By: General James Green — 2020
“Be All You Can Be!” is an old U.S. Army slogan. The opportunities are limitless (so to speak) if one wants to go all the way. When Jesus commanded His disciples/soldiers to “. . .Go and make disciples of people of all nations” (Matt. 28:19), He really meant it. He didn’t tell them to go and build churches and all kinds of denominations where the disciples become embers who constitute a support system for preachers.
While I realize that not all can go into all the world, they/we CAN go into our cities, towns, villages, where souls can be witnessed to and hopefully won to Christ. We sow the living seed of Christ, yet as Jesus points out in His parable of the sower in Matthew 13, not all seed will find a place to take root. Of course our continual aim is to find what He called the “good ground” (Matthew 13:23).
When I was in the U.S. Army (in the Vietnam era when the draft was in process—I joined) There were a lot of mixed feelings about patriotism. The ERs (Enlisted Reserves), the RAs (Regular Army=joining up), and the draftees, all had different values/views. The ERs and RAs were sanguine. The draftees were sardonic, saturnine. We had in our company one draftee that went AWOL just about every other day. The Military Police had to chase him down and haul him back to the company.
Being in God’s service also requires discipline, commitment, dedication, skill & will etc. Once we are able to get a disciple, we must do our best to make a Christian soldier. This takes time and love. Hebrews 6:10-12 tells us that “. . . .God is not unjust so as to forget your (our) work/labor of love that you (we) have shown for His name, in that you have ministered to the (soldiers) saints and continue ministering. We desire that ever one of you show the same diligence for the full assurance of hope to the end, so that you (we) may not be lazy (or go AWOL!), but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
Just as the soldier works hard to earn his promotions—and hopefully a medal or two—so we should do the same. Even more so. But sadly I’ve seen way too much slothfulness in the Christian ministry over the years (I’m into my 48 plus year now). Too much self-indulgence and pleasure loving (called “sybarite”) has zapped all the “BAYCB” out of the modern disciples.
Simply put, to fully accomplish our mission for Christ our motives and movements must coincide with Christ’s will for us. Giving ourselves fully (like full time) to our General—Commander definitely requires “Be All You Can Be!” stuff. In doing this we can’t help but become a real soul winner, a genuine altruist. “And whatever you (we) do, do it heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,. . . .” We work for our General—Commander first and foremost, and as a result of this we will be good ministers unto men.
Take Jesus for example: He was the founder of the New Testament Ekklesia/Army/Tribe, hence He made His ministry—bringing the lost to His Father—the main focus of His short life on earth: “Jesus said to them (disciples) ‘my food is to DO the will of Him who sent me, and to finish His work.’” (John 4:34)
Jesus didn’t sit in some glorious temple having His disciples wait on Him hand and foot—NO! He walked! He worked! He witnessed! He won souls! He set the standard for others to follow. He didn’t have a Jewish Rap/Rock/Blues band to excite the crowds. NO! He used the “sword that cuts and the fire that burns” cutting deep into peoples consciences. His Word BURNT THE HELL out of His listeners.
Paul, a disciple of the Risen Christ, was determined not to allow anything to interfere with what he was determined to do: “Therefore, since we have this ministry through the mercy we have received, we do not lose heart.” (2 Cor. 4:1) Even if we/you don’t have the time to fully do His work, we can do something. Going to Church is fine, but we also need to get outside the box called “Church” and witness. Jesus spent most of His ministry in the streets, not in the local synagogue taking up time and offerings($) for His “ministry.”
Let’s not lose sight of the ministry of studying His Word for the sake of witnessing to others and to learn/feed our own souls (see Proverbs 1:5; 1 Timothy 4:13, 15). “For we are laborers together with God: You (we) are God’s vineyard; you (we) are God’s building.” (1 Corinthians 3:9. See also Philippians 1:10; Psalms 100:2; 2 Corinthians 6:4).
In ending this article I want to quote 1 Timothy 4:16: “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.” It’s a real shame that the Church has become so lukewarm. . . .while so many souls need salvation.
We need the Holy Spirit’s inspiration, His guidance: we need the Holy Bible—synthesis—we don’t need SELF, glorified SELF, to get in our way. All this “religious” miasma will give anyone a migraine. Let’s learn how to “walk in the Spirit” and “march in the Spirit.” BAYCB!