How to Tackle a Problem (part 2)

Part 2, Part 1 is here

The Christian life is described as a war, a brutal assault to determine whether or not you believe strongly enough in the work of Christ in your life that you will embrace a lifestyle that demonstrates your belief with corresponding action.

During this life, you know two things: 1) You will have tribulation. 2) Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

You believe these two things. But belief in action means you run to your position in life, square up, and launch into the cause to which you are called. (See Part 1) 

This seizes the momentum. It takes the starch out of Satan’s temptation.

Returning to my temptation with self-condemnation: I grasp Romans 8:1 as truth and begin declaring it—somewhat like a mantra. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Over and over. It is a churning, determined, perseverance to run through my opponent.

We were inspired in the Lord of the Rings trilogy when Gandalf confronts the Balrog: “You. Shall not. Pass!” We were inspired because we see ourselves doing the same.  

Satan, the Balrog of my life, uses circumstance to assault me with the temptation of self-condemnation. I see him coming and run to get in position. When we meet, I proclaim, “No! Not today!” Then I start churning, putting my faith into action, driving through my opponent at the point of his attack: “No! There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. There is therefore now no condemnation….”

For me, if the noise of the conflict, its intensity, is particularly distracting, I often start singing. In this instance, I rarely choose a praise chorus. I opt instead for a regal, marching, declarative hymn of the faith. As I write to you, Martin Luther’s lyrics are resounding in the cathedral of my head:

A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper He amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
doth seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great,
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the Right Man on our side,
the Man of God's own choosing.
Dost ask who That may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His name,
from age to age the same,
and He must win the battle.

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.

That Word above all earthly powers,
no thanks to them, abideth;
the Spirit and the gifts are ours,
thru Him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
this mortal life also;
the body they may kill;
God's truth abideth still;
His kingdom is forever.

Just as there’s nothing peaceful about tackling an opponent on the football field, there is nothing peaceful about seizing the momentum in spiritual warfare. In fact, I would use the word “violent” to describe what I’m trying to convey.

We often hear cited Jesus’ teaching about turning the other cheek, and His demeanor when standing trial before Pilate, as exemplary of how we should conduct ourselves in this life. This perspective is not without some merit, but it is shortsighted in that it does not consider the trap Jesus was laying for the dragon of old, for in death Jesus descended to hell, rescuing the condemned and captive (you and me), and rose again fulfilling the divine covenant that sealed us in Him with God for all eternity.

Recall for a moment the climax of “Rocky IV,” the movie where Rocky Balboa fights the giant Russian who has doped his way throughout training to create an unfair advantage in the boxing arena. The punishment leveled at Rocky is brutal, but we love the movie because Rocky’s resistance, his ability to withstand the best the doped fighter could deliver, demoralized the Russian fighter and showcased what a fighting spirit within a noble cause is capable of achieving.

Think for a moment about the problems facing our society. Let me be blunt: It is not good enough for you to pray for your country or hope expectantly for the mid-term elections. Yes, you pray, but then you act in the power of the Spirit to influence your slice of society. At a bare minimum, you vote.

For me, politics and political platforms only interest me for how directly they affect human beings. Yes, the Fed’s monetary policies affect us, as does financial aid to Portugal, but not like abortion does, not like Federal funding of critical race theory does (read Rufo on this), not like efforts to pack the Supreme Court will.

For you, there is a line as a citizen, as a participant within society and culture, a point that demarcates when you take action. I can’t define and isolate where that line is for you, but I can tell you there is a line, a line that when crossed requires that you enter the fray.

You and I agree that God does not need either of us to do anything on behalf of His Kingdom or His Kingdom initiatives. The day God needs something is the day God is no longer omnipotent.

But God deeply desires that you and I take action for our own good. God doesn’t require our praise, or our allegiance, but He knows as our Maker that when we act our faith in Him takes on meaning, depth of understanding, and confidence. In short, our faith is empowered when wed to the resiliency of trust.

By itself, faith is brittle. With action, by entering the world as Christ’s disciples and family members, by encountering the inevitable tribulations, our faith is tested, and tried. Within these demands trust forms and faith becomes resilient.

Jesus prayed for and exhorted His disciples in the upper room prior to His suffering and crucifixion. That is, He positioned them mentally and ceremonially for what was coming. Once resurrected, He instructed them to “Go!” into the world, that is, to get themselves into position. At Pentecost He endowed them with power. Scripture says, “…there came from heaven a noise like a violent, rushing wind.” Tongues of fire rested on every person. The Holy Spirit filled them.

God acted. Note that His action is described as violent, rushing, flaming.

Theologically, it is unequivocally established that we are victorious because we are in Christ. God, the mighty warrior described by Zephaniah, is our Father. What remains, what God our Father desires for us; what we need to know as His offspring when we face trial, tribulation, and temptation; and what culture needs from us who are redeemed, is active demonstration of our faith.

I can’t tell you where and when to act. But I can assure you that any theology, any Christian teaching, any disposition you adopt that fails to guide your engagement with the forces of darkness is at best shortsighted, at worst heretical. Faith without works is worthless.

Am I mixing legalism—i.e., you must in order to—with grace?

Absolutely not!

