Message to the “Christian Militia”: The Battle Belongs to the Lord

Christian militia.

I mean, I know they’re out there. Holed up in the hills running weapons drills, analyzing end times prophecies and tracking the movements of powerful Democrats but I’ve never considered them a denominational option or desirable companions for a spiritual retreat.

I don’t like to judge but there are some things you just know. Like, that I would have some serious theological differences with the Hutaree and that, most likely, we interpret certain passages of scripture in wildly different ways.

We homeschool and I believe in freedom, limited government, parental rights and extended camping trips, but, I’ve never even held a gun and don’t believe that terrorism is even remotely Biblical. I don’t believe in pacifism when it comes to defending other people who are being victimized but I do believe in a Ghandi-esque, Christ-inspired turning of the other cheek in all but the most desperate of circumstances.

The Bible has a lot to say about warfare but it’s not talking about jihad.

In fact, the Biblical writers describe a really different type of warrior and way of doing battle like in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

I’m thinking rifles, AK-47’s and grenades qualify as the weapons of this world.

And Ephesians 6: 12-18 says it this way: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”

And on this week, when we remember the journey of Jesus from His entry into Jerusalem to the cross to resurrection, I think about His arrest in Matthew 26:50-54. “Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”

The members of the “Christian” militia are not representative of most Jesus followers. While many of us wouldn’t qualify as pacifists, neither are we building bunkers or stockpiling weapons and ammo. We do believe we’re at war but it’s a war for hearts and souls.

I would certainly defend my write to worship and to follow Jesus. Who knows what may happen in the days to come? We cannot know what oppression lies ahead nor can we know exactly how we will respond if it threatens our loved ones or our freedoms but Jesus lived under one of the world’s most oppressive regimes and He trusted the Father (not the sword) with His life. This is the example I follow and His is the Spirit that lives within me.

People write headlines to be provocative, to garner attention, to sell papers. “Christian militia” is today’s headline. There will be a different one tomorrow.

If you want today’s sensation, read the headlines. If you want to read truth that will stand the test of time, well, you know the book I would recommend.

And to those in the “Christian militia”  (and to the not-so Christian mass media) may I just say this “The Battle Belongs to the Lord”.