A Fighters Heart

(Somewhat on faith, somewhat a general thought...)


Cormac McCarthy wrote a book called Blood Meridian in which the character
of the judge makes an argument that war is the most essential of
human activities. He starts by saying that men are born for games, and
that everybody, even children, know that "play is nobler than work." If
that is true, says the judge, then what changes the quality of the game
but the stakes? And what could be a more valuable stake than your
life? So war, the game you play with your life, is the greatest of human
endeavors.

In that same argument the judge says that "war is God" because
it is the test of wills between two parties. Moral law is subjective, and
man must submit before the "higher court," which will provide a conclusive
decision. In a fight, the truth will out.

When I read this , it really bothered me , and I spent a few minutes
reading and rereading the argument. And then I saw the fatal flaw
in the judge's logic, and read on with an easy mind.

I do not believe that men were meant for games, that that is their
highest purpose. Work is nobler than play. I believe that men were
meant for work, that their highest calling is to build, not destroy or
even protect. Learning to fight, trying to embody the virtues of the
hunter and warrior-these things are useful and important, even
essential. But don't be content with being a warrior, be a builder as well.
Make something. The true calling of man, real manhood, is about creation,
not destruction, and everyone secretly knows it.

- Sam Sheridan
"A Fighters Heart"
Atlantic Monthly Press
2007

In this great book about one man's quest to travel the world and understand the inner make-up of a modern warrior through his adventures in Muay Thai, MMA, Boxing, and Dogfighting...I was shocked to read this, his last sentence.  It was so powerful that it made me cry.

 I love martial arts and the sport of the fight.  I served in the Marines and trained to do what was necessary in combat.  I have felt the glory of downing an opponent in a street fight more than once.  None of that compares to the feeling I got when my children were born.  God did not make man to be a destroyer.  He made us to be tiny images of himself, givers of life to new creations.  We fell in the garden and our nature has been marred by a desire to tear down the things around us ever since.

I am not opposed to the art of fighting or to people practicing boxing, MMA, etc...I think that we men must find a healthy outlet to express the genetic nature that we have, right or wrong.  I just hope that all warriors out there can remember to be warrior-poets...men who fight well, but who remember that fighting takes a second place to building and creating.

Random Thoughts...

A few things floating around...

Deontlogical                

I know that I have a major weakness.  I can be very driven to “do the right thing” out of a sense of duty and not out of joy.  I can remember reading about this duty-bound mentality as it relates to the faith when I was in undergrad philosophy studying Immanuel Kant.  This feeling probably comes from my days in the Marine Corps.  Back in the military I did things because I was supposed to, not because I wanted to.  I have to be careful that I don’t let that thinking come into my relationship with God.  I cannot simply believe in God, worship and obey him; out of a sense of duty…I must fight against all the sin of this world, and within me, to glorify God out of the supreme joy that just knowing him gives my heart.  It’s hard for me not to be duty-obsessed sometimes.

Religion?

Speaking of relationships with God…how many times have I heard “It’s not a religion, it’s a relationship.”  I understand the sentiment behind this statement; people were concerned that unbelievers would think that salvation comes from a system of rituals and rules rather than from the personal saving work of Christ and God’s adoption, through grace, of us as his children.  Unfortunately, the quote is used too frequently and with less contextualization than is necessary.  I am afraid that lots of people hear that sentence and think about saving faith as a quick sinners prayer and get out of hell free card…”I just have to love Jesus and he will love me.”  Sure, salvation is essentially a relational act…God elects his spiritual family as the sovereign Father and no moral code or list of action items that we establish has any influence over his decision, but there are many theological points and practices that might fall under “religion” and still be very, very useful!  Knowing what the Bible says about Jesus (aka doctrine) is more religion than relationship, but it is vital if we want to be sure and worship the Christ of Scripture and not the heretical Jesus of Islam or Jehovah’s Witnesses.  The Lords Supper and Baptism could be seen as “religious ritual” and while neither is salvific, they are important to the Christian faith.  I just think we should abandon the easy, cheesy slogans and focus on having real and meaningful conversations with people about the tenets of our relational faith.

A big body…

My wife was recovering from surgery this Sunday and my oldest boy asked if we could go back and visit our old PCA church.  I thought that was a good idea and we stopped in the 10am service.  After the first song, the pastor prayed.  That’s not too unusual I guess, but the topic of his prayer was unique.  Matthew prayed for the other churches across our county meeting that morning.  I was stunned.  It was the first time I had even heard that.  Too often we forget that we are part of a big body of believers and that we are called to pray for all of our brethren, not just those of our local congregation or of our denomination.  Our course there are heretical and heterodox churches out there, but maybe they are the ones needing the most prayer.  I once listened to a sermon from a United Methodist preacher as he railed to his congregation on how evil the Doctrines of Grace are.  He viciously attacked the Reformed view and never once did he pray for those in what he thought were misguided churches.  In stark contrast was Matthew this past Sunday…a confessional Reformed pastor praying for God to be present and working in the lives of all the churches across our county, even mentioning a UMC by name.  Kudos.  The stereotype is being broken and that makes me smile.

A Hymn

I love this hymn…

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom