Fighting the good fight: Rediscovering the warrior spirit of Christianity

Some could be forgiven for thinking that Christianity was a mild business. Its founder is called the Prince Of Peace (Isa. 9:6), who famously said “blessed are the peacemakers” (Matt. 5:9), telling the meek they would inherit the earth (Matt. 5:5), and rebuking his followers for pulling swords on Roman centurions (Matt. 26:52). 

Furthermore, one of Jesus’ most ardent followers went on to tell us that Christianity is about the preaching of peace to those near and far (Eph. 2:17), that this peace ought to guard our hearts and minds (Phil. 4:7), and that we should live peaceably with all (Rom. 12:18), pursuing quiet lives which stay out of trouble (1Tim. 2:2).

Christianity, it seems, is a gentle affair. The kind that goes down well with a pair of slippers, a pension, and a conservatory extension. Only, it’s not. Not even slightly.

Gospel Trouble 

Despite all our talk of gentleness and peace, Christianity seems to have caused an awful lot of trouble in this world. And it wasn’t by accident. It did it on purpose. Not for nothing did some say it had “turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6). If Christianity really is a religion of peace and quiet in the way we’ve often imagined, it has a funny way of showing it.

It’s true, of course, that the Christian Gospel is a message of peace. It promises peace with God, peace in our hearts, peace toward our neighbours, peace on earth, peace amidst chaos. But when Christians actually try living this message out, it certainly doesn’t look all that peaceful from the outside.

The Apostle Paul said, after recalling some of the trouble he got into for preaching it: “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2Tim. 3:11-12). This Gospel of peace always seems to find trouble, even when its preachers deliberately set out to avoid it. And it’s not as though this was a mistake. Anarchy does not like to be disturbed by peace.

Peace or Sword?

The trajectory of Jesus’ earthly life in itself gives a pretty good indication of what to expect when we follow him into the fray. 

There are also the numerous distinctly less peaceful-sounding statements he made along the way, such as: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” (Matt. 10:34). Just think about that for a moment. Jesus – who is literally the ultimate manifestation of peace on earth – said that. 

He knew the kinds of division he would cause. He caused such division not by seeking to divide people, but by offering His peace to a world that ultimately wants something else of their own making. Notice how Jesus is entirely unperturbed at using such militant language: “not…to bring peace, but a sword.” It’s the kind of talk that would get him into all kinds of trouble on social media! One can well imagine many reputable Christian organisations today taking him to task for his “insensitive” or “inappropriate” tone.

Biblical Fight-Talk

It’s not as though such militant language is a Biblical one-off. Paul outright tells Christians to act like soldiers rather than civilians (2Tim. 2:3-4), to equip themselves with spiritual armour and weaponry (Eph. 6:11-17), to “wage the good warfare” (1Tim. 1:18), and to “fight the good fight of faith” (1Tim. 6:12).

If all this talk of fighting makes you squeamish, just remember that it’s God who is undoubtedly the most prominent combatant in the Bible. We’re told by Paul not to avenge our enemies not because retaliation is “bad” but because God is the One who’ll be doing it: “‘vengeance is mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Rom. 12:19). 

Indeed, perhaps the most curious Biblical verse on peace is when Paul tells the Christians in Rome that “the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” (Rom. 16:20).

The fact we often find such verses so troubling demonstrates just how much we’ve skewed the meaning of “peace” by excluding the kind of fight-talk that is essential to God’s mission on earth. And all this without even mentioning the Old Testament or the Book of Revelation! 

Going on the Offensive

During those halcyon days of the first COVID-19 lockdown, a time when far too many churches were saying far too little about far too much, I preached a sermon challenging some of the ways we’ve misunderstood the Sermon on the Mount. 

It’s often easier to appreciate  The Sermon On The Mount in theory rather than in practice. That’s probably why Jesus ends the whole thing with a stark warning to the one “who hears these words of mine and does not do them” (Matt. 7:26).

Although Christians are called to love their enemies and live peaceably with all, this is not an encouragement to sit back and let the world walk all over you. To carry a Roman soldier’s pack for two miles instead of one (Matt. 5:41) shows him that he has no power over you because Christ’s power is greater. Christian kindness is subversive. 

Similarly, the call to be “salt of the earth” (Matt. 5:13) is far punchier than Christians usually let on. It’s not simply about bringing a bit of “flavour”, it’s also about stopping the rot and holding our convictions rather than disintegrating before our oppressors. Lest we forget, according to Jesus it is those who lose their saltiness who end up getting “trampled under people’s feet”, and he’s not saying this is something we should aspire to!

There are ways not to fight back, for sure. But a lesser known way for Christians to love their enemies in practice is actually by going on the offensive, “to destroy strongholds, arguments, and lofty opinions which blaspheme the knowledge of God” (2Cor. 10:3-5). This would appear to require a little more than timidly offering up our metaphorical “other cheek” for our ideological opponents to keep saying and doing whatever they like.

This Gospel of peace, it seems, is not intended for risk-averse placid spectators after all. It’s for those willing to stand up for what they believe and stand against those who oppose it, whatever comes their way as a result. Christianity is a fight. But it’s a fight well worth having.