When I was in elementary school, I can still recall the taunts about whose father could beat up whose father. This was a boy’s argument. Girls were much more interested in comparing the length of their skirts than the muscular prowess of their fathers. But boys being boys, it was important to our image that we didn’t have wimpy fruitcake dads.
If we were to quiz the average man (or woman for that matter) concerning their view of God, I doubt many would view the God of the Bible as a masculine warrior God. For the woke crowd this would be analogous to saying that Santa Claus is a body builder.
Today’s view of Jesus is a cross between a benevolent grandfather and the ever-sweet Mr. Rogers. American culture is quite satisfied with the song lyrics, “Jesus loves all the little children of the world.” And no one even remembers, “I am in the Lord’s army.” The shift toward a more androgynous Jesus began long ago.
But is this accurate? As I wrote a couple months ago, I view Jesus more like a Navy Seal than Mr. Rogers. I think the view of Jesus might better be explained from the vantage point of a warrior. God as Warrior is a theme of many great Biblical saints of old.
God as Warrior
In Exodus 15:3, Moses even identified God in these terms: “The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is His name.”
In Joshua 5:13, Joshua encounters a warrior God: “And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand.”
In Psalm 144:1, David thanks God for his warrior training bestowed by God: “Blessed be the Lord my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle.”
Why is this important? I will give you my five reasons as to why God as Warrior is important in our daily life.
- A Warrior God fights on behalf of those whom He loves.
- A Warrior God is anything but passive, but rather bold and assertive for righteousness.
- A Warrior God protects His family.
- A Warrior God knows the schemes of the enemy and fights from victory.
- A Warrior God always leads us into triumph in Christ.
So, if there is anything we can say about the strategies of Satan and his demonic hordes, it is the confusion they bring into the Church through our misunderstanding of the chivalrous militant nature of our Lord Jesus Christ. Brothers and sisters, renew your minds today with a proper Biblical view of God! God is not Mr. Rogers.
Enthralled by God as Warrior,
Pastor Steve
