The peaceful warriors
One of the all-time greats as far as hymns are concerned, is the classic "Onward Christian Soldiers". It encapsulates the very essence of the mission that Jesus began while on earth, and is now continuing through what is termed the body of Christ - the worldwide Christian church: the mission with the ultimate goal to recruit and train people from every nation to engage in peaceful struggle.
The struggle does not involve the use of conventional weapons or brute force, and its aim is not to establish a Christian variety of clerical rule. But it is a genuine struggle that is powered and driven by a vision of a humanity released from its generational addiction to selfishness, racial or religious divides and warmongering - to name but a few age-old 'vices' that have clung to us for so long.
Jesus is still supreme leader and chief strategist in this global battle that is raging, and his grand plan still centers on awakening people to the fact that only under his rule can former and current enemies, e.g. Jews and Arabs, really be reconciled and united by bonds of love, bonds that transcend cultural barriers of any kind or of any historical epoch.
AN UNAVOIDABLE WAR
This claim of universal supremacy on Jesus' part invites certain and swift opposition. But, then again, one of the many paradoxes involving this former carpenter from a tiny Jewish village, is that he is very candid about his desire to see peace brought to entire communities through obvious attacks on any competing divinity. Jesus is fanatically committed to eradicating all other belief systems and faiths.
He alone is to be worshipped. He alone is to be followed. He alone is to command the loyal love from all kinds of ethnic groups. His conquest will not leave a trail of blood in its wake. There'll be no physical destruction that can be traced back to this conflict. But there will be a great deal of battles to be fought between the ideas of Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, secularism, atheism and Jesus.
THE CUTIE IN THE MANGER IS THE LEADER OF ALL NATIONS
"Onward Christian soldiers" reminds us that the little child in the manger was destined not to soothe the troubled consciences of self-justifying westerners, but to lead his peaceful warriors into battle on every street corner, in every home, in every marketplace, in every academic stronghold until all his enemies are vanquished.
Jesus in on the warpath, and has been since he left the manger all those long years ago. But there's nothing to be feared from your serenely belliggerent Christian neighbour. The only thing you risk losing is your guilt and sense of shame.
The struggle does not involve the use of conventional weapons or brute force, and its aim is not to establish a Christian variety of clerical rule. But it is a genuine struggle that is powered and driven by a vision of a humanity released from its generational addiction to selfishness, racial or religious divides and warmongering - to name but a few age-old 'vices' that have clung to us for so long.
Jesus is still supreme leader and chief strategist in this global battle that is raging, and his grand plan still centers on awakening people to the fact that only under his rule can former and current enemies, e.g. Jews and Arabs, really be reconciled and united by bonds of love, bonds that transcend cultural barriers of any kind or of any historical epoch.
AN UNAVOIDABLE WAR
This claim of universal supremacy on Jesus' part invites certain and swift opposition. But, then again, one of the many paradoxes involving this former carpenter from a tiny Jewish village, is that he is very candid about his desire to see peace brought to entire communities through obvious attacks on any competing divinity. Jesus is fanatically committed to eradicating all other belief systems and faiths.
He alone is to be worshipped. He alone is to be followed. He alone is to command the loyal love from all kinds of ethnic groups. His conquest will not leave a trail of blood in its wake. There'll be no physical destruction that can be traced back to this conflict. But there will be a great deal of battles to be fought between the ideas of Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, secularism, atheism and Jesus.
THE CUTIE IN THE MANGER IS THE LEADER OF ALL NATIONS
"Onward Christian soldiers" reminds us that the little child in the manger was destined not to soothe the troubled consciences of self-justifying westerners, but to lead his peaceful warriors into battle on every street corner, in every home, in every marketplace, in every academic stronghold until all his enemies are vanquished.
Jesus in on the warpath, and has been since he left the manger all those long years ago. But there's nothing to be feared from your serenely belliggerent Christian neighbour. The only thing you risk losing is your guilt and sense of shame.
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