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“What does it mean to be a warrior… in a world that no longer needs warriors?” is a reflection by one of the Producers of The Last Samurai, and excellent looking movie that has gotten rave reviews from my friends. I am finally going to see it tomorrow night.
For some reason that quote really resounded with me. In a previous blog, I stated that I’ve always wanted to be a hero. I think that is because I feel like I should have been a warrior. In some cultures, there is an entire class of person known as “warrior”, most cultures throughout the ages have had a warrior class. At least one of my direct ancestors was a (fairly renowned) warrior. Maybe I would have been one, had the world been a different place when I was born.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. ~Ephesians 6:10-20
Hi Matt,
This is Dan Benson from Port Washington, Wisconsin. After hosting some of your wonderful Rockers at Friedens Church recently, I’ve checked out some of the web activity going on and I came across your note on warriors.
This may be a bit long, but I felt you might be encouraged by what the Lord’s been teaching me. It’s been very encouraging and focusing to me:
I’ve been thinking on this very subject for some time as it applies to men and especially recently as I’ve read through Revelation. As I’ve tried to decipher all the imagery and sort through all the mid-trib, post-trib, dispensationalist hoo-doo, one image that came through loud and clear is that we are in a war and God is going to win and he’s going to win by getting very medieval with Satan and those who side with him. It also makes clear that one of his prime motivations for this wreaking he plans on doing is the suffering of his children caused by the world. And he plans on honoring those who persevere — that is, the warriors.
So what does a warrior do? A warrior fights. And he does so as a person who is prepared to die in the doing of it. One of my favorite scenes in “Lord of the Rings: Return of the King” is when the Riders of Rohan arrive at the seige of Minas Tirith. They are outnumbered and have absolutely no confidence that they will win. But they come anyway to honor friendships and allegiances pledged many years before. They are good men, honorable men, who want to do the right thing no matter the cost. And as they charge headlong into the monstrous host, their fearsome war cry is “Death! Death! Death!,” not expecting to survive.
For us Christian men, this is an important issue. God made us to be warriors. We strive to satisfy our natural inclination to live heroically through our careers and our hobbies. Who got the biggest account, who sold the most, who has the best lawn, who has the best car or who makes the most money. Isn’t that pathetic? Like Jim McCotter used to say, the only thing worth living for is the thing worth dying for. Sorry, but I don’t want to die for my lawn.
So where are the battlefields for guys, Where can Christian men live large? I came up with at least three arenas in which the Bible says we should lay down our lives, like a warrior. In each case, Christ is our example:
Daily application: Deutronomy 11:18-20 and Ephesians 5:26. A key ingredient, I believe, to successfully fulfilling these verses is to answer the question that the Hebrew sons are commanded to ask their fathers in Exodus 12:26 — “What does this mean to you?” We have to open up and tell our children and wives what God has done for us and what we want him to do for us. We must be willing to admit we once weren’t what we are and that we are not what we hope to be. Doing this requires us to be courageously vulnerable, but in the process we point them toward God.
A slight tangent: Proverbs 18:22 and Psalm 127:3. Our wives and our children are signs of God’s love for us. I daresay most of us men don’t cherish them as we should. When I look at my wife and my children, I should say to myself, “I am looking at God’s love for me.” When the Lord lowers the boom, I think abusers are in for the special treatment.
Application: I Thessalonians 5:17; Hebrews 3:13; Acts 2:45. Pray, encourage and meet the physical needs of the brethren, even when you are hurt, discouraged and weak. The battle doesn’t stop for a weak warrior. “Consider him who endured such extreme hostility from sinful men that you might not grow weary and lose heart.” — Hebrews 12:3
Application: I Corinthians 9:22; Joshua 1:9. Adapt. Be strong. Be courageous. Persevere. Charge. Every day, people are headed for the eternal slaughterhouse. We are God’s instruments for salvation. There is no Plan B.
Check out Wishbone Ash’s “Warrior” off their album, Argus. It’s a ’70s thing. :)
God bless.
On a lighter note, you and Pat Blair should talk …
wow. that was a long comment Dan.
Thanks for taking the time to write it :) Very encouraging indeed.
Matt, by any chance, do the oriental characters in your banner say “servant” in Japanese?
Nope. However, the japanese word for servant is where the word Samurai comes from. But you probably knew that.
Yep :) That is one inspiring movie, for sure. So what does your banner say, if I may ask?
The characters in the banner stand for
“no”, “need”, and “warrior”
I don’t even have a concept of grammar or proper usage… but you get the picture :)