It's a common trend today for young Christian men in the over-churched South to "go rogue" and bypass the church in the name of gospel mission. The results include failed and feeble ministries, doctrinally weak study groups, and free agent ministers who go to the highest bidder or the trend of the week. I even know a guy who serves at multiple churches in hopes to "bridge the gap," not realizing that his actions are fostering disunity as he robs the church's army of strength.

Everyone Is a Soldier

Everyone fights for something: a cause, an ideology, or vain, idolatrous pursuits. Where we spend our time, energy, and money is a good indicator of what we fight for, as is what dominates our conversation. Likewise, the soldier assumes the identity of the army for which he fights. Our mission and identity as soldiers, however, is clearly informed by scripture.

In 2 Timothy 2:1-4, the apostle Paul writes specifically to young pastor Timothy calling him "a good soldier." There is application here for all pastors and Christians as Paul answers four questions.

What Are We Fighting For?

Paul instructs Timothy to fight "for what you have heard" (2 Tim. 2:2), to "remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel" (2 Tim. 2:8). As stewards of the gospel and ambassadors of grace, good soldiers fight for the truth that we have heard: the perfect life, substitutionary atoning death, and victorious resurrection of Jesus Christ.

What Are We Fighting Against?

Unfortunately, too many "soldiers" forget their identity and lose sight of the mission. In breaking rank, they go on rogue missions and often begin to fight their own. Ministry is a cutthroat, competitive industry. Far too many sheep and shepherds have been hurt in the name of out-performing our allies. This is not the battle. Paul reveals the battle is "against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" (Eph. 6:12). Against those forces the army must stand unified.

Who Are We Fighting Alongside?

The warrior imagery of the first-century world is not one of rogue ninjas and one-man wrecking crews. Rather, it's imagery of ranks of men with shields interlocked to form an advancing wall of power. Paul's instruction to Timothy is a call is to be a good soldier in an army, not a mercenary missionary. Paul instructs pastor/soldier Timothy "in the presence of many witnesses" to "entrust to other men to teach also" (2 Tim. 2:2). Marching orders are both given and received in the context of an army—others called in identity and mission as soldiers. In this context, the mission is advanced as other soldiers are called and equipped.

How Are We to Fight?

As a unified army with the boldness rooted in the grace of Jesus Christ (2 Tim. 2:1), Paul warns to avoid "civilian pursuits." This is not a neglect of the non-Christian world and culture, but rather an urging to maintain focus on the gospel task at hand. It's a reminder to not be distracted by secular or religious pursuits that malign the gospel mission. The identity and mission of a good soldier is manifested in the context of the local church.

The Bottom Line

We are soldiers in the army of the warrior King who has already secured the victory, and our aim is to please him who, by his grace, enlisted us.

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Charlotte Elliott (1789-1871) was an English poet and hymn writer. Around the age of 30, she became an invalid and remained so for the rest of her life, suffering from inexplicable pain and weakness. Convicted by a minister’s words about her bitterness and anger towards God because of her illness, Elliott turned to Jesus Christ for peace. She penned around 150 hymns, including Just as I Am.

Horatio Spafford (1828-1888)

Horatio Spafford was a prominent lawyer in Chicago. After losing his 4-year-old son to scarlet fever, he sustained a great financial loss in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Horatio and his wife Anna worked tirelessly for two years helping the other victims of the fire put their lives back together. Then the Spafford family decided to travel to England for a holiday. Delayed by business, Horatio sent his wife and daughters ahead of him. On the way to England, their ship collided with an iron sailing vessel, and all four of their daughters drowned in the wreck. Through his great grief, Spafford held fast his trust in Jesus, writing the lyrics to the well-known hymn It Is Well with My Soul.

William Cowper (1731-1800) was one of the most popular English poets and hymnodists of his time. However, he suffered from periods of insanity and severe depression throughout his life, attempting suicide multiple times. Despite his suffering, he found refuge in Jesus Christ during his stay in an asylum, and as a result of his faith, he produced many well-loved hymns for believers.

Robert Robinson (1735-1790) was an English minister. After the death of his father, a young Robinson lived a life of drunken recklessness and destructiveness. He changed his life course after hearing a sermon preached by George Whitefield, and at the age of 20, he reformed his ways and became a Methodist preacher, penning the well-known hymn Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.

When you work with guys who can sit in a room with five other guys and watch endless amounts of porn as if they were watching 24, then you know you don't have the average job. This is the case for guys serving in the military, especially in Afghanistan, Iraq, or out at sea.

In order for the average guy—who doesn't read Grudem's Systematic Theology—to pick up and read a book about Jesus, you need to punch him in his gut, metaphorically.

