The Fight

Being a mom who knows the joy of raising kids but also knows the loss of prematurity, ectopic, and miscarriages, I know that children are worth fighting for. We are currently 22 weeks pregnant and I have weekly ultrasounds, weekly shots, and plenty of restrictions. I am fighting for the best for our son. To keep him in the womb as long as possible and to give him the very best that I have to offer. This fight reminds me of the love that fueled Jesus’ battle for us. He loved mankind so much that He was willing to fight for us. And yet here lately, I have noticed that Christ’s followers (at least in my country) are not willing to “fight the good fight”. It is a fight. And here in America we were under Christendom (where there is a formal or informal alliance of church and state) for the most of our country-hood. Christians in America have always been able to say that our values were reflected in our laws and society. And we have a sense of privilege when it comes to the laws that are passed. However, that is quickly changing and the American church doesn’t know how to live in the margins of society.  We have to quickly change our behavior from expecting people to know God to fighting for them with witnessing and serving. Something many are not prepared or willing to do.

On top of that change in society, we (the church) are being faced with a world problem. People are trying to escape terror. They are trying to escape from mass beheadings, running so that their children can have hope, and simply running not to thrive but simply to survive at this point. And yet, because of fear, I have seen the out-cry from fellow Christians that do not want them here… they fear the evil more than trusting God. Yes, it is that easy to narrow it down too.

How can we, children of the Resurrection, fear evil when we are supposed to be declaring a message that not even death can stop our God?

I cannot imagine standing before Christ, with the nail imprints in his hands, and telling him that my personal safety was much more important that serving, loving, and caring for people that He also took the cross for. Especially after knowing this key phrase from the Savior, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up a cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).  That doesn’t say take up the arm of protection and follow Him… it says “take up a cross”. That doesn’t sound like a safety first kind of message does it?
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“Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsider, making the most of the opportunity” (Colossians 4:5). We can either fight the needy needing our help or we can start preparing to make the most of this opportunity for His Kingdom. We can serve and witness. We can love and truly fight the good fight. We can start “conducting ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Philippians 1:27). Most are willing to help the needy… they just are not willing to risk the enemy coming over with them. Which, I fully understand. That is a real risk. But again, we are children of the resurrection and we should not fear evil for death cannot stop our God. We are supposed to live dangerously.

Terrorists can be converted too. So many times we often forget that before the apostle Paul was Paul, he was Saul. He probably had a large part in the stoning of Stephen. “Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death” (Acts 8:1). You see Saul was killing based on political and religious rule of his time. Much like we see these Muslim extremists doing. Saul was a Jewish extremist. But yet, Saul the terrorist or persecutor (whichever descriptive word you like best), was still not too far for the power of the cross and resurrection. However, before his conversion many probably did suffer. But God still fights for these people, the Worthy One still fights for them… who are we (not worthy people) to not fight with our God for them? 

This same fight for the unborn should be the same fight we put up for the spiritually lost. Jesus came fighting for us... we should fight with Him. His Gospel is worth fighting for. 

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