Christians face many challenges in this day and age, and new challenges seem to present themselves on a near daily basis. A quick scroll through the news on any given day could provide plenty of cause for consternation: high-profile stories of apostasy, disagreements over doctrine, governmental interference in church life, etc. In the face of such challenges (both from without and within), it may be tempting to step back and remove oneself from the conflict altogether. After all, one might argue, is not love more important than dogma? Is not unity more important than theology? Is not peace more important than principle?
We may certainly recognize that none of us should be engaged in foolish controversies (Titus 3:9). Yet what do we do with more pressing issues? Issues of salvation and damnation? Light against dark? Truth against falsehood? We may consider Martin Luther’s words from the not-so-distant past: “If I profess with loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except that little point which the world and the Devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved, and to be steady on all the battlefield besides, is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point.” Luther’s conclusion is powerful: our love for Christ compels us to fight for our King wherever the battle rages.
Consider three biblical examples. First – in Jude 3, we are told that although Jude longed to write the ‘beloved’ concerning their common salvation, he “found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.” Though Jude longed to write about other things, his attention was directed to the battle at hand. Christian: contend for the faith.
Second – near the beginning of his encouraging and instructive letter to Timothy, Paul reminds Timothy of the battle they are engaged in: “This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare” (1 Tim 1:18). Paul’s letter to Timothy exalts Christ, lauds the power of the gospel, and encourages Christian unity, humility, and faithfulness. Yet, this instruction includes an early charge to engage the battles that arise. Christian: wage the good warfare.
Third – near the conclusion of this warmly-written letter full of pastoral instruction, Paul instructs Timothy to “fight the good fight of the faith” (1 Tim 6:12). Paul’s final words in this letter urge Timothy to go to battle, defending believers against the dangers of false doctrine. Christian: fight the good fight.
We do not pick the battles we are given, yet we are called to engage the battles as they arise. Consider that in all the above examples, the threats they faced came from within the church as well as from outside it. Fighting false doctrines within the church is surely a difficult battle to face. Yet we remember that we profess Christ and we do not run from the battles that assail His people. We are called to love, yet we are also called to contend for the faith, to wage the good warfare, and to fight the good fight. Let us do so with courage in whatever battle we may face.
SDG,
Josh Howard
Article originally published in the Journal of the Baptist Missionary Association of Mississippi 75, 10 (May 2021): 5–6
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