It was this mentality that led us here at Mars Hill Church to ship out 800 of Pastor Mark's books, including Porn Again Christian, to men serving in the military. The majority of these books are heading out to Jonah's, Abraham's, and Daniel's old stomping ground of Iraq. Others are going to aircraft carriers, guys who are stateside prepping for an upcoming deployment, and other US installations around the world.

Part of our mission with sending these books is not to have guys simply reading these as an end in themselves, but rather to get them into Scripture.

I wanted to thank those of you who are backing us and have decided to support these men with these books and the Vintage Jesus DVD curriculum. These tools will enable them to grow as the husbands, daddies, and warriors their Lord wants them to be. It will also help them speak into the lives of guys they are serving with who have a very twisted view of who Jesus Christ is and what it means to be a man.

What Troops are saying:

Matt, US Army Ranger in Iraq:
“I grabbed Porn Again Christian and never put it down. I needed that book, and most of the guys I work with need it as well. I think there is a tendency in our desensitized culture to think certain images or magazines are just part of what it means to be a man today.”

Roger, US Army Chaplain:
“The copies of Porn Again will be perfect for our soldiers. Porn Again is awesome because nobody talks about that stuff, at least not honestly (and frankly nobody talks about masturbation).”

John, US Navy:
“I read Porn Again in its entirety right after I got it. I wish I’d have had it before our ship pulled into Hong Kong, but there will be many more port calls during this cruise where several thousand sailors could benefit from having that booklet’s content on their hearts and minds.”

Porn-Again Christian:

You are part of a culture that spends more money each year on pornography than country music, rock music, jazz music, classical music, Broadway plays, and ballet combined. Find Out God's view.

Part of the Eastern Healing series.
Continued from Part 5.

All of the following theories are pagan in nature and none of the philosophical views are Christian whatsoever. The goal here is that by understanding the foundational philosophies of these theories that are anti-God, Christians can discern where these philosophies have crept in to some healing practices. We can then carefully weed out the bad elements in order not to allow other gods in under the guise of Christian faith.

Christian Science

Mary Baker Eddy is the founder of Christian Science and its healing system. Metaphysical healing and psychosomatic healing are strong systems in Christian Science. It acknowledges that the power of healing comes from a Supreme Being, but it denies that the power of healing belongs to the only true God in and through his Son Jesus Christ.

The basic views of Christian Science deny the existence of the Trinity and the redemptive work of Christ:

• God is divine Love, Father-Mother, supreme. 
• The true nature of each individual as a child of God is spiritual. 
• Healing comes from God's infinite goodness, realized in prayer.

The basis of her theory is best framed in her own words: "I submitted my metaphysical system of treating disease to the broadest practical tests. Since then this system has gradually gained ground, and has proved itself, whenever scientifically employed, to be the most effective curative agent in medical practice."

Scientology

Scientology views man as a sole spiritual being and denies that God created this spirit being. It is centrally humanistic, based upon human intellect and evolutionary thought. In fact, this theory affirms that man deteriorates to the degree that he denies his spiritual nature and ceases to live with moral values, such as trust, honesty, integrity, and other sometimes intangible characteristics.

Though this all sounds good, humankind is left without the source that gives hope to live life with moral values, trust, honesty, and integrity. It is impossible to please God without the acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of all healing.

Scientology strongly draws upon the metaphysical healing theory and has specific names for different types of healing. They are known as "assists," and there are several different types, including contact, touch, nerve, and location process assists.

"An assist, then, can be described as a Scientology process which is done to alleviate a present time discomfort. A process is an exact series of directions or sequence of actions taken to accomplish a desired result. There are many processes contained in the materials of Scientology, but assists make up a class of processes in themselves." (Scientology Handbook)

Again, we see the denial of the Supreme God, the Trinity, and the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. I love the words of John Piper that sum up all that is contrary to our infinite personal God: "If all the universe and everything in it exist by the design of an infinite, personal God to make his manifold glory known and loved, then to treat any subject without reference to God's glory is not scholarship, but insurrection." (The Pleasures of God)

Advance Conference:

Advance is coming June 2009. The Resurgence is hosting this conference in Raleigh, NC, to provision the local church for the advance of the gospel. Find out more.

Continued from Part 4.

All of the following theories are pagan in nature and none of the philosophical views are Christian whatsoever. The goal here is that by understanding the foundational philosophies of these theories that are anti-God, Christians can discern where these philosophies have crept in to some healing practices. We can then carefully weed out the bad elements in order not to allow other gods in under the guise of Christian faith.

Evolution:

The theory of evolution can contain both theistic (Intelligent Design) and atheistic elements (Darwinism). In general it is the view that the cosmos has developed from crude, homogenous material to its present state. Darwinist evolution is anti-theistic. Charles Hodge states,

"God has revealed his existence and his government of the world so clearly and so authoritatively, that any philosophical or scientific speculations inconsistent with those truths are like cobwebs in the track of a tornado. They offer no sensible resistance. The mere naturalist, the man devoted so exclusively to the study of nature as to believe in nothing but natural causes, is not able to understand the strength with which moral and religious convictions take hold of the minds of men. These convictions, however, are the strongest, the most ennobling, and the most dangerous for any class of men to disregard or ignore." (Systematic Theology)

This evolutionary worldview is integrated in many alternative forms of healing.

Materialism:

This is basically a system of psychological criteria that denies the reality of the soul as a psychical being. This theory states that the facts of experience are all to be explained by reference to the reality, activities, and laws of physical and material substance. This is definitely seen in mind control and elements of psychology.

Polytheism:

The belief that there are thousands of gods. This is part of the fundamental doctrine of Animism, Hinduism, Wicca, and the New Age philosophy.

Pantheism:

Pantheism is the first logical consequence of animism: All the world is divine. A mountain is god, a rock, an animal; anything that is part of nature is god. There is no creator; it is all god.

Positivism:

The theory of positivism basically assumes that humankind's knowledge is restricted to phenomena, and humans can know of these only in part.

Metaphysical Healing:

The term "metaphysics" refers to what Aristotle claimed to be "a science which investigates being as being and the attributes which belong to this in virtue of its own nature." He distinguished this "science" from all the "so-called special sciences," for none of them dealt "generally with being as being." Although the etymology and traditional use of the term "ontology" makes it a synonym of "metaphysics," its meaning has become narrowed in contemporary philosophy. This constriction began with Immanuel Kant's theoretical separation of reality from the appearance of reality and the limitation of human knowledge to the latter. 

Within the realm of healing the theory applies mainly to the mind as being the central place of healing. It places less emphasis upon the healing of the spirit. Christian healing emphasizes healing of the spirit, soul, and physical body in harmony with God's design. 

The metaphysical system of healing claims to restore harmony and health to mind and body to those who accept and recognize the supremacy of divine Mind. This metaphysical Mind-healing system is based on the spiritual power of the divine Science of Mind and affirmative prayers bringing health and harmony in every situation.

To be continued

Continued from Part 3.

Anti-Theistic Theories

In order to properly discern particulars in Eastern and alternative healing practices that may be misleading and deceptive, one must realize that there are many forms of anti-theism in the matrix of these practices and teachings. Once elements of these false theories can be properly identified and discarded, there may be some valuable usable parts that are in perfect harmony with biblical healing. God gives us discernment and wisdom when we ask for it, and now is a good time to ask for it.

All of the following theories are pagan in nature and none of the philosophical views are Christian whatsoever. The goal here is that by understanding the foundational philosophies of these theories that are anti-God, Christians can discern where these philosophies have crept in to some healing practices. We can then carefully weed out the bad elements in order not to allow other gods in under the guise of Christian faith. There are many anti-theistic theories, but I will only briefly discuss those that are relevant to our topic.

What Is Theism?

Before we discuss anti-theistic theories, we must know what theism is all about. Christianity is theistic, meaning that we believe in one God existing in the Holy Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Lewis Sperry Chafer defines it well:

"Theism means a belief in God and in its naturalistic form is a rational philosophy regarding God which is restricted to the one divine Essence. Biblical theism believes that Essence, according to revelation, subsists in three Persons. As a rationalistic philosophy, naturalistic theism is sustained by the traditional arguments already considered, and may be distinguished from certain antitheistic theories." (Systematic Theology)

Atheism: An open and positive denial of the existence of God. Chafer writes, "To the atheist the material universe is only an accident and all its marvels of coordination and development are fortuitous. He knows no cause for anything, even his own existence. He has no hope for himself in time or eternity. When he denies the existence of God it is by an assumption of knowledge which transcends the limitations which his negative creed allows." (Systematic Theology)

Agnosticism: Not knowing whether God exists. "The term agnostic comes from the Greek gnosis, meaning "knowledge," accompanied by the a prefix. Therefore, an agnostic means one who lacks knowledge of God. Hence, an agnostic is one who says we cannot know that God even exists. The term, first coined by Thomas Huxley, covers varying degrees of skepticism. Agnostics are followers of pragmatism; their belief in something has to be scientifically verifiable, and because God is not scientifically verifiable, they leave Him out of their discussion." (Paul Enns, Moody Handbook of Theology)

Animism: The theory that everything has a soul, including physical objects of nature and the heavens. For the Animist, God is not a person, just as for the Hindu, god is the Energy, the Force, the Power, the Universal Mind, the Absolute, the Unknown, the Divine Being: not a "he" but an "it." It is not somebody but something. This "god" is powerful, able to get wonderful things for you if you use magic and worship this Force or Energy. 