If the mercies and grace of God have achieved all that Scripture declares, the clear mandate is that as the redeemed of the Lord you are secure in Him, empowered in Him, confident because of Him, and directed by Him to act.

Satan could not care less if you pray, if you read your Bible, if you attend BSF or CBS, if you teach a class at church, memorize Scripture, or sing worship choruses on Sunday. What terrifies him is that you will pray and act, read and act, study and act, teach and disciple, memorize and cite chapter and verse when facing his assault, and mobilize the resolve of your soul that when he stands you up against the gates of hell, not only will you not back down, you will take up the sword of the Spirit.

Pray: “Father God, show me the battle lines in my life—the battle lines of temptation, the lines that my friends, family, and colleagues need me to recognize and engage in love and power.”

Get in position: “Father God, the law of sin crouches like a lion at the door of my life. Based on what I understand to be the lines in my life, in the confidence and power of the Spirit, I crouch as well, like a wrestler preparing for the takedown.”

Act:

When facing temptation, select Scripture—just as I illustrated for you—that is the antidote, the truth, the declaration of God in His Word about your personhood, and aggressively embrace this Scripture. Over the years, I’ve pasted a key verse on my mirror with a sticky note. I’ve set alarms on my watch to remind me to restate what is true. I’ve built special play lists to help and inspire me to set my mind. Whatever it takes!

When you encounter a societal line that is crossed, engage as is indicative of you and your skill set. I’m a writer, so I write. If I was talented as a sales guy, I would talk and sell. I’m also a teacher, so I taught middle school history for a few years. If you are endowed with a servant heart, place yourself in a place where you can serve in the power of Christ. If the line that is crossed has a political component to it, write your elected officials, call them, attend a rally, volunteer. Do something!

When a friend or family member heads into left field, capitalize on your relationship with them and your security in Christ to stick with them, love them, and through your faithfulness to them and Christ, confront as appropriate to shed light and be light in the dark place to which they are embarking. A man told me recently that he told his wayward son, “I’m praying for you. I’m also skipping a meal every day to pray for you.” Prayer with meaningful action.

I met with a group of friends recently who brainstormed how to influence—take action—and prompt change at their alma mater. In this instance, money talks. Their action is focused in two places: 1) Money, their own and from major donors whom they know. 2) What appropriate steps look like and are expected in order to correct course and how they might facilitate those actions as alumni.

On April 23, 1910 Teddy Roosevelt gave a speech at the Sorbonne that garnered him a Nobel Prize. He titled his speech, “Citizenship in a Republic.” How relevant is that? Over time, the speech has become known as the “Man in the Arena” speech. I encourage you as a citizen of this Republic, an international observer of this Republic, and/or as a Christian to click the link in this paragraph, read, and consider the counsel of TR.

For over a century TR’s words have inspired us, challenged us, and thrilled us. But why? Certainly it was a powerful speech, a good speech. But there are lots of great speeches to be revisited. This one has endured. Why?

TR painted with words a picture of our heart’s desire, the kind of people we aspire to be. Every human being admires courage, determination, and resolve. Within all of us, our Creator placed a passion for life and living. Every person is attacked by our Creator’s enemy with the express intent of deadening that passion and shrouding our heart’s desires with lethargy, indifference, fear, and deception. TR’s words clear away the shroud and fog of confusion and enact violence against lethargy, indifference, fear, and deception.

We are inspired by TR’s words because we want to be like the man in the arena. We want to believe we have what it takes to not only enter the arena but to be in the arena.

Christianity is an active faith, not in order to get to God as religion teaches, but because we are already seated in heavenly places in Christ and because we are filled with the Spirit, sealed with the Spirit, and secured by a blood covenant. Because of our security, and place in Christ, and within the heart of God, we are emboldened to do as Christ did: lay down His life so that others may live.

It is a partial portrait of Christ’s life in us to praise Him for our new identity. A full portrait of Christ sees us enter the arena and tackle what’s before us. I refer you to my book, Swagger, for inspiration.

Now is our moment. Now is your moment. Not only is the battle between flesh and spirit roaring about you, but for the first time since Roe v Wade, a majority of Americans do not believe abortion is a moral issue. A majority of Americans no longer attend church. A majority of Americans behave as if government can deliver them as opposed to embracing “In God We Trust” as their statement of national belief.

Jesus stated that we are the salt of the earth, the spice of life, the seasoning of society, and more specifically, the agents through which the world is made thirsty for the living water of Christ. These are high, expectant, and inspiring words of affirmation and vision.

Salt in the pantry is of no effect. Salt that is sparing is ineffective. Salt must be worked into life to make it savory.

After only a semicolon separating His noble ideal from His next thought, Jesus notes that if salt loses its savor, it’s only use is to be tossed onto a path to keep the weeds from growing.

This call to action is not legalism. Legalism is to act believing that in doing so God will love you more, like you more, anything you more. No, to act is in your spiritual DNA. To take action is what confident, courageous, secure people do. You act because you are accepted without condition.

My call to action is not a guilt trip. Rather, these lines are a call to live as you were designed to live.

People of faith are people of considered, thoughtful, and loving action. People of faith are equipped by God to tackle life and life’s issues. Carpe diem, seize the day!