This last Thursday our country celebrated its 248th year of Independence. The 4th of July is a day when our patriotic pride is on display. A typical 4th of July celebration gathers flag waving family and friends for picnics, parades, and pyrotechnics. We have a lot to be thankful for in this country. Oh, don’t get me wrong, we have our problems, but on the 4th of July we are reminded how blessed we are to live in the land of the free and the home of the brave. Those blessings, humanly speaking, are due in large part to our military; the brave men and women who fought to secure our independence and continue the fight to safeguard our freedoms. That’s why no 4th of July celebration is complete without a recognition of the American soldier.
A good soldier is disciplined, physically and mentally tough, and thoroughly trained in the art of combat. There is an ongoing debate as to which branch of the military produces the best soldiers. The Army is the oldest branch of the military and has been producing soldiers longer than anyone else. The Navy boasts the largest and farthest reaching fleet in the world and produces well-traveled soldiers. The Airforce has the reputation of being the most technically advanced branch of the military and produces highly educated soldiers. The Marine Corps is known as the front line of defense and has produced some of the toughest soldiers in the world.
All these branches of the military produce good soldiers. However, there is an organization that has been producing soldiers for thousands of years before the United States Army was formed. This organization sends soldiers into the most remote locations on the planet, surpassing the reach of even the United States Navy. This organization starts instructing its soldiers from the moment they are born, offering a more comprehensive course of study than even the United States Airforce. This organization has been the front line of defense against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of the dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil[1] for over 5,000 years. The little old ladies in this organization are arguably tougher than any United States Marine. The organization to which I am referring is of course The Church, and you are her soldiers.
We refer to ourselves as the Church Militant. We do so to remind ourselves that we are not spiritual civilians living at peace with our adversary. We are soldiers at war. Though the battle may not be as easily observed today as it was during the days of the Babylonian captivity or the persecutions of Christians that took place in the Roman Coliseum, make no mistake, we are at war. We are at war with an enemy who has won numerous victories over the years, is currently holding millions of souls in captivity, and is hell bent on our defeat, more than that is hell bent on our complete and total destruction. Make no mistake, this war which we are fighting is not simply about independence and freedom, we are fighting for our very survival. If we have any chance of winning this war, we are going to have to be good soldiers.
In our second lesson from 2 Timothy 2:3-4 saint Paul tells us how to be a good soldier. It is a good reminder for all of us at any time, but even more so today as we are installing our new preschool director.
As Mrs. Schroeder joins our ranks and leads the charge into the yet uncharted territory of preschool education, I think it is important that she, and everyone else for that matter, remembers who’s in charge around here; remember who’s the one calling all the shots, remember who’s the one really running the show. History is full of failed campaigns because people failed to understand the chain of command. The last things any of us wants is for our preschool to become a failed campaign. Therefore, it is essential that all of us, but especially our new preschool director know who’s the commanding officer of our little outfit.
In verse 4 saint Paul writes, “No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer.” So, first let me tell you who it’s not. It’s not the parents of the children who will be enrolled in our preschool. Don’t get me wrong, they are the ones to whom God has entrusted the responsibility of training up their children in the way they should go, and it is neither the plan of this congregation nor the purpose of our preschool director to undermine the authority of those parents. We, the members of Messiah and our Preschool Director seek to supplement and support the parents of our future preschool students as they bring their children up in the training and instruction of the Lord. However, the parents aren’t the ones to whom we render our salute. That will be especially important for the members of Messiah and our new Preschool Director to remember when some of those parents have thoughts, ideas, and suggestions that are incompatible with the clear teachings of scripture and the purpose of our preschool.
Since it is not the parents to whom we render our salute, you might think the president of Messiah is the man in charge. But he’s not. Again, don’t get me wrong, we have asked our president and others to manage the affairs of Messiah on our behalf. We have entrusted them with our resources and empowered them to make decisions concerning the how, when, and where of our mission. And let me just say these men are some of the finest leaders I know. They are competent and capable and as such they are worthy of our gratitude and respect. However, the president as well as the others who have been entrusted with ministry responsibility here at Messiah are not the ones to whom we render our salute. That is especially important for the members of Messiah and our Preschool Director to remember when those people fail to listen to your concerns, support you in your difficulties, and understand your needs.
