Images of a Christian
By Jerry Batson, Th.D.
Special to The Alabama Baptist
This week Theology 101 continues to use biblically suggested images by which to think about distinctives of the Christian life. Of course, truths gleaned by way of common images are not rooted in the images themselves. Truth is rooted in Scripture. Images are but common and helpful vehicles through which we can glean illustrations of biblical truth applied to life.
Last week the image was that of children; this week’s image is that of a soldier. The admonition of 2 Timothy 2:3–4 employs this image saying, “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life that he may please Him who enlisted him as a soldier.” The Apostle Paul referred to Epaphroditus as a “fellow soldier” (Phil. 2:25) as he also did to Archippus (Philemon 2). These expressions imply the apostle also saw himself as a soldier with whom these two men were his fellows.
What then are we to make of this biblical image? For one thing obedience is to be rendered to Christ, the Captain of our salvation. Basic to being a good soldier is obedience to one’s superiors. Such obedience embraces the fact of orders to be obeyed. A good soldier’s response to an order is an immediate, “Yes, sir.”
Also a soldier must engage in warfare. We often identify a trio of enemies to the Christian life, namely the world, the flesh and the devil. In light of such enemies a Christian soldier has been supplied armor to be worn and weaponry to be taken up.
Most famously is the passage in Ephesians 6:13–18 in which we are enjoined to arm ourselves with God’s provision of truth (the belt), righteousness (the breastplate), the gospel (the footwear), faith (the shield), salvation (the helmet) and the word of God (the sword). All these divine provisions must be bathed in prayer always and with regularity.
As soldiers we are alerted that hardness is to be endured as previously noted in 2 Timothy 2:3–4. Also previously noted is that as a soldier is surrounded by fellow soldiers who offer encouragement so do we belong to a spiritual army in which are examples and fellow warriors who can embolden and support us.
The famed hymn writer Isaac Watts over two centuries ago forged a good and penetrating question for each of us in the title, “Am I a Soldier of the Cross?” To which we might add concerning Christ, “Is He the Captain of my life?”
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