Where the Battle Rages...

The great reformer, Dr Martin Luther, said, “Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved.” How often this is observed in the breach rather than in the observance. How often Christ’s cause goes by default because ministers are afraid of annoying the church authorities. And as Christians who are already carrying heavy burdens of responsibility, it is painful to witness the churches’ attempts at destruction of Christ’s faithful servants. It is here for many that the spiritual battle rages; and it is here that Christ’s men prove their worth by staying with God’s persecuted servants. True shepherds stay with Christ’s true sheep; hirelings go with wolves dressed up to look like sheep (Jn.10:12, 13).

We must never forget that there is much more going on in our lives, more pressures to contend with, in addition to the actual presenting problem.  There are underlying issues and there are current issues that impinge on us in such a way that we have those matters to process in our minds and hearts as well as our personal challenges. There are Christ’s servants who are being hounded to death by ecclesiastical powers, men who need support; and there are Christians who have been disenfranchised from the church who need succour and direction. These are Christian responsibilities that the Lord has laid on us, because the church has failed lamentably to support its ministers who are being opposed and persecuted from within. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Gen.4:9). Yes, I am, and what an inestimable privilege it is to be so. This is a responsibility that we’d prefer not to have to carry at this time, but it is a Christian responsibility nonetheless which we are honoured to carry. When we needed support, none was at hand; we promised that we would not allow this to happen to other servants of Christ.