As we embark on this new campaign into the territory of preschool education it is neither the parents of the children nor the president of our congregation to whom we render our salute. That leaves us with only one clear and obvious choice as to who’s in charge around here; who’s the one calling all the shots, who’s the one really running the show. I suspect you all already know Who’s the commanding officer around here, but for clarity I’ll say it. It’s Jesus. In verse 3 Paul reminds us that we are all soldiers “of Christ Jesus”. Jesus is our commanding officer. It makes sense that Jesus should be the one in charge around here, after all He is the one who has defeated our great enemy (both in the garden and on the cross), He is the one who commands the heavenly hosts to guard us in all our ways, and He is the one who will lead us and all believers to final victory on the last day. We seek to supplement and support the parents of our future preschool children, we offer gratitude and respect to the people entrusted with ministry responsibilities here at Messiah, but it is Jesus to whom we render our salute. That is especially important for the members of Messiah and our Preschool Director to remember when we are the ones confused about our purpose and we are the ones who are failing others. It is important for us to remember we serve the one who first served us, who fought the good fight in our place and then sacrificed Himself so that we could be forgiven for our confusions and failures.
A good soldier knows who their commanding officer is. By God’s grace both the members of Messiah and our new Preschool Director render their salutes to Jesus. But before we are dismissed, Paul tells us there is more to being a good soldier than knowing to Whom you are to render your salute. In verse 3 Paul writes, “Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” Paul reminds us that our service as Christian soldiers is a “with us” kind of service. We are all Christian soldiers. This fight belongs to all of us. Let us not, even for a moment, allow ourselves to think we have called Mrs. Schroeder to fight this fight for us. She is here to expand and enhance the work that we are already doing. She is here to fight “with us”. Also don’t allow yourself to think that you are not qualified to be part of gospel ministry because you are not versed in child phycology or divine theology or any other ology for that matter. It is true our organization has highly trained special forces who are experts in spiritual warfare… that is what Mrs. Schroeder is. But like any other army, the vast majority of people who serve in the Church militant are persons of ordinary skill and ability. Which means every single person in this room today is capable and qualified to serve with her.
What might that service look like? Well, I’ll give you three examples. First you can pray. Pray for our new director. Pray that her family adjusts to their new life, pray that she is given the insight and energy to do the work placed before her, pray that she experiences more joys than frustrations. Pray for the school and the students that will be enrolled in it. Pray that the Holy Spirit uses this ministry to bring both the little children and their parents to Jesus, pray that more and more soldiers enlist in service with us so that we expand our ministry to seek even more of the lost.
The first thing you can do is pray, then after that, pay. There is a reason God has entrusted you with the resources you have. You are not a people who store up your treasures in a barn or hide them in the ground. You are a people who give generously and joyously to the work of the Lord. Right now we have enough money in the bank to remodel our building and even before a single student is enrolled in the preschool we have enough money to support our new Director. You did that. From hearts that overflow with gratitude to the God of grace who gave His Son you have generously given your offerings. Keep doing that. Keep giving as you have been giving and I won’t be surprised if after the school is built and the Director is provided for that we have enough left over to pursue even more outreach opportunities.
The first thing you can do is pray. The second thing you can do is pay. The third thing you can do is participate. This one is going to challenge you. You are very busy people. But I challenge you to find a way to participate in the preschool. Read books to the children, supervise the playground, teach a music lesson, organize an art project, bring the Preschool Director a cup of coffee. Find a way to participate in the preschool! I personally think when Jesus said “let the little children come to me”[2] it wasn’t just because Jesus loves children, which is abundantly clear that He does, but I also think Jesus knows how much joy those little children have to offer to you and to me. Find a way to participate in the preschool, I suspect you will be glad that you did.
Our service as Christian soldiers is a “with us” kind of service. We have our expert. In a few moments now she will be enlisted into service here at Messiah. Now let’s stand with her praying, paying, and participating in the work that is before us all.
A good soldier knows who their commanding officer is, and a good soldier never leaves a fellow soldier to fight alone. Kara, I think you are going to quickly discover that you have joined a unit of dedicated and determined people. You are going to like it here. Messiah, I think you are going to quickly discover that we have just gained a well-trained, thoroughly equipped, and highly qualified soldier. You are going to thank God for her. I am excited for the fight ahead and I’m confident as long as we keep rendering our salutes to Jesus and are willing to engage in a “with us” kind of service, I am confident we will be victorious. May God strengthen each of us to be good soldiers. Amen
[1] Ephesians 6:12
[2] Matthew 19:14