“When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” (1 Corinthians 13:11)
Several years ago, my wife and I started watched the World War II miniseries, Band of Brothers, based on the experiences of E Company (“Easy Company”) of the 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment assigned to the 101st Airborne Division of the United States Army. As I saw the faces of these young men, preparing to jump from an airplane on June 6th, 1944 (D-Day), I couldn’t help to notice the stark contrast between young men 73 years ago and young men today. One thing is certain: these boys were no longer boys; they had put away childish things. They had set in their hearts that they were willing to lay down their lives that others might live.
Now, fast-forward 73 years. Just think of ten young “men” in your mind, ages 16-21, and tell me how many of them still play video games. Am I the only one who is sick and tired of hearing these young “men” constantly talking about video games, fidget spinners and Pokemon, while doing there best to show as little masculinity as possible? I just don’t think they grasp what Paul meant by putting away childish things. They certainly don’t grasp what Jesus meant when he commanded us to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him.
Unfortunately, I believe that this epidemic of lifelong childhood will only be cured by the persecution coming to this land. 2,000 years ago, childishness was not a problem in the church of Jesus Christ. I know this because I know the persecution the early church faced. Mothers and fathers had to decide whether they would deny Christ so that their children would not be thrown to hungry lions. Even children had to make the decision as to whether they would deny Christ or be impaled on a stake and lit on fire in Nero’s gardens. Trust me, we know nothing of persecution today. Though we often whine about our trivial sufferings, we have it good compared to the early church.
The book of Hebrews was written to Christians that were dealing with much persecution. The writer was warning them to keep the faith in the midst of it all; not to give in to the temptation to choose the easy way. For encouragement, he gives great examples of men and women who, in the midst of great persecution, kept the faith. Hebrews 11:35-38 says, “and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.”
There are many men in the Old Testament that I think of when I read this passage of scripture. But, for some reason, the prophet Micaiah always comes to mind. In 1 Kings 22, you find a man who was not willing to live his life for himself. Rather, he showed that he was ready to lay his life down, for the sake of his King.
Let me quickly paraphrase the story about Micaiah, found in 1 Kings 22. This chapter talks about the godly king of Judah—Jehoshaphat—joining in an unholy alliance with the wicked king of Israel—Ahab. Jehoshaphat and Ahab sat on their thrones by the entrance to the gate of Samaria, with all the prophets prophesying before them. These were all false prophets, telling the kings only good things. The kings had inquired whether or not they should go to war with Aram. The prophets were telling them to go and that they would be victorious. Jehoshaphat realized that they were not prophets of the Lord, so he asked Ahab if he knew of any true prophets. Ahab reluctantly brought in Micaiah. He hated Micaiah because he always told Ahab the truth. When Micaiah prophesied the truth, that the Lord had decreed disaster for the king of Israel, one of the prophets, Zedekiah, came up and slapped Micaiah in the face. Now you might think that was persecution, but the real persecution came from the king who had summoned him to prophesy. The wicked king Ahab had him thrown in prison and ordered that he be given only bread and water until he returned from battle. Micaiah’s last recorded words were, “If thou return at all in peace, the LORD hath not spoken by me…Hearken, O people, every one of you.” (1 Kings 22:28) And that’s the last we hear from Micaiah. No one can know what happened with the rest of his life, but I have a feeling he never made it out of that prison. And we want to complain about our trials.
This story stuck out to me the first time I read it. Not only did it cause me to admire the saints of old, but it also caused me to realize how pitiful my Christian walk is. How many times have I held back from confronting someone, for fear of what might happen? I’m sure it’s been far too many.
I started this article with the admonition that kids today need to grow up. They need to stop befriending the world and they need to begin to embrace holy living. That much I do know. But, I also know that we (and by “we” I mean Christian men) also need to repent. You see, we haven’t done such a great job modeling to them what a man should be. (The reason I’m focusing on men is that when men get it right, the women will too.) How can we expect our boys to become men when we, ourselves, have chosen not to? How can we expect our boys to understand the fear of the Lord if we aren’t teaching them the word of God? How can we expect our boys to endure persecution if we flee from it? You might say, “Well, we’re not living in a time of persecution. How can we teach them to endure something we never see?” My answer to that is that we have chosen comfort rather than suffering. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t long to suffer. But, I do long to stand for truth. And, trust me, when you stand for truth, you are choosing to suffer. Just ask Micaiah.
A.W. Tozer said it best when he said, “We love the old saints, missionaries, martyrs, and reformers. Our Luthers, Bunyans, Wesleys and Asburys, etc….We will write their biographies, reverence their memories, frame their epitaphs, and build their monuments. We will do anything except imitate them. We cherish the last drop of their blood, but watch carefully over the first drop of our own.” What it comes down to, beloved, is not that our children are lazy and childish. No. It comes down to our failure to take up the sword of the Spirit and wage war against the seed of the Serpent. For far too long, we have enjoyed the benefits of choosing Christ, yet denied the responsibility that comes with making that choice. Jesus called us to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him.
So, if you were in agreement with my first paragraph, I wonder where you stand now. Men: Are you willing to own up to the responsibility you have for raising up men of God? And I am not just talking to fathers. Read Titus 2 and you will see that our responsibility is not limited to our children. Likewise, boys: Are you willing to deny the world and embrace Christ? Are you willing to put away the silly video games and cartoons, and study the word of God? You had better make up your mind, because persecution and suffering is soon to come to this land. When it comes, it will be most important that you have already set your hearts to stand for Christ, no matter the cost.
I will close with a convicting admonition from C.T. Studd (1860-1931), who was an English missionary who faithfully served His Saviour in China, India, and Africa.
“Too long have we been waiting for one another to begin! The time of waiting is past! The hour of God has struck! War is declared! In God’s Holy Name let us arise and build! ‘The God of Heaven, He will fight for us’, as we for Him. We will not build on the sand, but on the bedrock of the sayings of Christ, and the gates and minions of hell shall not prevail against us. Should such men as we fear? Before the world, aye, before the sleepy, lukewarm, faithless, namby-pamby Christian world, we will dare to trust our God, we will venture our all for Him, we will live and we will die for Him, and we will do it with His joy unspeakable singing aloud in our hearts. We will a thousand times sooner die trusting only our God, than live trusting in man. And when we come to this position, the battle is already won, and the end of the glorious campaign in sight. We will have the real Holiness of God, not the sickly stuff of talk and dainty words and pretty thoughts; we will have a Masculine Holiness, one of daring faith and works for Jesus Christ.”
Just a couple weeks ago, we decorated the graves of those who were ready to lay down their lives for the sake of others. As we remember D-day, and prepare for Father’s Day, may we examine ourselves to see where it is that we are apathetic. We men need to turn to the Scriptures and find that “Masculine Holiness” that C.T. Studd spoke of. If you have children, take them to a cemetery with you and teach them what these men and women did for us; and teach them the fear of the Lord.
For His Glory,
Adam Tennant
IF MY PEOPLE... 