The Frame
Persecution – A word, like so many in our post-truth culture, that is losing weight with various musings and misapplications, all trivialising or worse, hijacking it’s understanding to leverage (at the very least) outrage from some cohorts.
It has all too often been my experience that growing numbers of persons who conduct themselves ‘freely’ in this post-truth framework as behavioural wrecking balls, and when they are called out on it, cry foul. Rather than submitting to being critically and correctly scrutinised for conducts unbecoming (to distract) they can play the now ‘triggered’ card and hey presto, accountability now becomes one of the many morphing definitions of persecution – Ah, but I digress!
When it comes to a Biblical and specifically Christian context, the austere and inevitable reality of persecution is an expected outcome for any Disciple of The Christ.
When the Author and Perfector birthed this New Covenant Way He did so by declaring a Gospel (Good News) of the Kingdom that shifted the emphasis (not substance) of the previously given Counsel from a ‘triumphalist’ domination space (not from an overcoming space – that conquers from power – to that of servanthood and yoking for labour that engages power. It is now in that context that culture can be transformed.
This is quite a radical departure from the King as Conqueror model so lauded and longed for by the Jews; (along with most other ‘want to win’ and be in control cultures) and one of the primary reasons for the rejection of Him by many in this nation at His incarnation.
This New Kingdom come has a different priority and focus, though as stated, the agenda of bringing God’s jurisdiction, influence and transforming agency has not changed, how it is made manifest and deployed will be. One of God Incarnates profound and often overlooked commands was recorded in Matthew 6:33 when He said we are ‘to seek first the Kingdom (jurisdiction and sphere of influence) of God and His Righteousness (with and in His standard – that which receives God’s judicial approval) and the all the ‘stuff of life’ that matters will be added to you – not necessarily the ‘stuff’ of comfort, leisure and ease.
Jesus the Christ (God the Creator of all existence) incarnated in frail human form, taught unabashedly and with unequivocal clarity that persecution was not only an inevitably for his followers, but also paradoxically that it was a spiritual blessing if inflicted because of Righteousness. When (not if) this happened, it wasn’t to be resisted but embraced with joy and responded to with more than tolerance, but love – just another one of the ‘tough calls’ from the Shepherd King.
To the hearer of this message in first century Israel, it was not off the radar but still, as culturally mentioned for the repeatedly conquered and occupied Jew, a tough pill to swallow. However, in our 21st Century Western culture ‘rights’ demanding humanity, an almost inconceivable idea that must be resisted at all costs – more on this later
The Model – The Mentor – The Message
What is even of greater implausibility is that this Only True, Omniscient and Omnipotent God ‘played by His own rules’ (to borrow a Dorothy Sayers quote). Jesus warned that those who follow him will experience hatred, exclusion, slander, and other forms of hostility because of their allegiance to Him and His message. He linked the treatment of His disciples to His own, saying that if people persecuted Him, they would also persecute those who belong to him, a principle that His chosen disciple, Simon Peter initially resisted, but would later embrace.
In Matthew’s take on the ‘Good News’ we see recorded one of the key moments when Jesus Christ spoke plainly to this aforementioned inevitability.
Matthew 16:21-28 (J.B. Phillips New Testament)
From that time onwards Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he would have to go to Jerusalem, and endure much suffering from the elders, chief priests and scribes, and finally be killed; and be raised to life again on the third day.
Then Peter took him on one side and started to remonstrate with him over this. “God bless you, Master! Nothing like this must happen to you!” Then Jesus turned round and said to Peter, “Out of my way, Satan! ... you stand right in my path, Peter, when you look at things from man’s point of view and not from God’s”
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow in my footsteps, he must give up all right to himself, take up his cross and follow me. For the man who wants to save his life will lose it; but the man who loses his life for my sake will find it. For what good is it for a man to gain the whole world at the price of his own soul? What could a man offer to buy back his soul once he had lost it?
“For the Son of Man will come in the glory of his Father and in the company of his angels and then he will repay every man for what he has done. Believe me, there are some standing here today who will know nothing of death till they have seen the Son of Man coming as a king.”
