A Call to Arms

   Christianity is under assault, and this is a call to arms.  But be not deceived: this assault is not new.  Jesus told his disciples of his time that they would suffer persecution.  In fact, the theme of much of Paul's writings is that persecution should be both anticipated and welcomed.  "To me," he said, "to live is Christ, and to die is gain."  If death was gain to Paul, then life must have been difficult.  That is not a fair summary of his words, but it's one interpretation.
   This call to arms isn't like others you've heard.  Many times we hear calls from indignant Christians to do things of little value: boycott something offensive, write to your congressman, gather around the flagpole to pray.  These things take effort and make a show, but they do not move heaven.
   What can move a mountain?  Little faith; key word: little.  What can move the heart of God?  Belief, humility, the admittance of truth.  When the father saw that the disciples could not heal his son, Jesus assured him his son could be healed - if he believed.  And so the father said, "I believe; help my unbelief!"  This kind of statement moves heaven.  It is the spoken heart of one who believes.
   When the Cannanite woman came to Jesus looking for healing for her daughter, she could not be turned away.  She cried out so much that the disciples were annoyed.  And Jesus tested her faith.  "I cam only to the lost sheep of Israel," he said.  "It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."  But even at this slight she wouldn't relent.  "Yes lord," she said, "yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table."  Her daughter was healed instantly.  She spoke the deep, true belief in her heart and moved heaven for her daughter.
   This is the call to arms: believe.  God is looking for believers.  He doesn't need an army of pamphleteers, or a hundred programs for the categories of lost.  He does not require the best buildings in the right locations.  God does not need proper funding.  Our God is on His throne and all of His power sits at His right hand at the same time as it sits in each of us who beleive, and yet...we are weak.  The kingdom suffers violence.  Well, violent men take it by force.  Men, women, and children of violence; violent passion.
   This is the call to arms: find passion for the Lord.  Jesus came to earth to bear the wrath of God for all mankind, and yet it is difficult for us to give him this small thing: our lives.  When we beleivers decide that nothing is worth more than Jesus, then we'll get violent and we'll take the kingdom into our hands.  We'll lay claim to the authority that's in the name of Jesus Christ.  We'll heal hearts and bodies, we'll work miracles on the tableau of nature, we'll rock the foundations of evil across the world.  And we'll spread the word of God.  People will fall for the Lord when they see how passionate we are for His goodness.
   Christianity is under assault, just as it's been since Jesus began to preach the gospel.  And the call to arms still goes out.  Remember what Jesus said: "In this world you will have tribulation.  But take heart; I have overcome the world."