FULFILLING ONE'S DUTY AS A FAITHFUL SOLDIER OF CHRIST

INTRODUCTION

Upon receiving the gift of salvation, Christians no longer serve themselves but are called to serve the LORD Jesus Christ instead. Matthew 16:24-25 (KJV) states “24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”

Denying oneself is central to the Christian life because Jesus Christ instructed us that whosoever wishes to be His disciples must forsake their worldly ambitions, dreams and goals to be an effective evangelist and witness for His kingdom. When Jesus called out to Simon (Peter) and Andrew whilst they were fishing, He told them “come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men”, and “straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him” (cf. Mark 1:17-18 KJV). In other words, Peter and Andrew (and the other Apostles) turned their backs to the world and followed after Jesus. This is a decision that they took, to the point of no return where they remain committed to Christ all the way to the end. Luke 9:62 (KJV) states: “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Imagine if the Apostles (with the exception of Judas Iscariot who was raised to be a reprobate to fulfil God’s will) had a change of heart and decided to return to fishing for good, or return to being a tax collector, or return to a secular life and not fulfil their calling as Apostles. That would have been an utter disaster! 

Therefore, Christians are thrust into a (spiritual) battle whereby they are called to be soldiers for Jesus Christ, with the responsibility to carry out certain duties and obligations faithfully in obedience to our master. The next section of this article will explore the duties that arise as a soldier of Christ.

THE DUTIES OF A FAITHFUL SOLDIER OF CHRIST

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a soldier is defined as “one engaged in military service and especially in the army” or “a skilled warrior”[1]. In some countries, there is mandatory national conscription for citizens (typically males) to enrol and serve in the army for a period of time. This is done in the name of national defense to ensure the country is ready to defend itself against enemies in times of war. 

Just as how sovereign nations build their own armies via soldiers, the Bible also states that Christians are called to be soldiers for Christ to defend God's kingdom from spiritual adversaries. 2 Timothy 2:1-5 (KJV) states:

Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

From the portion of Scripture quoted above, we identify two duties as a soldier of Christ mentioned by Apostle Paul, namely to (i) endure hardness and (ii) not to entangle oneself with the affairs of this life. The Apostle Paul was writing to Timothy, his spiritual son, from prison to encourage and remind Timothy of the need to persevere in his spiritual battle as a soldier of Christ. Paul himself was also persevering in his trials (being imprisoned among other things) and wanted to warn Timothy that his ministry will inevitably come under attack, especially from men who desert the truth of God’s Word for fables, lies and hypocrisy. 

Apostle Paul’s encouragement and warning to Timothy serves as a timely reminder to us Christians living in the last days that we must embrace our duty to be faithful soldiers of Christ.

Endure hardness

The first duty of a faithful solider is to “endure hardness as good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:3 KJV). Paul was warning Timothy against unfaithful men and he provided more details of such unfaithful men in 2 Timothy 4:3-5 (KJV):

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

In the last days, there will be men who shall not endure sound doctrine. Such men are not only found in Paul’s time when he wrote the Epistle of 2 Timothy to his spiritual son Timothy, but also in our day and age. Matthew 24:24 (KJV) says “24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” In the last days, false Christs and prophets will arise to deceive the world, and only the elect will have their eyes opened to the deception and not fall for it. In other words, only the minority will remain steadfast and uphold the truth of God’s Word, with the majority falling away and rejecting God’s Word. 

This points back to the duty to endure hardness as a soldier for Christ because the persecution will be intense when one abides by the truth of God’s Word. The word “hardness” can be defined as “hardship” or “to suffer trouble or affliction”. This is hardly surprising because a Christian will be mocked and reviled by the masses but he is instructed to “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:1 KJV). Just as a military soldier must undergo strenuous training to defend his country, a soldier of Christ must endure afflictions and hardships to be a “good soldier”. He must not be discouraged when things go against him, because he knows he is embroiled in a spiritual warfare for souls. This spiritual warfare is not a walk in the park and he must stand up to the task of defending his faith, even if it means he loses everything in this world, including his life.