In Jesus Christ most famous of all discourses on record and arguably one of the earliest agenda setting and culture shaping messages was what we have called, The Sermon on the Mount. In these beatitudes, Jesus pronounced blessing on those who are persecuted “for righteousness’ sake” …
“Happy are those who have suffered persecution for the cause of goodness, for the kingdom of Heaven is theirs! “And what happiness will be yours when people blame you and ill-treat you and say all kinds of slanderous things against you for my sake! Be glad then, yes, be tremendously glad—for your reward in Heaven is magnificent. They persecuted the prophets before your time in exactly the same way. (Matthew 5:11-12 J.B Phillips)
Early Persecution, Lapses & Managing Desertion?
The initial church persecutor Saul (now renamed Paul) after being actually stoned (it would appear to death) at Lystra continued on preaching the Gospel and Luke records Paul’s words in Acts 14:22 as follows… strengthening the disciples by encouraging them to continue in the faith and by telling them, “through many tribulations that we must enter into the kingdom of God.”
This inevitable truth was repeated in Paul’s own writings as his Disciple-making mission continued. A couple of years later Paul writes in letters to both the Corinthian church and believers in Thessalonica not only indicating, but unabashedly tabling, the reality of persecution and trial.
…while we sent Timothy, our brother who works with us for God in preaching the Good News about Christ. We sent him to strengthen you and help your faith, [3] so that none of you should turn back because of these persecutions. You yourselves know that such persecutions are part of God's will for us. [4] For while we were still with you, we told you beforehand that we were going to be persecuted; and as you well know, that is exactly what happened. [5] That is why I had to send Timothy. I could not bear it any longer, so I sent him to find out about your faith. Surely it could not be that the Devil had tempted you and all our work had been for nothing! (1 Thess 3:2-5 GNBUK)
Working together, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says: “In an acceptable time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We cause no one to stumble in anything, in order that no fault may be found with our ministry; 4 on the contrary, in everything we commend ourselves as ministers of God, through much endurance, in afflictions, hardships, constraints, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labours, vigils, fasts; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, in a holy spirit, in unfeigned love… (2 Corinthians 61-6 NASBR)
(As a side here, I wanted to table the following. I still recall listening to one of the leaders of persecuted church supporting organisation, Open Doors, who said that he was once asked why is that some Christians are persecuted so terribly and some are not. His response pricked me when he said, ‘The question we should be asking is why are not most of the Church persecuted?’)
I also want to note here that it was not very long after the above-mentioned statement in the Book of Acts that Paul and Barnabas parted ways over a dispute of engagement with a potential apparent ‘backslider’ named John Mark (a cousin of Barnabas who had ‘deserted’ them in Perga). Acts 15:39 recorded that they had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed off to Cyprus.
Also, interestingly (well my very subjective take on it anyway) is that it would appear personality types and priority differences create lenses to evaluate the conduct of others. As we know, Barnabas name means ‘Son of encouragement’, so one may surmise a greater level of patience and encouragement from him. Paul, a pioneering, mission focused and transformation seeking protagonist, whose lens has seen Marks ‘deserting’ or potential back-sliding (not stated only inferred by this writer) conduct as incongruent with the mission outcome and a liability to that Kingdom agenda and had no time for such compromised behaviours – Note again, this is purely speculation on my behalf.
Of course, the text does not reveal why John Mark ‘deserted’ them, but it certainly stung the Apostle Paul to the point of the rejecting this relative of Barnabas as not worthy of continuing in the Kingdom Disciple-making mission with him.
However, later Apostle Paul calls for this Mark to come to him – clearly earlier on he was not convinced such a deserter could be trusted, perhaps more for unreliability, denial and selfishness (more a prodigal or even like the Apostle Peter) than a betrayer like Judas? However, as time went on, it became clear to Paul at least, that this potential backslider, this lapsi, had genuinely repented and his conduct and behaviour was now clearly different in Paul’s estimation. It would seem John Mark was following whole heartedly, even through missional trials as indicated in Paul’s Letter to the Colossians, chapter 4.
What is also important to note is that John Mark’s return to and submission in the missional journey saw him become the recording author of the Gospel bearing his name – Mark. It would seem that grace, mercy, repentance and redemption kissed beautifully bringing about a remarkable outcome. (More on that later)
Denial, Betrayal, Repentance, Redemption or…?
Now, it is at this point that I want to share a little of my ‘back-sliding’ season to make it clear to the reader that one potential interpretation of this article is not seen as a ‘hit-piece’ on those who may have ‘lapsed’ in their journey.
After, what could be considered, a radical salvation experience, early years of relentless Holy Spirit driven zeal for the Kingdom and an evangelistic fervour that inspired some and others cringe, this changed. As a Secondary School teen, I was all about the ONE WAY – Jesus motif that had landed due to the Jesus People revivals of the late1960’s early 70’s. Sadly however, with no discipleship or mentorship, next to no Christian community and the growing insecurity and peer pressure of adolescence, I was isolated, then became quiet, then began to entertain the ‘World’ of my secular peers, not so much wanting to fit in, but really not stand out.
In short, I ended up traded obedience for a lonely and very insecure anonymity that one could only describe as lukewarm; and we know from the Apostle John’s received Revelation from the Christ, what happens to such candidates. As mentioned, a little earlier, this is more akin to the Apostle Peter’s desperation for disassociation around the fire at Gabatha. A soul shattering posture of fragile faith that too traded obedience for anonymity.
Whilst I never rejected my Lord or in any way renounced my faith, I still needed restoration. My merciful Heavenly Father used a number of circumstances and some special people to bring me back to following Jesus, not simply ‘claiming’ Him.
Ah, but what of betrayal? What of unbelief? What of Apostacy? These are more positions than acts, and as such are a more intentional response than a circumstantial reaction.
Early Church Persecution and a New Demographic – ‘Lapsi’
As promised (amid missional obedience and ‘Cross bearing’ Discipleship) persecution soon came to the fledgling New Covenant Church. Initially persecution was from jealous and powerbroking countryman who sought to snuff out this new message so incongruent with and tacitly threatening of their socio-political agenda – not First Covenant intentions.
However, as this Kingdom grew its impact on traditional dominant or ‘influencing’ cultures was becoming unacceptable – “Those who have turned the world upside down have come here.” (Acts 17:6) Of course, the dominant culture of that era was the ever-expanding Roman Empire.
The advent of some shocking seasons of persecution was about to be experienced under powerful Roman actors. This included the barbaric works of Nero, Domitian and Trajan in first century. In later years the emperors Decius, Valerian and finally 'The Great Persecution' of Diocletian in early 4th century.
During these seasons much of the Church not only understood the teachings of their Master but embraced persecution to the point of utter privilege. One such account is that of St Lawrence of Rome who was one of the seven Deacons under Pope Sixtus II. All these leaders were rounded up and were to be executed except for Lawrence. His response to this exclusion was not relief, but grief. He fretted in great distress that he was somehow not worthy to suffer a martyr’s death; such was the spiritual weight and worth given to this assurance of The Christ.
However, not all followers of Jesus Christ understood or embraced this assurance, and a new demographic began to emerge and one that created an entirely new set of ‘church doctrines’ (not Kingdom principles) that attempted to manage said cohort.
The Donatists, The Novatians and The Lapsi
Donatists, Novatians, and the Lapsi were central to significant debates on church purity, repentance, and authority in early Christianity. Their controversies shaped church discipline and doctrine, particularly concerning those who lapsed in faith under persecution.
The term Lapsi refers to Christians who recanted their faith, destroyed and/or handed over sacred and rare church documents or offered sacrifices to Roman deities under threat of torture or death, especially during persecutions like those ordered by Decius in AD 250.
To many in the church these people were not only traitors but sullied the name ‘Saint’ that was so sacredly held by early Christians. Consequently, schisms began to form over how to deal with this new and unexpected phenomenon. It was divided over how to receive such people; one camp advocated permanent exclusion – these were soon to become the Christian sects known as the Donatists in North Africa and the Novatians in Rome. The contrary actors in this maelstrom (including figures such as Cyprian and Pope Cornelius) championed the restoration of these ‘Lapsi’ after public penance.
Grace in the Age of Persecution and Grace in the Context of Protection
So, we, right here in this literary foray, are at the mouth of The Rabbit Hole that is the Churches ‘handling’ of Soteriology and the construction of Divine grace.
