In the movie Toy Story, one of the little green army guys gets stepped on by Andy’s mom. As they rush to hide in a nearby plant, the Sargent of the little green army guys notices that there is a soldier down and goes back to get him. The soldier tells them to go on without him, but the Sargent says they “Leave No Man Behind”. I love that part of the movie. While very funny (because we’ve all stepped on one of those little green army dudes), it is also something I am passionate about. While I’ve never been in the armed forces, I believe that each of us that calls ourselves Christians are in the Lords Army (insert cheesy kids song here). Because we are in the Lords army, we are under attack.
Even the best soldiers fall sometimes.
Maybe you’ve been there – you open that email, get that phone call or hear that news. Someone you know has fallen to sin. What is our response? After the shock or the hurt or the disappointment wears off, where do we go? Maybe you’re the one that was the subject of that email/call/news. What is your fear at that point? What does your heart hope for most at that moment? Here is my question….
Am I wrong in believing that offering grace doesn’t end when someone gets “saved”
In other words, the Army of God is awesome when it comes to grace for the sinner. I wonder sometimes if we’re not so awesome when it comes to grace for the saved. While I don’t want to give a free pass to sin, I would say that the attacks don’t stop. I might even argue that it get’s tougher when we are covered by the blood of our Savior. This is where I’m challenged to take the “No Man Left Behind” pledge. When a brother or sister in Christ falls, we should be so committed that we don’t leave them behind. Our words, actions and judgment are not what they need. They need fellow soldiers to lead them to a place of restoration and healing. God doesn’t give up on them and we shouldn’t either.
The Ranger Creed 5th Stanza
Energetically will I meet the enemies of my country. I shall defeat them on the field of battle for I am better trained and will fight with all my might. Surrender is not a Ranger word. I will never leave a fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemy and under no circumstances will I ever embarrass my country.
Nicely done my friend.
Most people forget that its hard living right, but even harder being in leadership in the body of Christ. The target on your back is bigger when it comes to falling from grace. Your past issues become larger than life and the pressure of indulging in that former (or new spin of a former) sin is high school peer pressure multiplied by Hell.
There is a saying that that the Christian army is the only army that leaves it’s wounded to die. I would hope that saying can fade quickly.
Wow…I’ve never heard that but, sadly, I’ve seen it so many times. I had a friend once say that we often “shoot the wounded” when it comes to those that fall. Heaven help us….
Well written Aaron. Your blog reminds me of the story of the prodigal son. I tend to disagree with most preachers about thus passage. Most say that it refers to a sinner repenting and getting saved. I think its referring to a wayward Christian who returns back to the Lord. It talks about two brothers who already have a father and a home. The father was watching for his son to return home. When he saw him coming from afar off he ran to meet him. I think God has a saving grace and a restoring grace but many people overlook the restoring grace. I know in my case when I think of His grace I think of His restoring grace more. I was saved at age 10 so I didn’t have this dark sordid past to refer back to. Does that make sense
Makes total sense Matt. That is an interesting angle I have never thought of. You’re right in that we always hear it from the perspective of a sinner turning to the Lord. To take it a step further, his brothers (who were already “home”) despised him and did not treat him like his father did. I didn’t expand on my thought in this post, but you are absolutely correct in that when we walk together and experience His restoring grace, look at what we can offer the Kingdom in general. I believe the world would look at Christians differently if we would be honest about our struggles and real about out failures.
Like the bumper sticker says…”we’re not perfect, we’re forgiven”.