To be continued.

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Continued from Part 2.

Eastern Beliefs vs. Christianity

Comparing and contrasting Eastern beliefs with Christianity is an excellent way to see the differences and dangers they present by downplaying the foundational theological elements of the Christian faith. The following is an edited excerpt from Dr. Walter Martin’s classic work Kingdom of the Cults. Italics are used to denote additions that I have made for clarification with regards to healing practice differences. I have included the beliefs, practices, and anti-theistic theories that seem to have strong influence on alternative healing in general. It is important for Christians to study this carefully.  

Christian Faith

• There is one Triune God: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
• Humankind is made in the image and likeness of God.
• God’s Word, the Bible, is the infallible Word.
• Salvation is found in no one but Jesus Christ.
• Humankind is inherently sinful and in need of redemption, which comes only through Jesus Christ and his Atonement.
• Through the divine will of God and the deity of Jesus Christ, who came to earth in human flesh, his death and resurrection is the meritorious atoning work of God.
• Freedom from sin is only possible through salvation in Jesus Christ and no other.
• True healing is from God (the Great Physician) alone through the work of Jesus Christ and the promise of the Holy Spirit.
• Eternal life is the Christian’s reward, where there is banishment of all suffering, sadness, and grief. Life in the everlasting peace and love of God is the Christian’s hope.

Hinduism

• There is no single Hindu idea of God.
• All souls are eternal and accountable for their own actions.
• Karma is the debt of one’s bad actions for which one must atone.
• Hinduism denies the Trinity, the deity of Christ, the Atonement, sin, and salvation by grace through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
• Hinduism replaces resurrection with reincarnation, and replaces both grace and faith with human works.
• Healing depends upon Karma.
• Ultimate healing is evident in reincarnation

New Age Movement

• Man is inherently divine
• All is one and all is God. God is an impersonal conscious and power.
• Jesus was an enlightened teacher.
• Salvation is accomplished by good works and reincarnation.
• There is no absolute truth. All beliefs are valid.
• Spiritism, Theosophy, Christian Science, Unity, Baha’ism, and Rosicrucianism are spearheads of New Age teachings and the healing philosophy also found in practices of alternative medicine.
• Healing is possible through self-empowerment.
• Practices that heal are good and true regardless of their origin.

Buddhism

• Buddhism shows a heavy influence of Brahmanism, gods, and goddesses in Buddha’s history and teachings.
• At the center of this teaching lies the concept of cosmic consciousness, a nonpersonal essence also called a Void.
• Many “buddhas” were followed, but there is one Buddha that enlightened ones follow. Discoveries of the Middle Path, the Four Noble Truths, and Eightfold Path is consistent with traditional Chinese belief, which is evident in the practice of traditional Chinese medicine.
• The Pali text is considered the most reliable teachings of Buddha. Other sects of Buddhism often add to this text.
• Man suffers because his desires are fixated on the illusion of self, which confines him to non-permanence within the laws of Karma and reincarnation.
• Self-salvation is achieved by following the Middle Path, the Four Noble Truths, and the Eightfold Path. The ultimate goal is to reach the state of Nirvana, where self becomes extinguished in the Void.
• Buddha heals if Buddha wills.
• Ultimate healing occurs in the state of Nirvana.

Theosophy

• Theosophy teaches a pantheistic, impersonal Supreme Being.
• Theosophy is Gnostic in origin.
• Jesus Christ is not unique: Jesus is a reincarnated being separate from “christ.” All men become christs.
• Mahatmas or Masters communicate esoteric truths through reincarnated emissaries, of whom Madame Blavatsky and Annie Besant are among the few.
• Draws its authoritative teachings from Hindu, Buddhistic, and early Gnostic sources. The Bible is used minimally to proof-text preconceived Theosophical notions.
• Embraces Eastern healing cultural practices and transcendental teachings in mind healing.
• Embraces Metaphysical healing.
• Healing is based upon a pragmatic view that whatever works must be good.

Spiritism

• The fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man.
• Continuous existence and a path of endless progression.
• Communion of spirits and ministry of angels.
• Personal responsibility.
• Compensation and retribution in the hereafter for good and evil done on Earth.
• Healing comes by self-empowerment and positive healing affirmations.
• Healing is the ultimate good of God. Sickness is the result of evil and all that suffer with sickness are the result of evil. Good people are not sick.

Porn-Again Christian:

You are part of a culture that spends more money each year on pornography than country music, rock music, jazz music, classical music, Broadway plays, and ballet combined. Find Out God's view.