Can we enter this maze here and fully exhaust and/or satisfy our need to understand this issue? Clearly, no! However, my hope is that you, the reader, will not simply stay in a potentially shallow First World West understanding of this utterly imperative construct, but robustly pursue what is means to understand a fresh the Gospel of the Kingdom as persecution begins knocking at your door – if it hasn’t already.
The Masters Call?
The unequivocal call that Jesus Christ made to all who hear the Gospel of the Kingdom and want to respond to it has not changed in 2000 years. ‘If anyone would follow me, let them deny themselves, take up the cross and follow’.
The persecutions we have focused so far on in this piece are the very extreme end – Torture, imprisonment and death. Many Christians in the 10:40 Window experience these extremes even as I type. Yet, this is one end of the spectrum of persecution. To repeat, persecution is a given for those following Christ, so we should never be surprised or disappointed when it presents.
Let me frame up persecution in one of its perspectives, that of a temptation. I am personally gladdened by the promise in God’s Word in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that…
No temptation has come your way that is too hard for flesh and blood to bear. But God can be trusted not to allow you to suffer any temptation beyond your powers of endurance. He will see to it that every temptation has a way out, so that it will never be impossible for you to bear it. (J.B Phillips)
The language here can be interpreted in different ways depending on what you hope to glean from it. For example, temptations of a moral nature have the capacity to grow and strengthen us, where others need to be ‘fled from’ but only as you ‘run to’ righteousness. However, some temptations are to be endured as they are not only about strengthening your character, but empowering your Ambassador agency and manifest modelling that empowers those around you; persecution is one such temptation.
Notice the opening line that NO temptation is too difficult to bear. Jesus Christ the Master Model did it and has enabled us by the indwelling of the Third Person of the Trinity to do it – as that Person has greater and greater access and control in an increasingly surrendered life.
Growth and maturity are expected and planned for norms in the Christian experience. At different stages of this normal pattern of grow, Father God protects us from such temptations that at a specific stage of development we would not be expected to endure. This protection enables us to endure, and consequently, grow better, stronger and more conformed to His Image (Ephesians 4:13)
However, if we, the child of God, refuse to mature, to remain on ‘milk’ as it were, then the normal developmental strengthening will not happen and when expected temptations present (Matthew 18:7; James 1:13-15) we are sabotaged by them, not equipped through them – this is not the fault of heaven, but the fault of the one clearly not denying self, carrying the Cross and following Jesus.
When considering some of the doctrinal flavours being peddled today, it is not unsurprising (yet it is clearly it is easily overlooked) that when Jesus Christ, The Messiah, beckons us follow, He requires that this journey starts with an act of sacrifice. Think about that first command given to the Blood washed sinner saved by grace – deny yourself. Under sin’s power your Agency was undermined, you were a slave, but asking for and receiving forgiveness that you could not give yourself, your agency was re-enabled so you have a spirit of power, love and self-control, that you must exercise in choosing to surrender your agenda to the Shepherd King. It is here that the collaborative relationship starts and maturation and growth can begin.
Now, this flies in the face of not only some Doctrinal positions, but many Christian axioms, often written in ‘stone’ – Not least the very well-worn proclamation that all you have to do is ‘come’ and say Yes to God’s ‘free’ gift of salvation. The perplexing thing in all this, is that this altar call meme is not untrue, but it is incomplete – making it very problematic for the one being called into Discipling family and Kingdom life.
The call isn’t to ‘give up’ a habit or even a sin, they are ostensibly manifestations of the real problem, that of a self-governing broken humanity that continues to be at odds with Creator God’s best-practice. In dealing with the wrecking ball of sin’s curse and outcome Jesus paid the price. Now he calls the ‘freshly minted’ follower of Christ to lay down self-governance, trust in self, and egocentricity at the foot of the cross and then surrender to new governance via the Lordship of Christ, not for ‘control’ but again, for effective Kingdom collaboration, just like in Eden.
I’ll say again what I’ve written repeated elsewhere, this is a simple process, but not an easy one, if you don’t understand truly Who the Saviour is and what has been so magnificently and all but incomprehensibly accomplished for you then you’ll miss the mark.
Now for the really tough question and one that is answered by deliberate engagement or deadly default…
If you don’t deny yourself, you’ll deny something else? What or more concerningly, who, will that be?
Living and Dying by Your Brand?
