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03/19/2013

Civilian Affairs

No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. 2 Tim 2:4

How are you living your life in Christ? Are you living like a civilian, ordering pizza delivery, planning on attending the next Hollywood midnight premier, or en-wrapped in scheduling your next vacation plans? In order to set your mind into the correct posture, a Biblical posture, you need to prepare your mind as though you are on the battle field. This mindset isn't disappointed when the chocolate bunnies are sold out for Easter. This mindset isn't aggravated when someone cuts you off in traffic. This mindset is happy to be in communication with the God of the universe as you plead for relief of those pinned down and suffering around you. Pinned down by depression, by pride, by wealth, by addictions, by a critical spirit, by lots of weapons Satan uses to interrupt relationships and congregational fellowship.

I was just reading an article about Capt. Peter Linnerooth. He was a non-believing Psychiatrist that helped soldiers in Iraq recover from overwhelming stress. He helped hundreds of people, but couldn't allay the demons that plagued him as he tried to reenter into civilian life. He couldn't reconcile how upset students were when they got bad grades, to how upset soldiers were when they saw their friends blown up. Do grades really matter when you've seen the effects of war? He was so confused about what really mattered that he took his own life. He never saw the truth of how all life, in Iraq or the USA, is lived on the battlefield.

Put away that mindset of the civilian affairs and embrace the mindset that you are on the battlefield. 'You best start believing in them, your living in one.' Barbosa in Pirates of the Caribbean.