The Church Militant

"Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18).

Contrary to popular interpretation, this is not a picture of hell on the offensive, attacking the church. This is a picture of hell gated shut, and the church storming upon it and rescuing its victims. ("And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire.") The church of Jesus Christ has been called to storm the gates of hell! And He has promised that hell shall not prevail! 

Historically, the saints on earth were called, "the church militant," and those in heaven, "the church triumphant." War is our calling. Victory is our promise. 

The Christian life is not one of comfort and ease. Ministry means being in the trenches, as Paul says, "In all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings" (II Corinthians 6:4-5).

Once you get a taste of this battle, there is no going back. When there is a war to be fought, when our most precious freedoms are at stake, when there are lives being sucked into eternal destruction, Christians cannot be content to lead comfortable lives.

A Heart Pure from Flirtatious, Empy Relationships

“My Daddy will never walk me down the aisle” was one of the most distressing realizations I had the day he died. The thought brought its own outpour of bitter tears. How I had always dreamed of the happy day I would be married! To date, Daddy had always been first in my heart; I had always resolved to never marry someone without his most fervent blessing and his utmost approval. I would think, “Above all things, he MUST get along with my father; my father must like him, respect him, and trust him; or he has no hope of ever winning my affection or regard.”

I remember with a tear or two expressing this to Brent. He laughed, saying, “You don’t need anyone to walk you down the aisle; your five brothers will carry you!” The tears had no room after that, for how could I not laugh at the ridiculous picture his words brought to mind! Brothers can be SO sweet sometimes.

But my thoughts of marriage continued, growing stronger as the days went on and there was no Daddy coming home in the evenings; only Brent and Stephen, and though sweet as they are, they’re still brothers. The enemy does use such times when we’re vulnerable to play with our mind, and I battled as never before with foolish fancies that seemed to appear from nowhere and want to take up residence. I hated them; I refused them; shutting them out again and again, disallowing them to reign in my heart and in my mind. 

We live in a sensual, perverted culture that screams at youth, dictating that they stagger through dozens of different relationships, beginning at age thirteen and on up, until they find The One. And by the way, don’t dare find him (or her) until you’re at least in your twenties! Also, don’t forget, you want to graduate college first and get that high-paying job! With this mentality, who knows how many boyfriends a girl will go through in ten or twelve years? How many hours, days, years wasted on someone who will later be only a scar on her heart? What folly! How pointless, trifling, and vain!

I am not exempt from this culture and its pull. I desire to be married. At times, I covet it. I would love to marry a man who fears God more than man and who loves Him more than pleasures; but, and this I say loudly, I’d rather be attending the Lord without distraction (I Corinthians 7:35) then absorbed in a vain relationship. I’d rather be content with serving my family, unmarried, than discontent with a worldly husband and 2.3 bratty kids demanding children. You see, more than I anything else, I desire to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Oh, how I do not want to be as the horse and mule which must be controlled by bit and bridle! May I follow the leading of the Lord, willingly, submissively, gladly; and even when I do not understand the bend in the road, may I lean on His understanding, trusting Him to direct me in the path where I can most effectively encourage others in our pilgrim journey!

How can I rejoice in the path before me, and yet still covet marriage so earnestly? It’s a double standard. “Purify your hearts, ye double-minded” (James 4:8) Which I find I must do daily, praying that I not be deceived nor allow my heart to be stolen prematurely. “Guard my heart, O Lord. Change it, renew it, to desire what You desire and to hate what You hate.”

The Book of Revelation speaks of the bride, “who hath made herself ready,” and the bride, “adorned for her husband.” Because I do not yet know what my future husband may need, my focus must be delicately dependent on the Lord’s work in me. He knows all things and knows exactly how to prepare me for what is so unknown and unseen, that I may do him good even now and all the days of my life, doubling his joys, and dividing his sorrows. May God work in me, that I may be strong to conquer all the challenges that await me in my life with him, as his helpmeet. I pray God is even now birthing in him a great mission, great not necessarily in size, but in depth, eternal weight in glory, in everlasting significance.