Our culture in the First World West does not experience anything close to the levels of persecution referred to here, though we do see in resistance to much of the diminishing moral voice of the ever-compromising ‘church perceived’, a push-back that has at least one manifestation that was labelled in recent times as ‘Cancel Culture’.
If you hold to traditional Christian values and dare challenge in the slightest ever more perverted manifestation of breaches of that morality you are at the very least ‘digitally cancelled, and that level of persecution may even migrate into logistical settings such as relationship shunning or even job losses.
Preach Jesus Christ as the Only Way, Truth and Life, at the exclusion of all others – then the Cancelling Cleaver is wielded all the more viciously.
Of course, this phenomenon is not new (though the titling may be). However, the malignancy of this persecution vehicle is found in the breath-takingly fast efficacy of it. It is also in this era that we find the consumerist saturated marketing culture that so ramped up in the late 20th century has metastasised at the beginning of this new millennia into the almost sacralising of brand. This is no longer about selling a product, but now about crafting and trading on a complete identity – either for you or from you.
Idolatry of scale has never been more revived and alive than now!
For those not merely influenced by this (let’s face it, at some level all of us are) but have completely bought into this Idol making culture, the individual and their brand are all but inseparable.
An a priori reality of us as created souls is that we were built for worship – it’s an innate driver in every person. We find the perfect corollary of this in our rightful worship of The Creator.
However, the Enemy of our souls – the ‘fallen one’ – longs for worship, and if he cannot receive it, he’ll work tirelessly to ensure we don’t worship our Creator. Not unsurprisingly it is the self to which he draws our attention. Beyond the necessities of life and existence one can glean a pretty clear idea about what a person may ‘worship’ by what they assiduously invest their time, money, energy, capacity and agency in. If that is not God and His Kingdom, then it will be something or someone else.
Jesus Christ call was to all created in His Image and it was a completely inclusive invitation – come and receive, no matter who you are. However, the acceptance of that invitation back into the family and to experience salvation requires complete exclusivity of worship – there is now a new final authority and for restoration and completeness to be experienced, surrender to and worship of Him is the Narrow and exclusive Way – Again, not for His sake, but ours, that we may be the complete, perfect and utterly satisfied soul that we crave to be.
Survival, but of What?
As we saw in the early church many not only understandably didn’t want persecution of the severity in play but decided to deny and even betray their Lord. This of course was the first response to persecution by the Apostles at the Last Supper and in the Garden of Gethsemane. Judas flat out betrayed Jesus, and all the others fled or denied The Christ that they had walked with for three years.
Now, survival is a basic instinct when existential threats present. Appropriate fear can be a very important protective factor, especially when imminent danger presents. One’s life is being threatened by a fire, or a large wild animal and running away (if you can) is best practice to ensure no harm comes to you from these threats.
However, this all paradoxically turns upside down in the New Covenant Kingdom setting.
When we are threatened with an existential threat such as violence, torture of impending death, running away is an option for sure, but to where we run and more importantly how we run is the key issue here. If the running is to avoid torture and torment and one can, then brilliant, but if the running entails a denial of The Christ, or worse, a betrayal of Him and His Kingdom principle, then we have a new existential crisis on our hands and one that, as stated previously, the early church had to address.
Many declared ‘followers’ of The Way or as they became known in Antioch as “Christians”, when confronted by these persecutions that they couldn’t escape from, not only denied their Lord and Saviour, but often handed over precious manuscripts and betrayed other Christians too.
It’s here that I want to circle back to some other confronting words of the Saviour of Humanity in Matthew 10. Before making what seems an incredibly incongruent statement (well, at least in the context of the sanitised and curated Western Gospel presentations) that He did not come to bring peace, but a sword, and that what adhering to this new Covenant Kingdom would do to families, He said the following as recorded in verses 32-33
Every man who publicly acknowledges me I shall acknowledge in the presence of my Father in Heaven, but the man who disowns me before men I shall disown before my Father in Heaven. (J.B. Phillips)
Again, I want to reiterate, The Saviour, presents, not a concession, but a condemnation for the conduct of those who deny Him – disown and disavow, a state and standing beyond an action – and clearly don’t repent (as Peter and the other original disciples did) then they are no longer under the Saviours ‘saving’ protection. Consequently, the unrepentant or disavowing apostate are subject to the wrath of God (John 3:36)
It was this held position of disavowing that manifest in a posture of denial, a portrayal that was egregious to the Donatists that when these ‘Lapsi’ came out of their ‘hidey holes’ of denial, betrayal and desertion, and sought to rejoin the now persecution free church was not only frowned upon but called out for what they were.
