We Will Not Fear
On this Memorial Day, I am writing this blog in memory of, and in honor of, our fellow soldiers who gave their lives in service to country, and to God.
Throughout America’s history, our military men and women have bravely defended our God-given freedoms against the evils of religious persecution, slavery, foreign enemies, and radical Islamic terrorism.
The first defenders of American freedom were the courageous Continental Army and its leader, General George Washington. These courageous men were the first Americans to defend this great nation from the enemies of the ideals that marked our country as the most unique experiment. To unleash religious freedoms that were designed to promote the general welfare of the people was truly something unheard of in the history of human government.
Less than 100 years later, in 1861, the America’s Civil War confronted the sin of slavery. Heroic soldiers took up arms again to defend America’s most fundamental ideal – that all men are created equal. Tragically, the Civil War was the deadliest conflict in American history, but with the leadership of President Abraham Lincoln, and the unbelievable sacrifice of Union soldiers, they led our country to a brighter tomorrow.
While America has had to fight physical, visible enemies over the years, America has also had to fight spiritual, invisible enemies! Let us not forget the words of the apostle Paul, “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” (Ephesians 6:12).
For every Islamic terrorist, for every liberal politician, for every revisionist teacher, for every anti-American activist, and for every abortion provider that wars against the biblical values that founded our country, we can be sure that there are dangerous demonic powers behind them all!
Notice that Paul did not say, “Stay aloof from the conflict”, or “Don’t offend the adversaries, or you’ll never win them to Jesus.” No! He admonished us to fight, demolish, take captive, be light, speak truth, because spiritual warfare is a real battle, a real conflict, with real casualties.
Many modern churches choose to disengage from the conflict lest they offend someone or appear too political or anti-intellectual, but Scripture doesn’t give us the option of pacifism. Ephesians 6:11 and 13 reads, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes...so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”
Our forefathers in the faith understood the spiritual battle as they sang, “Onward Christian Soldiers, marching as to war!” and “Stand up, stand up for Jesus, you soldiers of the cross!”
Martin Luther understood he was engaged in a crucial spiritual battle during the early days of the Reformation. He wrote the powerful hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is our God.” While every word of that ancient hymn is meaningful, notice the powerful truth in the third stanza:
“And though this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed,
His truth to triumph through us.
The Prince of Darkness grim,
We tremble not for him,
His rage we can endure,
For lo! His doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.”
On this Memorial Day, we honor of our fallen American soldiers who valiantly fought with bombs, bullets, and blood over the centuries, but let’s remember to honor our Christian soldiers who gallantly fought with the Bible and THE blood over the centuries.
God bless America!
Pastor Dave
Throughout America’s history, our military men and women have bravely defended our God-given freedoms against the evils of religious persecution, slavery, foreign enemies, and radical Islamic terrorism.
The first defenders of American freedom were the courageous Continental Army and its leader, General George Washington. These courageous men were the first Americans to defend this great nation from the enemies of the ideals that marked our country as the most unique experiment. To unleash religious freedoms that were designed to promote the general welfare of the people was truly something unheard of in the history of human government.
Less than 100 years later, in 1861, the America’s Civil War confronted the sin of slavery. Heroic soldiers took up arms again to defend America’s most fundamental ideal – that all men are created equal. Tragically, the Civil War was the deadliest conflict in American history, but with the leadership of President Abraham Lincoln, and the unbelievable sacrifice of Union soldiers, they led our country to a brighter tomorrow.
While America has had to fight physical, visible enemies over the years, America has also had to fight spiritual, invisible enemies! Let us not forget the words of the apostle Paul, “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” (Ephesians 6:12).
For every Islamic terrorist, for every liberal politician, for every revisionist teacher, for every anti-American activist, and for every abortion provider that wars against the biblical values that founded our country, we can be sure that there are dangerous demonic powers behind them all!
Notice that Paul did not say, “Stay aloof from the conflict”, or “Don’t offend the adversaries, or you’ll never win them to Jesus.” No! He admonished us to fight, demolish, take captive, be light, speak truth, because spiritual warfare is a real battle, a real conflict, with real casualties.
Many modern churches choose to disengage from the conflict lest they offend someone or appear too political or anti-intellectual, but Scripture doesn’t give us the option of pacifism. Ephesians 6:11 and 13 reads, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes...so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”
Our forefathers in the faith understood the spiritual battle as they sang, “Onward Christian Soldiers, marching as to war!” and “Stand up, stand up for Jesus, you soldiers of the cross!”
Martin Luther understood he was engaged in a crucial spiritual battle during the early days of the Reformation. He wrote the powerful hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is our God.” While every word of that ancient hymn is meaningful, notice the powerful truth in the third stanza:
“And though this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed,
His truth to triumph through us.
The Prince of Darkness grim,
We tremble not for him,
His rage we can endure,
For lo! His doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.”
On this Memorial Day, we honor of our fallen American soldiers who valiantly fought with bombs, bullets, and blood over the centuries, but let’s remember to honor our Christian soldiers who gallantly fought with the Bible and THE blood over the centuries.
God bless America!
Pastor Dave
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