Day 10 -- The Church as An Army

The military motif is one that is difficult for me to understand but it is undeniably present, both in the life and teachings of Jesus and in the writings of the apostles. In fact, in one of his earliest sermons Jesus says that he did not come to bring peace to the earth, but rather to bring the sword (Matthew 10:34). This is most likely due to the fact that the military was an ever-present reality to Jesus’ audience.

Since the Roman General Pompey marched into Jerusalem in 60 BC, the Roman military presence had been a depressing reality for all Jews living in Palestine. The days of the Maccabees and freedom from oppression were a quickly fading memory, and the looming madness that would destroy Jerusalem (in 70 AD) was on the horizon. It was difficult to find any corner of first century Mediterranean life that was not impacted by the military might of the Roman Empire. In fact, the idea of God’s world being a Kingdom, the image of God sitting on a throne, and the concept of the church as an army were all pictures derived from a culture steeped in military life.

On one occasion Jesus drove out a demon from a man and the religious leaders accused him of working with Satan. Jesus was perplexed. How could he be working with Satan and at the same time be active in the work of driving Satan out of people? He responded that any Kingdom divided against itself would come to ruin. It was a very well-known military concept – any army divided against itself would come to ruin. He then gives the analogy of a man who has armed himself against attack. But when someone stronger comes along he overpowers the man and takes away the armor and divides the spoils. Here he uses the imagery of battle to show that whoever is not with him, is against him. It’s a page right out of military law (Luke 11:14-26).

A Roman Centurion came to Jesus asking him to heal his servant who was sick. This man of authority seemed to understand the power that Jesus had. He understood how it worked in the Kingdom of God. He told Jesus that he was not worthy to have him come to his house, but that if he would give the command he knew that his servant would be healed on the spot. This Centurion understood what it was to have authority, and knew that Jesus had it. (Luke 7:1-10)

Paul describes the battle that the church faces when he calls on each Christian to put on the “full armor of God” (Ephesians 6:11). He goes on to describe this armor as the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of readiness that comes from the gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. Each of the most important elements of the Christian life (and life as the church) are listed in terms of military paraphernalia (Ephesians 6:13-17).

In addition, Paul reminds us that the church’s battle is not against other human beings (flesh and blood), but against the rulers, authorities, and powers of this dark world and against the “spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). At the end of his life Paul comments that he has “fought the good fight,” and that he is now ready for his reward (1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 4:7).

The return of Christ is described in military terms as an approaching victorious army. It was a trumpet call that announced the victorious army’s approach followed by the glad shout of the soldiers who had fought the battle (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

Nowhere is the military motif for the church more prominent than in the book of Revelation. There John describes both Christ and the Church in stark military terms. We’ll take a look at that … next time … stay tuned …

Ask God to give you a peace knowing that He is sovereign and will always take care of you. Ask Him to be with you in the difficult battles of your life. Ask Him to give you the Spirit of King David who always asked God to fight his battles for him.

Blessings,
Pastor Ellis