The Dilemma Begins
Without going into the full position of both sides of this issue (I encourage the reader to investigate the issue) created a significant schism in the early church. No doubt one caveat tabled would have been what I’ve already mentioned previously that the Apostles had seemed to have done this very thing – though it was before Calvary and before the Holy Spirit coming (not only evidence of, but necessary for, Salvation). They were restored to fellowship; so, it may be concluded, that those who come repenting should be too.
If that justifying juxtapose was not enough, then grace – undeserved favour – alone should be enough to facilitate their return.
Of course, one could imagine that not only anger, but resentment and deep hurt felt by those who had endured such trials, and many at the hands of these Lapsi, may present as reasonable grounds for rejection, but these too can be argued away with the underserved favour clause.
So, before we continue to the next aspect of this journey the question I want you, the reader, to wrestle with here is what is the correct response to this concerning issue of betrayal and denial and what Biblical perspective do you bring to validate that position?
Trading Obedience for Survival in an Identity Brand Obsessed Culture
Let’s be blunt and state the obvious, yet again – None of us in the First World West Church have the foggiest idea of what real historical persecution looks like, let alone experienced.
As the opening paragraph in this post alluded too, we tend to live and die by our brand. People enter into existential crisis if their social media post is disliked at scale, or they lose ‘followers’ in their faux friend cohort.
Christians are not immune to this. When ‘cancel culture’ (rebadging of multiple previous iterations of this sub-cultural oppressing history) started landing around issues, silence is the first step toward denial.
Let me say right here and now, that I am a closet coward by nature. This is one of the worst types. I can appear ‘brave’ but underneath (on way too many times I care to recall) I battle with distress and angst and hope I don’t have to engage or look for ways to avoid scenarios that will draw me into public contestations or even private group backlash. This flesh based default position in looking for a way to avoid the moment of threat that may call out my following of Jesus and some of the negative cultural consequences that may bring, I try and justify this avoidance by convincing myself that if I’m too ‘bold’ or unwisely vocal, I may invite exclusion, marginalisation, which will lead to lost opportunities to share the Gospel, so the self-justification tends to go.
However, I must intentionally stand up against that internal cowardice and yes, with His wisdom, discernment, and love – not fear, then engage. Whilst I have endured these very, very mild persecutions, with varying levels of success, I have not done so joyfully, and that is something I continue to seek to surrender on.
Standing With the Armour of God – Not Running With the Armour!
As we end this journey, I want to focus not so much on the who can come back and who cannot scenarios. That, sadly, unnecessary situation is something that the Saviour, the Messiah, the New King and Lord of our lives did not plan or have contingencies for, but that divine grace has been tasked by men to attempt to remedy.
The Divine order and prescriptions given, embraced and followed are enough to ensure these scenarios of betrayal and desertion do not happen – Judas Iscariot is the exception that proves the rule.
Let us revisit a passage I’m sure we are all very familiar with, the Armour of God scriptures in Ephesians 6
10 Finally, grow powerful in union with the Lord, in union with his mighty strength! 11 Use all the armour and weaponry that God provides, so that you will be able to stand against the deceptive tactics of the Adversary. 12 For 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. 13 So take up every piece of war equipment God provides; so that when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist; and when the battle is won, you will still be standing. 14 Therefore, stand! Have the belt of truth buckled around your waist,[b] put on righteousness for a breastplate,[c] 15 and wear on your feet the readiness that comes from the Good News of shalom.[d] 16 Always carry the shield of trust, with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the Evil One. 17 And take the helmet of deliverance;[e] along with the sword given by the Spirit, that is, the Word of God; 18 as you pray at all times, with all kinds of prayers and requests, in the Spirit, vigilantly and persistently, for all God’s people. (Complete Jewish Bible)
Now the majority of us focus on this armour and consequently and not wrongly, but many people have let that narrow focus often miss some vital aspects and can also end up developing rituals around ‘putting on’ this armour every day. Whilst this is not a bad or even wrong thing, it does lend itself to the idea of ‘taking it off’.
