Prolegomenon
When I consider the myriad concerns that the last year or two has brought to bear on the Christian church, there are many things which are seemingly new challenges. Many of these challenges are not new in the sense that they are unprecedented, but they are new in the sense that they bring more force to bear, or carry more weight, than they previously seem to have held.
For example, the phrase ‘love your neighbor’ has always been both used and misused liberally within Christian circles (and beyond), but this phrase seems to have grown to carry far more capacity for ideological weight in recent years than it did previously. This may be seen with the lack of context in its usage – discussions are ended by using this phrase, which seems to demand silent agreement with whatever point preceded it.
Another example of phrases which have recently incurred additional weight may be the eschatological discussions on such topics as the ‘mark of the beast’ – again, eschatology has frequently been a contentious topic within the church, yet this area of discussion seems to have incurred a renewed sense of conviction and vigor in recent Christian dialogue.
Many of these discussions seem new in a sense, yet there are the things which seem altogether new – surely not new in the history of the church, yet new in the sense that they are unprecedented events within our lifetimes, or even within the lifetimes of anyone else currently living. Things like the advent of a global pandemic and the host of contentious issues which surround that pandemic seem altogether new in the thought life of the Christian church. Even using the term ‘pandemic’ here is likely provocative, and many may disagree with using this term to accurately describe what has happened, while still others may think the term insufficient enough – this gives further evidence that even the words used to describe these issues seem rather new. The challenge of these new events seems complicated to be sure, yet it also seems unprecedented – something about which we feel a distinct lack of clarity. So then, how do we (as Christians and as the church) proceed in the face of such altogether new challenges?
New, but not New
These are unprecedented challenges, though maybe they are only unprecedented within the confines of our own experiences. That is to say, these things are unprecedented insofar as they have not occurred within our lifetimes, nor maybe even within the lifetimes of our parents or even grandparents. For many of us, our sense of historical awareness is a bit narrow in this regard. These challenges and their attendant circumstances lie outside the parameters of my personal experience, therefore their unsolicited occurrence seems to me an unprecedented (and certainly unwelcome) event.
Yet we recognize that something that is truly unprecedented lacks any precedent – it is a truly novel occurrence. Even a cursory glance at history would cast doubt on the claim that our current experiences in the Western church are unprecedented – if anything, this might reveal a tendency of geographic myopia on our part. Things oftentimes appear sufficiently agreeable within our direct field of vision; therefore, we tend to relegate any conflicting external realities to the periphery of our consideration. Or, to put it better, we consider that which is ‘out of sight, out of mind.’ Whether this is a conscious or subconscious malady is unimportant – what is important is that our experiences do not dictate reality.
Yet, beyond seeking a more robust historical awareness, surely this recognition of precedence may lead us to a more robust sense of biblical awareness. We might do well to consider such biblical teachings as the reality that we serve an all-powerful God who possesses “the world and those who dwell therein” (Ps 24:1-2). God has always held the power over life and death, with not a single life or death occurring outside His divine provenance (Dt 32:39). Within the church, we have often spoken of these things in terms of God's divine sovereignty and providence – reflecting on biblical truth to better understand the challenges that we face in everyday life.
This divine possession of power does not mean that God’s people are exempt from suffering, and in fact the opposite often seems to be the case. God’s people are well-acquainted with both well-being and calamity alike – and God claims the power over both these things (Is 45:7). Living lives that entail suffering is not merely the state of the believer of the Old Testament either – Christians are likewise called to live and thrive amidst the trials and hardships of this world (Jn 17:15). Indeed, the history of the Christian church has typically been one of hardship and even persecution – challenges which, both then and now, are quite challenging to the believer, though they are certainly not unprecedented (cf. 2 Tm 3:12).
Dressed for Battle
If our times are not necessarily unprecedented in either a historic or biblical sense (instead, perhaps only from an experiential sense, if such a thing is even worth noting), how then ought the Christian to respond to such challenges? What might be the observable response of the church in a time of daunting challenges and ominous existential threats that loom?
It occurs to me that the current response of the church to the daunting though-not-unprecedented challenges that have risen has often been observably feeble. Feeble may not be the best term to use, but we may certainly observe that the response has frequently been unsteady, and has often appeared quite weak indeed. This will no doubt sound quite disparaging or critical on my part, but it is only critical in the same way that I may observe that a toddler’s first few steps in life are quite unsteadied and weak. This is neither a judgment against the toddler’s future nor an attack on his character, but is merely an observation that his steps are in need of eventual growth and strengthening. The toddler is facing something experientially unprecedented (walking) and is reacting in a way that a true lack of precedent will produce (wobbly steps). It is here that we may hope that he is aided by those older than him who have experienced walking before, that true growth may occur.
I would humbly suggest that these wobbly steps may be quite adorable in the toddler, yet they should be quite concerning within the church. The toddler is quite right to be walking with such cautious, unsure steps. His steps are dangerous without the aid of one to help him along. He is new to walking, and little can legitimately be expected of him. The church, however, seems to be facing something for which they are unprepared, not something for which they lack precedent.
What I am suggesting is that we would do well to prepare ourselves in the way Scripture calls us to. If we find ourselves facing a situation without precedent, it is more likely that we are ignoring the aid and instruction which we are provided, not that there is no aid and provision available to rely upon. Unequipped and unprepared are not synonymous in this regard.
The church would do well to remember that we are called to be strong – strong in the strength of the Lord (Eph 6:10). Strength is not a negative trait to be avoided and suppressed but instead is a virtue to be practiced. In light of that strength, Christians are called to equip themselves for battle against the evil forces in “this present darkness” (6:11-12). We are called to nothing less than spiritual warfare – not the staggering steps of an infant, but the strong strides of the soldier. This assures us that the battle is real and the risks are palpable. If we find ourselves lacking our armor, unsure of our battle plan, and unfamiliar with the terrain, it is quite possible that we have forgotten the admonitions of Scripture to “be able to stand” (6:11).
The battle should not surprise the Christian, whether in the uncertainty of the terrain nor in the ferocity of the foe. We have been told these things (Jn 16:33). It may in fact be the case that very few things in this world are truly unprecedented. We have been given our marching orders and prepared for battle, while it may be that the church’s apparent sense of disorientation may indicate that we have neglected our preparation for the challenges that are quite natural in this world.
Josh Howard serves as the Elder/Pastor at Grace Community Church in Battle Creek, MI, co-hosts the Good Doctrine Podcast, and is an alumni of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (PhD, ThM).