Christian preachers and pastors played a vital role during the American Revolution. Their efforts were so significant the British dubbed them the Black Robed Regiment. At the very foundation of the greatest human experiment in civic and personal freedom, we find spiritual leaders.
This history is not surprising as freedom, living a life free from tyranny, is a core concept in Christianity. In its most extreme form, we find the Christian martyr sacrificing bodily life for spiritual freedom, in imitation of the Savior who gave his life that we might know eternal freedom.
In many instances, Revolutionary spiritual warriors fighting temporal battles struggled with “rules of engagement,” much as Peter struggled after Jesus commanded he stand down in the Garden of Gethsemane. (Peter, sword in hand, had removed the ear of an approaching guard. His subsequent “denial of Jesus,” often incorrectly attributed to cowardice, was confusion regarding the new “rules of engagement.”)
Thus, perhaps we should not blame religious leaders today for not meeting tyrants with swords in hand. However, we can call them to mount a creative defense of freedom within the Christian rules of engagement. It’s not unfair to grumble when they fail to take on the role of spiritual warriors engaging villains on today’s battlefields.
But, as in the case of Peter, perhaps we need to better understand the “rules of engagement.” We need more discussions regarding spiritual weapons and battle plans. We need warfare technique rehearsals. We should conduct “joint exercises.” “Special operations” pastors may need to learn to overcome the emerging mind control with spiritual control. Lessons in asymmetric warfare are needed.
Often, I introduce learning peacemaking as “learning to fight better.” Just peace is not equivalent to compromise and propitiation; rather, it is a battle to bring about Divine Collaboration. Mastery of the arsenals of spiritual weapons can lead to peace, but it requires training.
What do you think? Is it time to launch a Spiritual Warrior Academy?