In this swift-moving, godless society, each one of us had better take the time to decide what we really believe in—what we are willing to “fight” for and, if need be, die for.
Today’s materialistic, secular culture is almost overwhelming in its influence on most who call themselves Christian.
Most of our confusion or uncertainty of belief lies in the fact that, generally, we never bother to define what we really have faith in. Most people are “compromisers”—going along with their friends and family and not worrying very much about what they really believe in or what they stand for. Sure, they are—as we say—“nice” people. But they do not stand for anything.
No doubt there were millions of “nice” people in Germany as Adolf Hitler began his ascent to power in the early 1930s. Many of them obviously did not like the bestial tactics of Hitler and his storm troopers. But they did nothing about it. The result of their lack of conviction was inaction—an unwillingness to struggle against that evil and try to prevent Hitler from seizing absolute power. We all know the sad result: World War II—the biggest and most destructive war in history.
The Holocaust was able to occur because of people who lacked conviction about extending basic decency and respect toward those who were ethnically different. Once in power, the Nazis fulfilled their openly spoken threats, and butchered some six million Jews and millions of others, including Poles, French, Danes, Dutch, Belgians, Slavs and Norwegians. In the aftermath of World War II, when they learned about the wholesale murder of innocents, most Germans undoubtedly disapproved of it. But by then it was too late. Again, why did that tragedy happen? Because people in Germany and, in fact, people all over the world, had not clearly delineated what they stood for—and what they would not stand for!
One study of American Protestantism indicated “that deeper currents of secularization persist in Protestant ranks, and that Protestants are ‘confused and disconnected’ about the direction of the larger society. Most tend to think and act more as ‘good Americans’ than as ‘good Protestants.... There isn’t a burning quest to know doctrine, substance, the character of God, the work of Christ,’ says Gordon Conwell Seminary in Hamilton, Mass. ‘What you see uppermost in thought are fears of money, stress, workload.… It seems the fires are dying down. Life is getting tougher’” (The Christian Science Monitor, Dec. 19, 1995).
Yes, life is getting tougher for most people in this selfish society—a society that God calls “this present evil world” (Galatians 1:4, KJV). But, for true Christians, this should drive us to our knees all the more. And it should drive us to really study our Bibles so that we can truly “know” God—and be absolutely sure what we believe, and what our lives stand for. We need to know—and know that we know!
Even though so many around us seem willing to accept watered-down doctrines, and practices and approaches that are not biblical at all, we in the Living Church of God must retain our zeal for the full Truth. We must let our separated brethren—and our worldly associates and relatives—know that we stand for something. That we will not compromise regarding the basic truths and practices revealed in God’s Word. That we will live by this code and, if need be, die by this code.
God tells us that His true Church is “the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). We are resolved to hang on to that Truth—and not participate in watering it down. We, together, are in a crusade to proclaim that Truth to all the nations of the earth (Matthew 28:18–20). And in this crusade, we are Christian “warriors.” The Apostle Paul said: “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier” (2 Timothy 2:3–4).
Although we are Christian warriors, we can learn many lessons from outstanding military warriors who were of great ability and good character as far as they could understand. One of the greatest of these warriors in modern times was General Douglas MacArthur. If you know very much about American history, you know that General MacArthur was an outstanding patriot and leader of men. Because he was a man who truly stood for something.
Near the end of his illustrious career, returning to West Point Military Academy for the last time, he gave what is still regarded as one of the most eloquent speeches of modern times. After being greatly honored at West Point, General MacArthur spoke to the assembled corps of cadets and many high-ranking dignitaries:
“No human being could fail to be deeply moved by such a tribute as this, coming from a profession I have served so long and a people I have loved so well. It fills me with an emotion I cannot express. But this award is not intended primarily for a personality, but to symbolize a great moral code—the code of conduct and chivalry of those who guard this beloved land of culture and ancient descent.
“Duty, honor, country—these three hallowed words reverently dictate what you want to be, what you can be, what you will be. They are your rallying point to build courage when courage seems to fail, to regain faith when there seems to be little cause for faith, to create hope when hope becomes forlorn....
“But these are some of the things they build. They build your basic character. They mold you for your future roles as the custodians of the nation’s defense. They make you strong enough to know when you are weak, and brave enough to face yourself when you are afraid.”
Further on, General MacArthur concluded this historic address:
“The shadows are lengthening for me. The twilight is here. My days of old have vanished—tone and tints. They have gone glimmering through the dreams of things that were. Their memory is one of wondrous beauty, watered by tears and coaxed and caressed by the smiles of yesterday. I listen, then, but with thirsty ear, for the witching melody of faint bugles blowing reveille, of far drums beating the long roll.
“In my dreams I hear again the crash of guns, the rattle of musketry, the strange, mournful mutter of the battlefield. But in the evening of my memory I come back to West Point. Always there echoes and re-echoes: duty, honor, country.
“Today marks my final roll call with you. But I want you to know that when I cross the river, my last conscious thoughts will be of the corps, the corps and the corps.
“I bid you farewell.”
Brethren, unlike General MacArthur and the West Point cadets, we are engaged in a spiritual warfare. But war it is, nonetheless! Many of us in the Living Church of God—like General MacArthur in his day—are “old timers”! We have witnessed many a battle scene of spiritual blood and carnage. We have seen Satan’s withering attacks on ourselves, on our friends and on God’s Church and His Work again and again.
We know and deeply understand that “our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20). That is the “country” we are fighting for! We know that our warfare is not participation in the “corps” of West Point, but in the Work of the Living God!
So we can, in that light, deeply relate to General MacArthur’s words: “Duty, honor, country.” As we grow older as a Church and as individual members, let us never forget why we are here. Let us hold our heads high as we charge on day and night to do the Work of God with zeal, with dedication, with courage and with sacrifice.
No military mission was ever so vital. No warfare was ever so important. And no reward was ever so magnificent as the one we will receive, if we overcome ourselves and Satan, and if we are zealous and faithful in proclaiming Christ’s Message to a world that has truly lost its way.