MGA - From Civilians to Soldiers

2 Timothy 2:1 - 5

“You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.”

The above scripture clearly divides the church into 2 groups; the civilians and the soldiers. It is clear from Paul's writing that resistance, opposition and warfare are an integral part of the Christian journey. It is a reality that Christians cannot avoid, hence he admonished his young disciple Timothy about its importance in his life and those he taught.

So the call to mobilise the present church into an army of God means the radical shift and conversion of civilian Christians into soldiers of Christ. This is a tough challenge because it means the absolute death and crucifixion of self and its countless desires as well as the activation of a fighting spirit, which most Christians abhor. Though self-denial and embracing the cross are the most resisted truths in the word of God, they are the fundamental and essentials of the Christian faith that produces authentic and militant believers; as opposed to the self centred, issue-oriented and civilian majority in the church of Jesus today.

More then 80% of the global church is in the civilian bracket and 20% or less are either soldiers or becoming soldiers of Christ. The dominant seeker sensitive, over sentimental and contemporary gospel being preached today is the breeding elements of civilian Christians. Truly we are what we eat! If we live on compromised, watered down gospel that appeals more to the soul and flesh, we will produce Christians of that soul and flesh nature. These soul and flesh Christians are the ones who will run from conflict, resist change and have no appetite to fight the enemy of their blessings, destiny and purpose.  They crumble under pressure.

Paul said to Timothy that he must endure hardship like a good soldier. It's a warning to every follower of Christ that hardship will be our constant companion and only those conditioned militarily in Christ will endure. Since the civilian Christians are of a greater percentage than soldiers today, it's no wonder unbelievers are not rushing to God – for who in their right mind wants to be part of something weak, powerless and incapacitating? Was God eternal intent for His church to be like this? No! The soft and defeated image of the church is not the work of the Spirit but Christianity defined by the flesh and ingenuity of man. Right throughout the scriptures we see God’s might and power falling on broken and hopeless individuals who shook their world and transformed generations. This was the definite pattern and DNA of the church from day one. Now we are becoming baby sitting, self-aggrandising centres rather than slaughter houses where the flesh of humanity is cut away for the formation of a militant church. Unless the church deliberately shifts from civilian affairs to authentic Christianity, we have no power to shake and change the world with the greatness of God and the power of the gospel. This power is locked up in the intricate and multilayered civilian activities that we have mistaken for anointed and God honouring services in our churches.

How then do we increase soldiers for Christ today and reduce the civilian population in the church? The following recommendations will greatly help:

1.        Leaders must fear God above the people and live to please Him above the demands of the people

2.       Programs in our churches must be tailored to honour God first and bless people after. Not elevating the need of man above God’s.

3.        Uncompromising and unadulterated word of God must be preached and not just good sermons to tickle the itchy years of the hearers

4.       Christians must hunger for the best of God and be willing for the mutilation of the flesh, self and its desires that hinders militancy

5.       The church today must hunger for a fresh baptism of the militant spirit of the book of Acts so that our present world would be shaken

6.       The body of Christ must radically shake off religion, tradition, culture and worldly corruption and realign with heaven’s blueprint and plumbline for a new outpouring of new wine and fresh oil.

Be blessed,

David Vaka