We the Priests, the Warriors

This world can be full of troubles, death, and darkness. Most of us have felt helpless at some point in the face of the overwhelming atrocities.

As Christians, we are unique in that God has called upon us to be the light in this darkness, to be a source of hope in the midst of hopelessness.The unbelievers are annoyed by our constant replies that we will send "thoughts and prayers" to victims every time something occurs, yet nothing is put into action or changed to prevent the evil from occurring again. Of course they are! Don't automatically put up a wall when you hear the outpouring of anger against us when you can find wisdom in their words. Put your love of God above your pride and listen. Of course we must pray, pray always and without ceasing. However, we are called to be God's hands and feet, used by Him to lead the world to His way of love.

So, what can we do? How exactly can we accomplish that?

There's a popular, albeit fictional, story of an atheist professor who attempted to shame the believers in his classroom by calling into question the logic of a purely good God. He stated that if good and bad exist, and God created everything, then God created bad and is, therefore, not purely good. Without posting the story in its entirely, a student stood up and turned the questions around in order to show that, in the same manner that darknessand coldness does not exist in themselves but are the absence of light and heat, so too, evil is simply the absence of good and, therefore, God.

We are called to bring light and warmth to a dark and cold world. Anytime, there's a question of how, we can look to the Bible.

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people to be his very own and to proclaim the wonderful deeds of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God. Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you as aliens and exiles to keep on abstaining from the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul. Continue to live such upright lives among the gentiles that, when they slander you as practicers of evil, they may see your good actions and glorify God when he visits them. " 1 Peter 2:8

You are a priest, and what did priests do? They lived their lives as examples of joy, love, and truth, as we are called to be examples to the world. They were those who had direct access to God and His messages, and they were responsible for announcing those messages to all those who would hear, as we are called to spread the gospel. They made sacrifices that appealed to God for others' sins and praised Him for their blessings, as we do when we pray. There's something else they did:

They separated the clean and unclean, the diseased from the healthy. If someone was diagnosed with a contagious disease, that person was quarantined away from everyone until he or she was declared no longer contagious. If someone was unclean for some reason or another, that person was made to stay outside of the encampment to keep from spreading diseases or making the clean unclean. Not to mention that the punishments for those who committed crimes against others were harsh and immediate.

What does this mean for us? We are called, as a holy people, to discern the unhealthy and unclean and push for the powers-that-be to separate them from the rest of us. If those who are unhealthy purposely harm others, we are called to push for the powers-that-be to punish those criminals.

You are a warrior, and what do warriors do? They do not rest in apathy. If you are a Christian, you are called into action as a priestly warrior of God. We all know the verse about the full armor of God:

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people." Ephesians 6:10-18

Another thing to remember is that we are all made gloriously different with varying points of view. What a shame if we didn't have the strength to see different dimensions and solutions to problems! Let us come together as brothers and sisters and not fight amongst ourselves, but hear each the other's opinions, so that we can find a way to shed God's light and love into the confused, blind, and horrified world.

And also, always, always pray.

Unpopular

No matter how much we might refute it, much of what we do daily is just an effort to keep from being ostracized from society. We wear clothes, even when it's too hot; we even wear uncomfortable clothes at times to look good for others or to be "appropriate" during special occasions. We diet or exercise partially just to look pleasing to the eyes of others. We bite our tongue or act polite even when we're thinking rude and angry words. It's goes beyond all this. There've been studies that show people will give a wrong answer if they're the only ones in a group thinking of the correct one, just to conform.

One of these studies is known as the Solomon Asch experiment of 1958. Asch arranged for a group of people to meet, all but one told to give a mix of correct and incorrect answers to the questions presented. The questions were obvious and easy, to tell which bars were of equal length. He set it up so that the majority of the conspirators would answer before the test subject in order to find out if he would go along with the crowd. An overwhelming 37 out of 50 conformed and gave an obviously incorrect answer. Afterwards, when asked why, most answered that they knew their answer was incorrect but went along with the rest to avoid ridicule or being thought of as strange. (Check out http://www.simplypsychology.org/asch-conformity.html)

This is why it can be so difficult, even in a country with religious freedom, to stand up and speak God's word. I've felt uncomfortable praying aloud with others before; I've felt afraid to tell others the Biblical stance on controversial subjects; I've felt nervous to even bring up the subject of God in a mixed group. We fear more than just ridicule or strangeness; we fear being alone.

Here's where you might expect a pep talk on how, as Christians, we can expect God to keep us from such tribulations:

"If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well. But they will treat you like this on account of My name, because they do not know the One who sent Me." John 15: 18-21

Whelp, no pep talk here. Or, you know what, yes there is. This encouragement is to tell you that there's something much better than being just one of many.

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:2

For those who can see, they will take heart in you and your courage. For those confused, your actions may be the door that they've been knocking on for answers.

"Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Unlike the yoke of the world, whose expectations are excessive, harmful, and never satisfied, follow God who will show you true peace.

"'Thus you are to be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy; and I have set you apart from the peoples to be Mine." Leviticus 20:26

And, here we are. In Leviticus, God made the distinction of the Levitical Priests and the rest of Israel. They were "set apart," and were called on to heal, teach, pray, and lead. The Levites were expected to be the epitome of cleanliness and holiness, made as role models not only for the whole of Israel but for every soul in the world. Then, Jesus came and fulfilled the law, allowing everyone, not just Israel to be a part of the tribe of God.

"You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 2:5

Now, we are the new priests.

Yes, if you are a child of God, then you are a Levite, one of the new priests in the present world. You are expected to be spiritually clean and holy, a role model bent on healing, teaching, praying, and leading the world to the feet of the one true God.

So, as a priest, you have a responsibility to remain "set...apart from the people to be Mine." As a Christian, you are not of the world, and that can mean many things.

"Do not love the world nor the things in the world If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." 1 John 2:15-17

The world here indicates the world without God, the group giving wrong answers. Will you still attempt to conform and reject God?

"But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves." James 1:22

You know, walk the walk, don't just talk the talk. If you show up at church and praise God's ways, then step out of the church door after the sermon and walk down the path of God's ways. That can mean you are ostracized cause the crowd is going down a different, wider road.

"Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth." Colossians 3:1-2

The things of the earth are corrupt and have been from an ancient age, but you are a new creation, a priest, a royal child of the one true King. Keep your mind on your purpose. Take off the yoke of the world's fears, criticisms, and hatred. Speak to the High Priest who is Jesus. There is always love in the eyes of God for you, keep looking His way.

Shun the shunners, and run to the One who will receive you no matter what. With Him, you are enough.