Are You Fighting?

Bible Bulletin Board ^ | Late 19th Century | J.C. Ryle

[CondoleezzaProtege]

“Fight the good fight of faith”—1 Timothy 6:12

Reader, it is of this warfare that St. Paul spake to Timothy, when he wrote those burning words...It is of this warfare that I want to speak to you today. We meet each other at a critical period of the world’s history. Men’s minds are full of “wars and rumors of wars.” Men’s hearts are full of fear while they look at the things which seem coming on the earth. On every side the horizon looks black and gloomy. Who can tell when the storm will burst? Give me your attention for a few moments, while I try to impress on you the solemn words which the Holy Ghost taught St. Paul to write down: “Fight the good fight of faith.”

1. The first thing I have to say is this: True Christianity is a fight.

“True Christianity”—mind that word “true.” Let there be no mistake about my meaning. There is a vast quantity of religion current in the world which is not true, genuine Christianity. It passes muster; it satisfies sleepy consciences; but it is not good money. It is not the real thing which was called Christianity eighteen hundred years ago. There are thousands of men and women who go to churches and chapels every Sunday, and call themselves Christians. Their names are in the baptismal register. They are reckoned Christians while they live. They are married with a Christian marriage-service. They are buried as Christians when they die. But you never see any “fight” about their religion! Of spiritual strife, and exertion, and conflict, and self-denial, and watching, and warring they know literally nothing at all...

[SnakeDoctor]

The first rule of Christian Fight Club is you do not talk about Christian Fight Club ...

... if its your first night at Christian Fight Club — you have to fight.

SnakeDoc