SHOULD CHRISTIANS FIGHT?
Nehemiah 4:16 (NIV 1984) From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor.
Notice that Nehemiah had some of God’s people building the wall and some ready to fight, just in case their enemies made good on their threats to kill them. In fact, some did both, carrying materials in one hand and a weapon in the other (v.17). Each had their assignment. Those building may have been glad that they didn’t have to constantly look over their shoulders; someone else was doing that. Those who were ready to fight may have been glad that they were on watch and not having to multitask the building project. Each was doing their task not the others’. The builders did carry a sword on their side, but they weren’t fully armored up.
Yes, Christians should fight! But not all in the same way and with the same intensity. Those who have been in the church for any length of time have seen how we expect everyone to carry the same calling we have, with similar passion and priority. The perfect example is the evangelist. The evangelist expects everyone to share the gospel as often and in the same way they do. Yet not everyone is gifted with this passion and calling. Sure, all of us are called to share the gospel, but not necessarily as much, or in the same way, as the evangelist does. I have a love/hate relationship with my evangelist friends. I love them because they provoke me to be more bold and intentional about the gospel. I hate them because they provoke me to be more bold and intentional about the gospel. They are a greatly needed presence in the body of Christ, but so are the ones with mercy, the teachers, pastors, administrators, miracle workers, tongue speakers, etc … Get my point? We are all needed, and no one person can do every job, at least not to the level of passion and expertise that it needs to be done.
Yes, Christians should fight; though some of us may be called to put most of our efforts in building up the church, we should still have our swords ready for a confrontation that might come at any time; however, if a full scale war breaks out, we’re defaulting to the ones equipped with “spears, shields, bows and armor.” Yes, Christians should fight! I think of the group of ministers called the Black Robed Regiment, who took off their clerical robes and fought to free a young nation from British tyranny, and helped win the Revolutionary war. In fact, in the small house rotunda of the U.S. Capital one will see the statue of Peter Von Muhlenberg, a minister who preached on Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 and called his congregation to stand for freedom. While I am not referring literally to armed conflict, though in Nehemiah’s and Muhlenberg’s day it was such, I am referring to being spiritually armed with the truth of God’s Word. I am thinking of the pastor that stands up against government tyranny and oppressive mandates, even to the point of going to jail and facing intense suffering, like Richard Wurmbrand, who stood abrasively opposed to Communist advancement in Romania, landing him fourteen years in prison under harsh conditions; and William Wilberforce, whose faith in Christ led him to an activism that helped a nation make slavery illegal, even though he was publicly rejected and his physical health was severely compromised. Beloved, there are issues today for which Christians should fight, bringing God’s light to bear on an increasingly dark and wicked culture. Yes, Christians should fight! And the fight should have started yesterday.