I do not have an unrealistic, legalist standard, but a Biblical, kingdom-minded one. All preconceived notions and personal preferences aside, my first questions are, “Would this union bring glory to Christ? Would it result in more souls birthed into the Kingdom? Would it be a picture of Christ’s love for His Church? Could I submit to him as the Church is subject to Christ? Would this man’s love for our children be such that their minds may easily draw a parallel between their earthly and heavenly Fathers, and thus be filled with awe of how God the Father must love them?”

For now, my family needs me, and until a godly man needs my help more than my family does, I will continue to joyfully serve the beautiful family the Lord has given me.  

The Beginning of Knowledge

 

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7).

What is history apart from God? Is not history, as we find it in the Bible, the story of God’s redemptive plan throughout time, the amazing tale of His providence, mercy, and judgment in the affairs of men and of nations?

And what about geography? Is it aught else but a record of God appointing the bounds of each people’s habitation, by setting up one nation and putting down another, by extending the dominion of one people, and dividing that of another?

And what of economics? Does not the Bible itself teach us that God blesses those who trust and obey Him, but sends curses on those who do not? That the prosperity of the wicked will soon be cut off as the grass, but the righteous will be satisfied in times of famine?

God truly does intervene in the lives of men, and how can one teach these subjects without recognizing His work?

What are biology and science apart from God? Is not biology the exploration of His marvelous design in all of Creation? The world is filled with living testimonies of the everlasting God, the Lord, Maker of earth and all that is therein, who created it not in vain, but made it to be inhabited, and gives breath to all living things.

And does not studying science and the laws of nature, but give one further evidence of the absoluteness of the law of God? It is possible for God to suspend a law of nature, His ordinary course of proceeding, by walking on water, multiplying loaves, healing leprosy, etc. Is it not also possible for God to suspend the law of sin and death by mercifully forgiving us of our transgressions, and restoring us to eternal life with Him?

Apart from God, all learning is but meaningless, idle knowledge that edifies not, but only puffs up. By absorbing this information for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, 9 months of the year, for 13 years, each child in the government school system is learning that there is no God, or even if there is, He does not matter.

“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth” (Ecclesiastes 12:1).

Lastly, what about socialization? Apart from God, is it anything more than foolish children following each other into folly and sin? Though God gives few commands directly to children, He does instruct them to flee youthful lusts, to honor and obey their parents, to respect their elders, and to learn from them. With age comes wisdom, wisdom that must be passed on to next generation. The older must be eager to share it, and the younger must be eager to receive it. This is healthy socialization.

Let us not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds, that we may prove that which is good, acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Romans 12:2).

My Daddy's Going Home Celebration, Part 1

It was suggested that my siblings and I speak at our father’s funeral. I unhesitantly agreed to do so, for how I could refuse this opportunity to rise up and call my father blessed, to praise him also, and in so doing glorify my Heavenly Father, who commands children to honor their parents?

Utterly exhausted from my night watch the eve before, that night I lay down and slept very soundly; but in the early hours of the morning I unwontedly awoke, and all the events of the day before filled my mind. You would think that at such a time all I would experience is anguish and hopelessness, but God – oh, how gracious He is and full of compassion! – began bringing numerous things to my remembrance, a little incident here, a word spoken there, decisions made great and small, all that revealed to me of how He knew beforehand and was preparing me for this time, even when I knew it not nor expected it.

Oh, yes, so very many things that I cannot recall them all! Eventually I felt compelled to get up while I had them all so clear in my mind and begin composing what I would say. But the written words just wouldn’t come. I thought and typed and backspaced. I had no idea of what to say; my thoughts were jumbled; clarity and conciseness had escaped me. 

We were staying at my older brother's house, and I wished myself at home where surely I could find something I already written to give me some inspiration. Ah, Facebook! I logged into my week-old account, where I had already posted a few “Notes.” 

Aside from two new paragraphs and some editing, I drew entirely from things I had posted online just days before. I still cannot believe how it came together. My God is amazing! 

“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!” (Romans 11:33).

