topsecretfiles4

     The nature of war is destructive. It is two or more sides aligned against one another to do whatever it takes to ensure that their cause is fulfilled. And they will extend all resourses and pay any price to accomplish their task. Whoever�s will is stronger, wins. I�ve never been in a war myself. But I have family members that have been to war, and I�ve heard their stories. In School we learn of the great wars of history and their lessons and prices. And we also see thousands of war stories on T.V. and in the movies. So I would venture that it�s safe to say that most of us have a good concept of what war is about.

     To the best of my knowledge the conditions of war are always harsh. Lets say that a man is called to go to war. This man is expect and required to leave his entire life behind, his wife, his family, his children, his house etc. for the term of this war. He is required to give up his own goals and dreams and desires because he has agreed to go to war and defend his country to the best of his ability and do his part as a good soldier. Any noble man, any righteous man would answer this call and not run from it. In the heart and mind of this man, regardless of what he is leaving behind he has no option, no choice according to his own concienence. So he�s off to war.

     Usually the first thing that happens is that this man is trained to be a soldier. Trained how to fight and use the weapons that are available to him. Then he is assigned to an area that is can excel in and he is trained more in that as well. This man along that path turns into a soldier. Pleasures are few and far in between, sleep is neglected. No vacations for this soldier. Neither does he get to stay in a hotel during all this training, he gets a squeky bunk, white sheets and a green blanket. The living conditions are almost like jail, except he has the freedom to not be locked in a cell. This soldier does what he is told to do, when he is told to do, and there is no negotiation. No choice. After the soldier is train he goes to war. In war, it�s possible that he doesn�t get much sleep. It�s possible that when he sleeps there is no bed at all. Only his equipment as a pillow and the ground to lay on. Food and water are rationed. That means he eats only enough to stay alive. And the price of the war he will possibly pay his life for the cause. These are the conditions of a soldier, the conditions of war.

     The price of war is simply. To go to war you give up everything. Possibly even your life. You forfeit your own freedom for the cause of the greater good. Simple.

     Now I�ve drawn all this out to point out a few things that we find in the church. If it�s true that we can compare war on earth to the spiritual war that we wage in our faith, then I personally fail to see that we are truly at war. The Church in America doesn�t seem to have a cause. We go to church, we have our weekly church activities, after church we go to eat, and then we go home. The rest of our time is spent at work and with our friends and family. The money we make we spend on ourselves. The time we have we spend as we like. The lifestyle that we live is not one of discipline, or sacrifice. We do not fight for a cause. We simply exist. We work the jobs that we want, we work jobs that pay us the best. We don�t leave the things of this world behind, we welcome them into our homes with open arms. We as Christians are a society which enjoys entertainment, Movies, Romance novels, fast food and expensive quazines. We smoke, gamble, drink, cheat, lie, manipulate, control, contort, twist, give up, we are traitors. We are lazy. Where is our cause? Our nature is to be pleased, to �have peace�, to be happy, and to avoid controversy, trouble, and confrontation. Our conditions are good, we live as we please, what we do with our time is our own personal business. We only ones we answer to is our cell phones. The price we pay is the sale at Mervins, JC Pennies, and Dillards. We look for discounts at wal-mart so we don�t have to pay regular price. What is our cause?

     In the midst of all this, we manage to disagree among several denominations and in several different circles. The war that we fight seems to be against ourselves, and the casualties are our own brothers and sisters. We�ve seen more church splits then we have churches merging together, we�ve seen more judgment then we�ve seen forgiveness. And we sin more than we pray, we watch tv more than we pray. In fact, we probably pray less than we do anything else that we do. What is our cause?