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November 11 is a memorial day observed as Veteran's day in the US, Remembrance Day in Commonwealth of Nations member states and Armistice day in other nations to remember members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. A day to honour those who fought and paid dearly for the civil liberties we now enjoy. Rightly so. For "No one has greater love than a person who lays down his life for his friends". John 15:13 CJB But days like these make me think... I think about those who have also paid DEARLY for the liberties in Christ we now enjoy. I think of those who have laid down their lives, desires and loves - to ensure the message of the gospel gets to us in directly in it's undiluted form... those like Martin Luther who fought to get the bible into the hands of the common man at great personal cost. Then I think of the present army - the army and soldiers of Christ. I think of it's wounded... that Christian, evangelist, preacher, pastor, teacher or priest who for the sake of Truth suffered loss. I don't feel sorry that they have had to suffer. As Paul said, "You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ", so the pain, or attacks suffered is not the issue. In fact to suffer loss for the sake of Christ is a great honour. II Timothy 2:3 NKJV, Acts 5:41.
What bothers me is the attitude of the rest of the army - When a soldier of Christ gets wounded in battle, the first to throw stones are his fellow soldiers. It has been said that the Christian army is the only army that kills it's wounded. This is sad but not so surprising. If all we know of the words of Jesus are those that make us feel good, and every negative occurrence in a Christian's life is interpreted as a lack of faith or caused by sin, stone throwing will be considered OK. Don't get me wrong, we should stand up and claim the victory we have in Christ and faults should be corrected where necessary... But Christ himself said: "Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”Luke 12:51-53 NKJV And Paul: "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus WILL suffer persecution." II Timothy 3:12 NKJV Not all trials are a lack of faith or sin.
Even if they are, remember that we are all in the same army and "we are not struggling against human beings, but against the rulers, authorities and cosmic powers governing this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm. Ephesians" (Eph) 6:12 CJB While you may not have been hit by bullets and fiery darts, we (the church) need EVERY man standing... EVERY soldier counts in this war, even the weak... so, HELP the wounded! Irrespective of what caused the injury, our job is to promote the healing. God wants every man back whole on the battle field fighting for the souls of men. With sincere love, Pray, encourage, protect and support.
Do you know any discouraged or wounded Christian, Minister or Leader? Reach out and be a strength. For wounded Lions are lions still. .................. "Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2 NIV X Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; -Paul 2 Timothy 2:3, 8-11 NIV