True Christianity! Let us mind that word “true.” There is a vast quantity of religion current in the world which is not true, genuine Christianity. It passes muster, it satisfies sleepy consciences; but it is not good money. It is not the authentic reality that called itself Christianity in the beginning. There are thousands of men and women who go to churches and chapels every Sunday and call themselves Christians. They make a “profession” of faith in Christ. Their names are in the baptismal register. They are reckoned Christians while they live. They are married with a Christian marriage service. They mean to be buried as Christians when they die. But you never see any “fight” about their religion! Of spiritual strife and exertion and conflict and self denial and watching and warring they know literally nothing at all. Such Christianity may satisfy man, and those who say anything against it may be thought very hard and uncharitable; but it certainly is not the Christianity of the Bible. It is not the religion which the Lord Jesus founded and His apostles preached. It is not the religion which produces real holiness. True Christianity is “a fight.”
The true Christian is called to be a soldier and must behave as such from the day of his conversion to the day of his death. He is not meant to live a life of religious ease, indolence and security. He must never imagine for a moment that he can sleep and doze along the way to heaven, like one traveling in an easy carriage. If he takes his standard of Christianity from the children of this world, he may be content with such notions, but he will find no countenance for them in the Word of God. If the Bible is the rule of his faith and practice, he will find his course laid down very plainly in this matter. He must “fight.”
With whom is the Christian soldier meant to fight? Not with other Christians. Wretched indeed is that man’s idea of religion who fancies that it consists in perpetual controversy! He who is never satisfied unless he is engaged in some strife between church and church, chapel and chapel, sect and sect, faction and faction, party and party, knows nothing yet as he ought to know. No doubt it may be absolutely needful sometimes to appeal to law courts in order to ascertain the right interpretation of a church’s articles and rubrics and formularies. But, as a general rule, the cause of sin is never so much helped as when Christians waste their strength in quarreling with one another and spend their time in petty squabbles.
No, indeed! The principal fight of the Christian is with the world, the flesh and the devil. These are his never-dying foes. These are the three chief enemies against whom he must wage war. Unless he gets the victory over these three, all other victories are useless and vain. If he had a nature like an angel, and were not a fallen creature, the warfare would not be so essential. But with a corrupt heart, a busy devil and an ensnaring world, he must either “fight” or be lost.
[Sermonindex.net J.C. Ryle, The Fight]
Are you in a battle with evil? So is every true Christian. Are you hated by this world and its people? So is every true Christian. Have you suffered loss at the hands of wicked men? So has every true Christian.
In fact, where there is no fight with the world, the flesh and the devil, there is no faith. No salvation. No new birth. We must examine ourselves? Has my profession of Christ every cost me anything? Does the world scorn and mock me – or am I quite popular with the “earth dwellers”?
These are points for self-inquiry. But they are also points of real encouragement for the true Christian. True faith is a fighting faith. The New Birth removes us from Satan’s camp and places us in the kingdom of Christ. And the battle rages. It will rage until Christ the King returns.
Are you in the fight?
Cordelia
In my workplace there is clear division between myself and the majority of the staff. They’re all in their little professional click; I’m included in a conversation, if ‘I’m lucky.’ When included it’s more of a constant challenge to my beliefs, way of living, or a picking me apart in a backhanded way. Even in these strong waters, I am not afraid to stand alone. I will not bow to their progressive points of view or their grandiose ideas of themselves. I enjoy being immersed in my work and can do without all of them, except my boss, he signs my checks. lol
In the field
Agree!! The work place is a true battlefield- we are required to work to support our livelihood, so it is a guarantee we will be in the battlefield many hours a day for most all of our life!!! Not getting sucked into, or even desiring to be the “in” group /click is a huge shield in the battlefield. Christ followers act different, they are dispersed in the mix but not to be part of. It’s always awesome at work when the speak straight beyond the nonsense of the “in” group behavior and stay on task – such gifts when you come across it. A reminder you’re not alone!
WRH
I was just talking with my mom last night. This world is not our home and I feel that more and more as time goes on. I do not feel at home here and the sad thing is that sometimes includes being around other “Christian’s”. To stand for the things of Christ is sometimes a lonely way, but I have hope because we know it won’t always be this way. Someday there will be an end to sin, our battle with our flesh, with the evil in the world and with Satan. Occupying until He comes is exhausting, sometimes confusing, and hard, but this is where my hope lies that He will one day come again and set all things right and we will be forever with the one we love and who loves us.