HOW TOUGH IS YOUR FAITH?
By Erwin Bourne—July 29, 2002

How long has it been since we thought of ourselves as
highly disciplined soldiers in the army of the Lord?
That was a familiar these in years past.  “Onward
Christian Soldiers” was one of the favorite songs of
the church.  Christians, it proclaimed, “we’re
marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on
before.”  We also sang “Stand up!  Stand up for Jesus,
ye soldiers of the cross.”  That was the way
Christians saw their responsibility in times past. 

Now our emphasis is on harnessing the power of God for more successful (and prosperous) living.  One of the
popular choruses of today offers this happy thought,
“Something good is going to happen today, happen
today, happen today.  Jesus of Nazareth is passing
this way.”  This well-intentioned rendition is based
on bad theology.  The lyrics imply that Christianity
guarantees a person only “good things” 

It’s not true.  Let’s be honest.  As the world
interprets it, something terrible could happen today.
Christians do get sick and die, just like the rest of
the world.  They do lose their jobs like other people,
and they do have car wrecks, and dental problems, and
sick kids.  Believing otherwise is a trap from which
young believers—and some old ones—never escape.

The Apostle Paul wrote in II Timothy 2;3:  “endure
hardship like a good soldier of Christ Jesus….”  The
most graphic descriptions of battle come from writings
about the American Civil War.  –Forced marches  with
little food; engagements in exhaustive combat for
days, interspersed by sleepless nights on the ground;
enduring freezing rain and snow.  The Union Army
reported upwards of 200,000 casualties from disease.
Is this the level of dedication and sacrifice to which
Paul calls us.  I believe it is.

Jesus I my cross have taken
All to leave and follow Thee;
Naked, poor, despised, forsaken
Thou from thence my all shall be.
Perish every fond ambition,
All I’ve sought, and hoped, and known;
Yet how rich is my condition
God and heaven are still mine own.

Go, then, earthly fame and treasure!
Come, disaster, scorn and pain!
In Thy service, pain is pleasure.
With Thy favor, loss is gain.
I have called Thee, “Abba, Father”;
I have stayed my heart on Thee;
Storms may howl, and clouds may gather;
All must work for good to me.


By Erwin Bourne
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