This may come as a shock to those who claim they are Christians and think that God loves every single person just as they are, and that individuals are free to go about their lives as they did before receiving the gift of salvation. It is a shame to see such “Christians” having a distorted understanding of Christianity. What about the call to deny ourselves, take up the cross and follow Christ? What about the call to holiness and to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul (cf. 1 Peter 2:11 KJV)? 

Churches and pastors teaching this asinine form of “candy floss” Christianity should be rebuked firmly because they completely miss the point of what it means to be a Christian, namely to be a soldier of Jesus Christ. Soldiers are called to battle, meaning they must be on guard at all times in case the enemy strikes. Christian soldiers are instructed to “8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world” (1 Peter 5:8-9 KJV). However these churches and pastors sugarcoat what it means to be a Christian and tell their congregation to pursue health, wealth and material success instead. What a fatal mistake! 

The devil is the enemy that Christians face and we are to be on our guard to make sure we don’t let him overtake us. Sadly, many Christians today are in the grip of the devil, failing to discern the need to fight and resist him. Instead of fighting this enemy, they unknowingly end up having tea at the same table as the devil, allowing him to penetrate many areas of their lives.  

Apart from Christians who are plain ignorant about the present spiritual warfare, there are some Christians who are cognisant that they are in a spiritual warfare, but they do not fully devote their lives to the spiritual battle, and they throw in the towel in the midst of afflictions and trials i.e. they give up when the going gets tough in their spiritual battle.

Using the army analogy, these are the soldiers who do not pull their weight when it comes to the training or drills. These soldiers are slackers who do not take responsibility and they choose the easy way out. How can these soldiers be ready for actual warfare then, if they can’t even complete their training? How can they be trusted to go to the battlefield and fight for their country?

Winston Churchill once said the following:

Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never — in nothing, great or small, large or petty — never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.

Would you want a soldier fighting by your side who runs at the first sight of trouble, or would you want a soldier fighting by your side who is ready to lay down his life for the cause that the entire army is fighting for? We therefore have to check our hearts and make sure that we are firstly equipped to handle this spiritual warfare i.e. keeping the Word of God close to our hearts and applying it, and secondly, to be ready to endure persecution all the way until the end. 

Let us pray that we do not end up as soldiers who cave in and admit defeat in the midst of afflictions and trials. We are told to go on and endure till the end. May the following verses from Matthew 5:10-12 (KJV) comfort us:

10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Do not entangle yourself with the affairs of this life

As a soldier of Christ, the second duty in 2 Timothy 2:1-5 (KJV) is found in verse 4: “4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”

When an army soldier goes to battle, his mission is to defend his country no matter the cost. He puts in his heart and soul to make sure that he can fulfil this mission. This starts from the time before he goes to battle whereby he prepares adequately during the training sessions. He also keeps himself in peak physical and mental condition to be ready to wage war against his enemies. His entire life is programmed to fulfil this mission and he does not concern himself with other matters that do not align with this ultimate aim.

Similarly, a Christian soldier’s sole mission is to be a spiritual conqueror in Christ. He is called to be a warrior to “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12 KJV). Ephesians 6:12-13 (KJV) states “12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

In light of the seriousness of the spiritual battle at hand, given that it is a battle against adversaries that we neither can see nor touch, it begets the question of whether Christians are fighting this good fight of faith to the utmost of their abilities.

It is with a heavy heart that this author holds to the viewpoint that many Christians today are too entrenched in the pursuits of this world. They are focused on studying hard to achieve excellent grades, in order to enrol and graduate from prestigious institutions of higher learning, so that they can be employed in jobs that enable them to earn a lot of money and live a comfortable and luxurious life. Christians are busy accumulating treasures on Earth instead of accumulating treasures in Heaven.

Whilst it must be clarified that there is nothing wrong with studying hard in school and working hard at one’s job, since we are to do all things to the glory of God (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:31 KJV), many Christians have prioritised these secular pursuits ahead of spiritual matters. They have lost track of what is ultimately most important in their lives, namely to live for Christ and to contend for the faith! Wealth is regarded as the main priority in life, even more so than spiritual and moral duties. Proverbs 23:4 (KJV) says “Labour not to be rich”. This is a sober warning to all Christians. Instead, let our conviction be this: “Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich” (Proverbs 28:6 KJV).