Question that was posed to me several decades ago in a small group setting, and one I continue to ask others is, on what occasions do we take ‘off’ the armour, i.e. take-off truth or righteousness, or even our Salvation (Helmut)?
Of course, the difficulty with word pictures and their intents is that they can be misrepresented, but I want us to get our heads around this as we understand what it means to stay faithful in our journey with Christ in His Kingdom and not become a causality of persecution in any of its forms.
What is key here, and a colleague of mine recently expanded on, was the posture of the one wearing the armour.
The Roman soldier was very well-equipped operator and the Roman fighting force elite. Whilst not inventing armour, they certainly improved on it, but more importantly, how it is used.
For example, Caligae – the studded sandals – were their invention and it was specifically designed to help the solider to one thing very well and thus amplify (if you like) the capacity of the rest of their armour – and that was to better stand their ground. Their shields were unique too, in not only their protective capacity for the individual, but the masterful capacity to form a collective shield for the cohort, almost like a human tank. This not only protected but also enabled them to hold or move and disrupt even chariot attacks.
The key it all of this was the ability to stand their ground.
All the other armour becomes useless if they don’t stand but rather run away. In fact, to expedite the running, the deserting soldier (not retreating, that is always tactical and armour remains as part of that), one must discard the heavier objects of the armour – Sheild is first to go, then sword and helmet, then perhaps the last to go is the breastplate of the armour, depending on how fast and far one is running from their calling and responsibility?
It is here that I want to revisit the ‘putting on and taking off’ concept mentioned previously. Along with the above deserting (not retreating) solider scenario. What other scenario can you image that one may be moving in such a way that one is willing to take off one's righteousness, faith and even one's salvation?
Going back to Paul’s Ephesian 6 exhortation and specifically the following.
13So take up every piece of war equipment God provides; so that when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist; and when the battle is won, you will still be standing. 14 a Therefore, stand!...
What is the only key here to completion of any battle, task, practice or purpose in the Kingdom? It is the ‘standing’. This includes all the other armour, yes, but it denotes and/ or connotes things like perseverance, endurance and resilience. It is important to note to that these are all fortified by a collective context – with others, serving together not going it alone.
Epilogue
Persecution is inevitable for the Disciple of Christ.
If you’ve not tasted it at all, but you are serious in your walk with our Lord, then you will. As we have touched on in this post, this is not a negative thing, it is very much one fruit of Kingdom living.
All too often the Church of the First World ‘Christian’ West in their evangelistic endeavours, has focused more on selling a product or recruiting to a team (not wrong, but incredibly deficient and ultimately, left as stand-alone, negligent at best). The call, first and foremost, is to be saved – saved from the sin that so easily besets and undermines you and consequently, saves you from the wrath of a Holy God who hates this wrecking ball and all that which enables, equips, empowers and/or endorses so in His unravelling and declining creation.
The hatred of this harm and the indescribable love for His creation is what led the Holy, Perfect and Only True Deity, to do what no other ‘god’ would or could do, that is to step into our mess, pay the price for our utter depravity and then equip us to stand with and for him and to be Ambassadors of a Kingdom of wholeness, healing and restoration, so as to become the increasing light and salt that this decaying world needs.
If you have embraced this salvation in repentance and surrender, then you will be able to stand, but if you’ve simply bought a ‘shot at happiness’ or joined for a self-actualizing ‘purpose’ then when persecution comes, that Second Grain will retreat in withering.
Please hear the heartbeat of this post, persecution is only going to increase and all of us will experience it at some point. The God of salvation wants you to stand, but He needs you to embrace His salvation, so you can.
I’ll leave you with one last piece of arming clobber, and not unsurprisingly it comes from the Apostle Peter, the first recorded one to publicly deny the Christ…
‘So, since Christ suffered in the flesh for us, for you, arm yourselves with the same thought and purpose [patiently to suffer rather than fail to please God]. For whoever has suffered in the flesh [having the mind of Christ] is done with [intentional] sin [has stopped pleasing himself and the world, and pleases God], (1 Peter 4:1 AMP)
Yours in following Christ
Shane W. Varcoe
For further reflection and prayerful consideration