Who Are You Fighting?
The battle is not won on microphones in venues with fancy walls. It is not won on the pages of new books or amongst the words of blogs like these. Like almost everything that has ever been, these words will fade like fireworks in the distance. Indeed the fingers that churn out the letters will one day be void of blood, and my bones will diminish into the ground from which they came.
The battle is not won amidst the scenes of powerful short films or across the airwaves on succinct podcasts and confident declarations. Our victory will not be found in atmospheric conferences loaded with the passion of the young and the wisdom of the old.
The battle is not won on the lips of foreign speakers building new kingdoms on the foundations of their ancestors. Our victory will not be found across the spine of new doctrines or in the eyes of newly elected bishops.
In fact, the battle is not even fought on external platforms. The battle is a silent one, raging non stop in one place only. The battle is fought right here on this bench, three inches below my collar bone, beneath my flesh and bones. Indeed, though we surround ourselves with the constant noise of Western Christianity, the battle for every man is fought silently in his heart.
Let’s be careful we do not allow our Christian faith to be carried by the external noises of those around us, but rather let it grow honestly in our unique walk with Christ. If we cannot face the Lord with thanksgiving, praise and worship when nobody is watching, then we need to question if our faith is ours at all.
This month Canon Roger Simpson said: “You’ll never have peace of mind unless you have peace with God”. And to that end I say Amen and Amen again.
Matthew 7:21-23
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”
Peace
