soldier, and in coming years you go to Spain or Mexico and want to be a soldier in their government, it is just as essential for you to be measured by their standard to become an enlisted soldier under their government, as it was to be measured by the American standard to become an American soldier.

This is true with civil government; it is also true in religious government. The Baptist church has a Baptist standard by which men and women are measured to become Baptist soldiers. The Methodist church has a religious standard to measure its converts by and the church of Christ has a distinguishing standard.

Sometimes I meet men who were measured by the Baptist or Methodist standard of religion. They tell me they were baptized to get into these churches, and are satisfied with their baptism. They ask me will I "take them in" on their baptism? Most assuredly I would do this if it were optional with me; but as God is the author of the religious standard of measurement, and He tells all to be baptized for remission of sins (Acts 2:38), and as these churches do not baptize for the remission of sins, I tell them plainly that Paul, guided by the Holy Spirit, baptized the entire Baptist church at Ephesus (Acts 19), who had John's baptism. I advise them that it is best to obey the Lord.

Just as reasonably could a woman argue, I married man number one, he died. I have my marriage certificate and I am satisfied to take it and live with man number two. While she may be satisfied, yet she is to satisfy her government instead of herself. So it is safe to obey the law.

To enlist as a soldier of the cross in apostolic times, men had to hear the gospel (Romans 10:7). They must have faith in Christ (John 20:30-31). They must repent of their sins (Acts 3:19), They must confess Christ (Acts 8:36-38). They must be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38), These measurements are required by the God of heaven to entitle men to enlist by the divine standard. But as soon as a man enlists in the army he is fed the food prescribed for soldiers.

In the spiritual warfare Paul called the elders of the church of Christ at Ephesus who had charge of the divine commissary, and told them to feed the church of God (Acts 20:28). Jesus says that if you don't eat and drink you have no life in you (John 6:53). In eating they came together upon the first day of the week to break bread and contribute as God had prospered them (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2). After eating enough spiritual food to become spiritually strong all soldiers are expected to put on the whole armor of God, which is so accurately described in the sixth chapter of Ephesians. After putting on the armor they should be drilled for battle. Here is where the church of Christ falls. I go to many places to hold meetings, and very seldom do I find a church who is drilling its young converts for the coming meeting, or for general Bible work. I find young men of intelligence who put on the armor five or ten years ago, and under their so-called elders they have never been asked even to read a chapter, nor to lead in prayer, nor to do any drilling that would make them brave soldiers in the battle.

After drilling comes the battle. Just here many congregations retire from the field, and cry as did the Jews of old, "We are tired of war and want a king (a pastor) to lead us out like the sects. We want a pastor, or located minister, who will not fight, but one who will please all the sects." Frequently I get letters from members belonging to congregations I started twenty-five or thirty years ago saying, "Brother Tant, some of us wanted you for a meeting but our elders feared you would fight the sects as you are a debater, and we don't want any fighting here."

When we look at our diagram we notice that we have enemies that must be fought; yet many say, "Let them alone else they will not come to hear. We have deserters, who long ago quit. Yet the church forgot the Bible teaching which says, "Withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly" (2 Thessalonians 3:6) . Also we have traitors—men who were once loyal to the call of Zion, but have decided as did the Jews under Nehemiah (Nehemiah 4), that the work is too great, so we will join the sects and build up a sister church.

We have slackers in the church—those who come in and sit down, so afraid they will do something wrong or be like the sects that they do nothing but complain all the time about the work others are trying to do. Knowing that all these four classes are working together to overthrow the church of Christ, no one can be true to God nor true to himself who is not willing to fight with the whole armor of God on.

But the question comes up: is the pay worth the fighting? I find I have the forgiveness of sins, the comforting influence of the Holy Spirit, and the association of the purest men and women on earth, and promise of home in heaven after death.

But the final thought comes of a grand reunion with all the children of God on the other side. Here we talk and sing and pray and think of Abraham, of Moses, of Mary, and of Paul and of Peter. We adore the blessed Christ who died for all. But to think what it will be to meet them there!

In this life we attend reunions of old soldiers, and while we share their joys, yet we feel their sorrows when they tell of an only brother or of a comrade who fell on the battle field and is not with them. But how grand to think that all who fall on the divine battlefield as soldiers of the Lord will be in the great reunion at the last day. On our reunions in this life the sun sets, the night comes, and the day dawns in which all who meet must say, farewell. But over there the sun will never set, neither will the night come; for it is one eternal day. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. Great and grand will it he for us to be found in this reunion.

Will you come at once and enlist and help to fight the battle of life that you may be in the great reunion of all of God's people in the last day!