Drafted

‭‭and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

Acts 11:26 ESV

The emphasis of this chapter of Acts is Barnabas bringing Paul to Antioch in order to minister to the growing body of believers in that city. The focus of this devotional is the last phrase in the verse,"And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians." While 'Christian' is a common reference today to identify those who profess faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, its origin was quite different. 

The term Christian was first coined by pagans and it was used as an insult. Antioch was a large city and heavily influenced by Roman and Greek culture. In Latin, the suffix 'ian' or 'iani' meant the individual was under the leadership of or follower of another. It typically had a military connotation. For example, a Juliani would be a soldier under the command of General Julius. 'Christian' was a merging of the Greek translation of the Hebrew word Messiah (Christ) joined with the suffix noted previously. The early believers in Antioch seemed strange to their pagan neighbors as they showed Christ-like character. The pagans mocked them as followers of a dead and defeated General, or at least so they thought. 

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭50:20‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The pagans had no idea just how wrong they were about the leader of the Christians. Jesus wasn't dead and certainly wasn't defeated. We know the truth is the exact opposite of their beliefs, He's alive and He's sovereign over everything. Nonetheless, the pagans did get one thing right, Jesus is a military leader. The Old Testament uses phrases like Lord of hosts (Jehovah Tsava) or mentions God sending out an angel who in turn devastates the enemy. (Isaiah 37:36) The New Testament also makes it clear Jesus is a military leader. Think about the discussion between Jesus and Pilate or simply read the Book of Revelation, especially Revelation 17:14. Exodus 15:3 sums all of this up perfectly, ‭‭"The Lord is a man of war; the Lord is his Name."

No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2:4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Since we're created in the image of God, we are designed for war. We're not the General, but we've been drafted into the General's army. As soldiers for Christ, we're expected to follow His command, follow His example, and follow His strategy. As Paul instructed his disciple Timothy, we aren't focused on worldly pursuits. Instead our focus is on advancing the Kingdom. 

Scripture tells us our battle is not against flesh and blood. The enemy seeks to confuse us by attempting to cause division with others. While there are many topics where we have a different worldview than others, they're not our enemy. We glorify God when we address those whose views conflict with ours in the same way Paul addressed the men of Athens at the Areopagus. (Acts 17: 22-34) It’s no coincidence that the Areopagus was also known as the ‘Hill of Ares’ (the Greek mythological god of war).

Scripture tells us to love (agape and philos) one another, the enemy promotes personal sovereignty through the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. We demonstrate love by the way we live. We also show love by warning others of the Truth, with love, and not coming across as their judge. 

Scripture tells us to forgive, to show mercy, and to extend grace as has been done for us. The enemy promotes a win at all costs mindset and a philosophy of don't get mad, get even. Our way leads to win-win outcomes while the ultimate objective of the enemy is lose-lose.

There are many other examples of the spiritual battles we face every day. As soldiers in the army of the Lord, ambassadors of the Light, we must remain spiritually and situationally aware at all times in order to push back the forces of darkness. 

God has fully equipped us for success. We already have the assurance of victory. We have His Spirit within us, We have His Word in our hearts and minds. We have His armor for protection and to engage. We have our fellow warriors to strengthen, encourage, correct, and train us. As Paul asked, "If God is for us, who can be against us?"

In the current times, the term Christian is not always viewed favorably. Those who oppose God's will see us in a negative light. Many who claim the title aren't willing to live out the requirements. Despite these challenges, those of us who are the remnant must stand strong in our faith against any form of attack. God's Word promises us that no weapon formed against us shall prosper. Whatever opposition you face, hold fast to this Truth and advance.

We are more than conquerors!