Dear BPCWA worshipper, At the end of February, while most Ukrainians were asleep, Russia launched a series of missiles into their homeland. This was the start of the war that has since caught the attention of the world as Ukraine struggles against the onslaught of the Russians. As I watched it over the news, it was the first time I’d heard the sound of war sirens. I have only heard of such war sirens in history museums’ videos of past wars long ago, not in a present-day situation.  For now, while God spares us the ravages of war in Australia, we who live during these times can learn many spiritual lessons from the war that we are witnessing from across the globe. It is apt also for those who have stood up to renew their oaths at last week’s Rededication Sunday. We have been signed up for service – but are we selflessly serving our King of kings as His soldier?

Scenes of war. Relatively speaking, Ukraine was a small nation against a mighty power. Yet, over the past weeks, reports have come in again and again of how the President and the ordinary people have courageously risen up to defend their country against the attack. Instead of saving his own skin, the President instead responded to offers of an early evacuation with the now famous statement, “The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride”. In one of the videos, in response to false news that he had fled the country, he said, “. . . do not believe the fakes. I am here. We are not putting down arms. We will be defending our country, because our weapon is truth, and our truth is that this is our land, our country, our children, and we will defend all of this”. The leaders of the country and the citizens have repeatedly risked their own lives with a patriotism that hasn’t been seen by many in this post-World War II generation. Civilians learned and took up arms at short notice, not unaware that the risk of death and injury was very real and very high in this war. The remaining residents in the cities resisted the invaders in whatever way they could. Many were reduced to living with little to no power, food, and sanitation. Touching scenes emerged of fathers leaving their wives and children behind, not knowing if they would reunite again one day. Some Ukrainians left the safety and comfort of where they were in other countries, taking the long and arduous journey to get back into Ukraine to fight for their land. One told his sister that he could not look at his countrymen in the eye one day if he did not go and fight by their side for their people. Some elderlies refuse to leave because they want to stay behind to serve in the war by cooking for the soldiers.  For almost all of them, it was more than just to save their own lives and definitely not for personal gain. Indeed, the casualties and loss of life seen so far in this war mean that many may not live to enjoy the victory of the war. Why are so many risking their lives and wellbeing for this war? Why not just surrender and carry on with a peaceful life? Why head back to Ukraine to join the war? The answer lies in their love for their home country that they treasure. Young and old, conscripted or civilian, all banded together out of more than mere duty. They had a devotion to and vigorous loyal support for their homeland. All these, even if it meant parting with loved ones or even parting with their own lives. 

A Christianity mutated downwards. “Saved to serve” is a catchy adage that some Christians use. For many Christians, this means, at best, doing something for God along the way in our spare time or when it’s not too difficult, or if it does not cost us too dearly. As long as we do a little “something” for God, our consciences are soothed and it is enough. We are aware of the spiritual armour in Eph 6 but possibly at the back of our minds, we may only think of it as it being limited to warring against our own flesh and perhaps sinful personal bad habits – for our personal betterment. But the idea of commitment to the extent of being a soldier of Christ is foreign to most of us. As a reflection of Christianity today, few would want to sing the militant hymns that describe the battle that a Christian is to fight. This is because such a life is not what they would choose for their own Christian walk. Hymns on how much Christ loves us and looks after us has become our idea of Christianity. Being willing to fight spiritual battles for our faith is an alien idea, let alone to suffer and sacrifice for the kingdom of God. We live in a world of “soft” Christianity which promises salvation without giving up the love of the world and love of self. We have a version of Christianity unknown to the Apostles and early disciples. They were willing to head into the battle for the Truth, not back down, even if it costs them limb and life. That is the spirit of love and devotion for God’s kingdom. Today, the Ukrainians are fighting for an earthly temporal land. They believe in their cause. Their spirits cannot be broken. How about us when it comes to God’s eternal kingdom? Of course, we are never talking about taking physical arms to battle, but our readiness to be engaged in spiritual battles for souls, selflessness in serving God, and sacrifice of comfort and ease for the maintenance, much less the defence and extension of God’s work.

A militant church. We don’t work for our salvation, but certainly, we are expected to work (and work very very hard) after salvation. Being a soldier of Christ is expected in the Bible. Again, it does not mean taking up arms or waging a physical land conquest in Christ’s Name. Christ taught His disciples “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence” (Joh 18:36). Christ’s kingdom today is spiritual, and it progresses through His Church. As soldiers in Christ’s kingdom, we are not just adopting the title of a soldier, but to actually be engaged intensively to “war a good warfare” (1 Tim 1:18). It is not the option of any Christian to decide how serious or committed a Christian he wants to be. Rather, we are commanded take up arms – “take unto you the whole armour of God” (Eph 6:13). And to do so willingly, without compulsion, in the spirit that many of the Ukrainians have shown. Neither is there a promise of a cushy deskbound life as a soldier, but the Bible requires us to “endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Tim 2:3). Serving God to extend His kingdom and do his work in the church will often call for giving up comforts we prefer. Some Hollywood movies portray a romantic notion of soldiering by featuring only handsome officers in smart uniforms. But the news these past weeks portray more realistically what soldiering entails. It is not a vocation where one expects a bed of roses and convenience. It is a vocation into which we were enlisted when we were bought by the blood of Christ at redemption. Male or female, young and old – as long as you are a Christian, you are a soldier of Christ. We may have forgotten that we were supposed to be Christ’s soldier. But after this pastoral, let every Christian commit ourselves to His service afresh and anew to serve Him as we ought.

The indomitable love of the Ukrainians for their country in the war thus far must put us to shame in our love for God’s kingdom. Their passionate commitment to their country’s cause must humble us as we think of our cold service to Christ. Their selflessness and willingness to give up all for others and the future generation must embarrass us as we think of how we often need to be cajoled, pushed, even constantly reminded to care about others and the future of God’s church that He placed us in.

Stand then in his great might, with all his strength endued;
but take, to arm you for the fight, the panoply of God.
Leave no unguarded place, no weakness of the soul;
take ev’ry virtue, ev’ry grace, and fortify the whole. 

Yours in our Lord’s service,
Pastor