However, my biggest concern was, “Will I really be able to say all of this without choking on tears or perhaps even breaking down in sobs?” Even as I was writing it, I had hardly been able to focus on the screen because of my unceasing flow of tears. But I wanted to say it all; I felt that it was what God would have me to say.

I consulted my older brother, asking him to read it; he said it would indeed be impossible. Ah, perhaps I could film myself speaking and show it on the projector? The next afternoon when I finally had some time to do so, I took myself outdoors with a tripod. The video looked awful; my red, tear-stained face looked awful. Still, from running through the printed page a few times, I almost knew it well enough to speak it word-for-word.

That night I received some much-needed encouragement from some dear friends who had experienced the loss of close family. Both strongly assured me that I would definitely be able. It was a relief.

I look back at the wake and then the funeral with unexplainable delight and joy. All those things that God brought to my remembrance that night, plus others that He had shown my friends and family, were bits and pieces of a wonderful testimony that I shared with every person I spoke to. There were over seven hundred people who came to the wake, I am told, and I tried to talk to every single one. I am naturally quiet and reserved in large crowds, but I completely lost myself and all self-consciousness in my desire to give praise to my Heavenly Father for blessing me with a strong earthly father. It was an amazing feeling. 

I was very hoarse afterward, another obstacle to sharing the speech I had put together. It was awful to have so much to say and no voice to say it with. It’s funny to think now of such little, insignificant things, but I drank lots of lemon and honey and gargled lots of salt water in order to be able to even enunciate with any kind of clarity.

But not one tear broke my voice, nor the slightest bit of nervousness interfered. I shared with unwonted boldness all that I had written. It was a testimony in the weeks to come, as person after person came up to me and said how very blessed they had been by my speech. I can’t take credit for it, not even an ounce, for it was undeniably God’s work and not my own.

I thank God for counting my family worthy to be entrusted with such a testimony as we have.

I’ll post the speech tomorrow.

Click here for Part 2.

Delighting in HIS Story

I love history.
 

History: The narration of the redemptive plan of God Almighty throughout time; the story of His providence, mercy, and judgment in the lives of men and of nations, ending finally with the triumphant return of Christ to claim His bride.
 

Fathers are commanded to teach history to their children:   

“We will not hide them from their children, showing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength, and His wonderful works that He hath done. For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: that the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: that they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments: and might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not steadfast with God” (Psalm 78:4-8).

This generation is stubborn and rebellious. Their heart is not right, but tied up in lust, temporal pleasures, and immediate gratification. They know not the works of God, neither keep His commandments; and therefore, judgment may come upon them.

Except they repent. Except the Lord have mercy. Except the men of God stand boldly and courageously for truth, and convert the sinner from the error of his way, saving his soul from death and hiding a multitude of sins (James 5:19-20).

History is overflowing with examples of great men and women who rose to the defining challenges of their day and broke through to glorious victory; “Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight…” (Hebrews 11:33-34).

I have long admired their strength and resolve – men such as Washington, who admonished his troops, “The fate of unborn millions will now depend, under God, on the courage of THIS ARMY... We have, therefore to resolve to conquer or die.” 

What has become of such men?

For some time, I feared they had disappeared! But praise God, He has His faithful few laboring diligently for the sake of Him and His Kingdom. These strong, visionary leaders have taken the narrow path, refusing (as oft is possible) to contribute their time, their money, and their children to the State for its unrighteous ends. On the contrary, all these things are devoted to the Lord and His work.

Most importantly, these culture-challenging followers of Christ are committed to raising up the godly seed. They are training and discipling their children, AND THEY ARE MULTIPLYING! Praise the Lord! Their children are well-educated, respectful, and thankful, their sons brave and adventurous, and their daughters joyful and industrious.

They are the hope of our nation and the hope of our future, and I sat with some of their mothers this afternoon, as around the table we exchanged ideas for seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. These beautiful ladies are hosting a brunch three Saturdays hence to mentor younger women in the faith, teaching them "to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed" (Titus 2:4-5).

We are - you are - a part of history: the story of HIS plan to redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works (Titus 2:14).

 

May God bless our efforts.