The Christian in Time of War

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The Christian in TimeofWar
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The Christian in Time of War
Spiritual Dangers

• Distraction from spiritual duties
• Individuals (1 Cor. 725-26 Acts 931)

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1 Corinthians 725-26

• Now concerning virgins I have no commandment
  from the Lord yet I give judgment as one whom
  the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy. 26 I
  suppose therefore that this is good because of
  the present distress that it is good for a man
  to remain as he is.

Paul worried about the distraction of marriage,
and the temptation of a man to neglect his wife
in time of tribulation
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Acts 931

• Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee,
  and Samaria had peace and were edified. And
  walking in the fear of the Lord and in the
  comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.

In contrast, Peace is conducive to growth (absent
Sauls efforts to persecute, they thrived).
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The Christian in Time of War
Spiritual Dangers

• Distraction from spiritual duties
• Individuals (1 Cor. 725-26 Acts 931)
• Congregations (Eph. 411-12)

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The North American Mission Board (NAMB) of the
Southern Baptist Convention, which coordinates
disaster responses, placed feeding units on
standby within an hour of the attack. The
denomination is also accepting donations to
support relief in New York City. According to
Baptist Press, other disaster relief units may be
mobilized by the end of the day. ...the
National Council of Churches and Church World
Service.... Spokesman Carol Fouke said staff
members held a noontime prayer service at the
organization's chapel today, and may also hold a
blood drive. Staff members are also trying to
coordinate housing for those unable to get
home. (Churches, Agencies Respond to Attacks,
by LaTonya Taylor, posted 9/12/01http//www.christ
ianitytoday.com/ct/2001/137/3- 3.0.html)
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During World War II a Chicago radio station
aired an interview with three well-known
denominational preachers, on What the Church Can
Do in these Grave Times. The three so-called
Reverends suggested bandage making, meeting
troop trains with coffee, gathering books for the
U.S.O., and the like. When the time was about
up, the man interviewing said something to this
effect. I am not a religious man, but I thought
the Church was and had something special to
offer. Civic Clubs, school children, and others
can to the things you have mentioned. But I am
disappointed in not hearing of some function
peculiar to the Church. (Robert F. Turner, The
Cogdell-Turner Debate, p. 88-89)
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Ephesians 411-12 And he gave some to be
apostles and some, prophets and some,
evangelists and some, pastors and teachers for
the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of
ministering, unto the building up of the body of
Christ
APOSTLES PROPHETS EVANGELISTS PASTORS TEACHERS
Perfecting (equipping) of the saints
Work of ministering diakonia
for pros with a view to
for unto eis
to unto eis
Service - Ministry - Diakonia Benevolence Acts
61 1129 12 25 Rom. 1531 2 Cor.
912,13 Evangelism 1 Tim. 112 2 Tim. 4 5
Acts 2024 2 Cor. 118
Building up of the body
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The Christian in Time of War
Spiritual Dangers

• Distraction from spiritual duties
• Individuals (1 Cor. 725-26 Acts 931)
• Congregations (Eph. 411-12)

• That we develop a mere form of Godliness
• 2 Timothy 31-5

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Hall had changed completely. He was advocating
strongly the Southern cause and, all in all,
acted more like a fiend than a Christian
gentleman. He rode a fine mule, had a splendid
rifle, and expressly requested of all friends
that if a Yankee appeared, please let him get
his share. During the conversation with Graham
and Baxter, Hall mentioned not one word about the
church, about the gospel, or what one might
ordinarily expect of a preacher, but spoke only
of his rifle and how many Yankees he hoped to
kill.Hall advocated catching every Yankee
soldier, cutting off their right hands and
sending them back home with the hand tied to the
saddle. Graham asked Hall how he could feel this
way toward his brethren in the North, and Hall
replied that he had no brethren in the North
they were all infidels. (Earl West, Search for
the Ancient Order, Vol. 1, pp. 326-327)
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2 Timothy 31-5

• But know this, that in the last days perilous
  times will come 2 For men will be lovers of
  themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud,
  blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful,
  unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers,
  without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,
  4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of
  pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a
  form of godliness but denying its power.
  And from such people turn away!

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The Christian in Time of War
Our Duty during War

• Prayer
• Acts 125 Matthew 544

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Acts 125

• Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant
  prayer was offered to God for him by the church.

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Matthew 544

• But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those
  who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and
  pray for those who spitefully use you and
  persecute you.

The practice of love (seeking the highest good)
is necessary for the Christian, even in time of
war!
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The Christian in Time of War
Our Duty during War

• Prayer
• Acts 125 Matthew 544

• Sobriety
• 2 Timothy 45

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2 Timothy 45

• But you be watchful in all things, endure
  afflictions, do the work of an evangelist,
  fulfill your ministry.

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The Christian in Time of War
Our Duty during War

• Prayer
• Acts 125 Matthew 544

• Sobriety
• 2 Timothy 45

• Suffer Hardship
• 2 Timothy 45

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2 Timothy 45

• But you be watchful in all things, endure
  afflictions, do the work of an evangelist,
  fulfill your ministry.

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The Christian in Time of War
Our Duty during War

• Prayer
• Acts 125 Matthew 544

• Sobriety
• 2 Timothy 45

• Suffer Hardship
• 2 Timothy 45

• Faithfully carrying out our duties as Christians