by Wyatt Thomas:
From the opening credits, it’s obvious this isn’t going to be your usual Pietistic churchy video. That’s because Pastor Warren Campbell of Northwest Church in Kamiah, Idaho, is not the hireling all too common in pulpits across America today. Like a true Son of Isaachar, he knows the times and what needs to be done (I Chronicles 12:32). A top priority is
the spiritual, mental, physical and tactical training necessary
in such a time as this.
As Pastor Campbell lays the groundwork for this message he points out there is a God-appointed time for war (Ecclesiastes 3:8) and that
throughout history God has provided existential threats for the express purpose of keeping his people prepared for combat.
But what type of “war” does the Lord want to teach His people? Are we to “fight” only on our knees? Or are Christians not only allowed but
encouraged to train with firearms? Pastor Campbell compares our times to those of Genesis 6:11 when “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.”
To those who counter the Sixth Commandment instructs us “Thou shalt not
kill” (Exodus 20:13), the Pastor points out this is not a call to pacifism but, rather, a ban on murder. He then draws attention to the positive side of the command which is to protect life. Paradoxically, obeying the Sixth Commandment requires defense against those who would unjustly take innocent life.
Some other points Pastor Campbell provides for his argument:
- Judges 3, Numbers 32: requires all healthy men above 20 years of age to be
ready to defend their Nation when called upon. - A component of the 5 th Commandment to honor our Fathers and Mothers is to
honor and preserve their sacrifices as our birthright and responsibility. - Practice makes perfect and constant training keeps the Christian ready. As
Hebrews 2:1 points out, “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the
things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.”
But what role should Christian Pastors play in this area? Pastor John Weaver
(some of you may be familiar with him from his iconic message When It is Time) provides a history lesson many today are unfamiliar with in how self defense by the men in society is so established we follow it mindlessly. For example, this is why:
- men sit on the outside of the pew.
- Pastors were always the first down the aisle and stood at the door as
congregations were dismissed after the service. - The middle aisle of the church remained open as space for firearms.
War is part of God’s nature. “The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies.” (Isaiah 42:13). As David was a man of war and also a man after God’s own heart, so, too, Christians can follow in those footsteps with God’s blessing.
- “He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.”
(Psalm 18:34)- - “Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my
fingers to fight:” (Psalm 144:1)
For the generations who have been raised behind the skirts of the Church
Effeminate, this sounds like heresy. Aren’t Christians supposed to be
Pacifists who only love their enemies and turn the other cheek to violence
while eagerly seeking the opportunity to lay down their life as a martyr? Those who know only the postwar consensus definition of “church,” will find
Webster’s definition of 1828 for “militant” shocking.
For those who hyper-spiritualize terms such as “fight,” Jesus provided clarification in Matthew 10:34 when He said, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.” And because this conflict is not always confined to the spiritual realm, Christ instructed his followers in Luke 22:36b, “he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.” Christ’s words are clear on this subject: Buy a literal
weapon for self-defense here on earth – and don’t buy a cheap one.
Nehemiah 4:14 “And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the
nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye
afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible,
and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your
wives, and your houses.” A Christian may choose to show
love by laying down his own life, but it is a sin to lay down the
lives of our loved ones because of our cowardice or unpreparedness.
How do Christians fight?
II Chronicles 14 and 32 tell us that Christian battles are to be fought Coram deo – before the face of God and in His presence. This is honoring to God and a powerful bulwark for our Nation. This was our Founders plan when enshrining the Militia into our Bill of Rights.
Pastor Campbell finishes his message with a word to those who feel they are too old to actively provide for the defense of our Nation with this well-known quote from Samuel Adams by drawing special attention to the phrase “animated contest of freedom.” As long as God allows breath to remain in our bodies, may we remain animated in the contest of freedom.
Even though this video was released a number of years ago, the truths presented in it are timeless and even more applicable for today.
You can watch the full video on YouTube at:
https://youtu.be/J3oEXrlQqZo?si=htUVWxcJA0tRUoRN
or on Rumble at:
https://rumble.com/v71f9xw-to-teach-them-war-the-church-militant-is-on-the-rise.html
and find Pastor Campbell’s messages on Rumble at:
NorthWest Church
Wyatt Thomas
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