How can a soldier of Christ be able to execute his spiritual calling to the utmost of his abilities, when he is embroiled in the affairs of this life, busy chasing bigger houses, bigger cars and a fatter bank balance? How can a Christian be ready for spiritual battle when he is constantly busy at work, or busy enjoying leisure and entertainment, such that he does not have time to study God’s Word? Too many people spend money they haven’t earned, to buy things they can't afford, to impress people they don’t like!

To be an effective soldier of Christ, a Christian needs to “study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV). How much time do we set aside daily to dedicate our minds to reading God’s Word? How many of us resolve to pray to the LORD daily for wisdom and strength to endure this spiritual battle we are called to undertake until the LORD returns? This author is convinced that many Christians will be ashamed (including himself) when searching their heart for the answers to these questions.

We are often quick to find excuses to explain why we do not have time for God’s Word, blaming family or work commitments for getting in the way. May we confess our faults to the LORD and reconsecrate ourselves to be devoted to studying God’s Word and to hear the preaching of God’s Word, to commit the same to other faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also (cf. 2 Timothy 2:2 KJV).

This author was dismayed to find out that a pastor from another denomination ran several businesses, on top of being a church pastor. The pastor clarified that his children are the ones primarily running the businesses and he was merely a stakeholder in name (or a "sleeping partner"). Nevertheless, this author found it troubling that the pastor was involved in multiple business ventures and seriously wonders how this pastor juggles the affairs of his church with the affairs of his businesses. 

It is the author’s conviction that it is not the biblical pattern for a pastor to have side ventures in the secular world on top of being a pastor, given that it is not sustainable. Sooner or later, something has got to give, either the business ventures or the running of the church. If one wants to be a businessman, focus on being a businessman and do not step on two boats and be both a businessman and pastor at the same time. 

Likewise, if one is called to be a pastor, fully devote yourself to becoming the spiritual shepherd over your flock and do not concern yourself with the affairs of this world. 

The lackadaisical state of Christians today is indeed alarming. Sadly, there are even Christians who ridicule other Christians for being “too holy”, or being too serious about God’s Word. Christians today are more interested in the latest celebrity gossip or what is happening to their favourite sports teams, instead of devoting themselves to the study of the Scriptures. Psalm 106 provides a warning of what happened to the Israelites after they left Egypt and were wandering in the wilderness:

13 They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel: 14 But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. 15 And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul. (Psalm 106:13-15 KJV)

We ought to check whether there is any leanness in our souls. Have we chosen to pursue the things of this world, instead of pursuing the things of God? God forbid that we are found wanting when He returns, that we failed in our calling to be soldiers for Christ. 

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, a soldier is someone who is called to serve in the army in the name of his country. Likewise, a soldier for Christ is called to serve the LORD Jesus Christ. He is asked to endure hardships and afflictions throughout his time as a soldier. In addition, he is not to concern himself with the affairs of this world, but to focus on the spiritual battle ahead. 

Many who profess to be Christians today do not take this battle seriously. They say they want to fight for Christ but when the rubber meets the road, they throw in the towel and turn their backs on Christ instead. Take heed of Jesus' words, whereby He said that “he that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad” (Matthew 12:30 KJV). We are called to go “all-in” in this spiritual warfare and to put this as our main priority. Everything else is secondary. 

Charles Thomas Studd, the British missionary, was a man born into wealth and privilege. Upon receiving his tertiary education at Cambridge University, he devoted his life to the LORD’s service in China, India and Africa. He was one of the Cambridge Seven[2], who offered themselves to Hudson Taylor for missionary service at the China Inland Mission[3]. He knew that only what was done for Christ would last, and everything else would fade away. 

This article concludes with a stanza from Studd’s poem “Only One Life, Twill Soon Be Past” below:

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be,

If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee.

“This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare” (1 Timothy 1:18 KJV). May the LORD help us in fulfilling our roles as soldiers for Christ, to wage a good warfare and to remain steadfast in the faith until we are called home to be with the LORD. Amen.