Articles
Grounded in the Word. Ready for the Mission. Christian Military Fellowship provides Scripture-centered Bible studies that invite people to know Christ, grow as disciples, and lead with integrity in every season of military life.
SGM Daniel Cartwright, USA (Ret)
Dan has been with CMF since 1982. He has served as a Local Leader, Regional Representative, and Chairman of the Board of Directors. Dan served 28 years with the United States Army Special Forces. He and his wife, Dee, live near Fort Carson, Colorado.
Living Behind Enemy Lines – Situational Awareness
In simple terms, ‘situational awareness’ means nothing more than recognizing your circumstances; knowing what’s going on around you. For instance, a military commander must be aware of the total situation around him and his unit on the battlefield, as well as the bigger 'strategic' picture. Total situation awareness is essential for successful military operations against any enemy, on any battlefield, for any warrior. As Christians, and warriors in the Kingdom of God, we need to maintain complete situational awareness as inhabitants of planet earth (the battlefield environment), as well as our Commander's intent (God's strategic picture).
Sadly, we often lose focus of both our battlefield environment and our Commander's intent, for a variety of reasons. They range from our tendency to focus almost exclusively on 'personal' growth and fulfillment, to applying human wisdom and worldly principles to the operation of the 'postmodern' church as a whole. At both levels, the result is that the Lord of the harvest, the Holy Spirit, sits in the back of the bus as we arrogantly occupy the driver's seat!
Dear readers and friends, it is past time to regain our 'situational awareness' and overcome our spiritual 'nearsightedness.’ For that task, we need to 'begin at the beginning' of our lives as Christians and go from there. In a familiar and often quoted verse of Scripture, the Apostle Paul tells us:
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17
What a promise – the greatest makeover of all time! When we place saving faith in Christ, we step out of darkness and into the light, passing from death to life! We are given a new nature in Christ as the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our being, giving us a desire to serve God and the power to live a life of obedience to Him. This is common knowledge, not rocket science.
Our 'makeover' is so complete that in another of his letters to the early church, Paul presents what is a mystery to limited human logic.
"And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus," Ephesians 2:6
This is a bit more difficult for human logic to grasp, but notice the past tense verbs in this verse. Paul is saying that as Christians, although we physically remain here on planet Earth, we have already been 'raised up' and ‘seated with Christ in the heavenly realms.’ Paul partially explains this mystery in more easily understood terms a bit later in the same chapter:
"Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household. . ." Ephesians 2:19
A citizen is a legal resident of a nation, country or state. Paul is saying that, at the moment of salvation, our 'legal citizenship' status changed! One could say that if before we received Christ, we could have visited the 'heavenly realm,’ we would have been 'illegal aliens.’ We are not like the child born to an American military family overseas, who has dual-citizenship status until he or she is 18 years old and needs to make a decision. We are NOT dual citizens. Now listen to the Apostle Peter in one of his letters to the early church:
"Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul." 1 Peter 2:11
Do you see the contrast here? Paul tells us that at one time we were 'aliens and foreigners' to God's household, while Peter tells us that as Christians we are now 'aliens and strangers' in the world in which we live! Why is the world in which we live 'foreign territory,’ why are we 'aliens and strangers in it,’ and how do we apply these truths?
First we need to understand that the world in which we live is not, in the strictest sense, the world that God created for the crown of his creation, human beings molded in His image. In fact, Scripture tells us that the problem of sin in the world that was brought about by willful disobedience of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (the why), is much bigger than just our little piece of turf. There is a clear description of the present condition of God's creation in Romans 8:17-24, in which we find the following:
"We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time." Romans 8:22
All of God's creation is somehow tainted, polluted by sin, and in need of redemption. Furthermore, our present world is not governed by God (although He is in complete control), but by a 'temporary landlord' ruling over the hearts of fallen man.
"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient." Ephesians 2:1-2
"The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." 2 Corinthians 4:4
As believers, we are citizens of the household of God, with a new 'landlord,’ servants of the Most High God, no longer bound by the god of this world. And as members of God's household, we are now foreigners and strangers to the world we live in and enemies of the 'god of this world.’
I have come to the inescapable conclusion that we are living behind enemy lines! Perhaps this has caused your thought process to pause for a moment of speculation. Maybe it came to a screeching halt because your first reaction was "No way!" Then hear what the Apostle James had to say to believers in his day who were becoming a bit too 'friendly' with the fallen culture around them.
"You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." James 4:4
If you still aren’t convinced that we are living in enemy territory, I encourage you to read the entire chapter in James, followed by Jesus' words to his followers in John, chapters 15 and 16, concerning what to expect from the world. My friend, your opinion in this matter is between you and the Holy Spirit. I merely encourage you to prayerfully consider the premise presented in the ramblings of an old soldier. If you agree with the basic premise, you cannot escape the question: “Why are we still down here?” Think about it.
Pastor Bob Bingham
In 1962 Bob and his wife Dorothy were appointed as missionaries with the Overseas Christian Servicemen's Centers (now Cadence International), and served with them for 21 years, 17 of those years serving at three different military bases in the Philippines. Hospitality and discipleship training became the focus of those years with hundreds of lives being touched for eternity.
A change of ministry came in September of 1982 when he joined Scope Ministries (a biblical counseling ministry headquartered in Oklahoma City). This led to Bob's present ministry, CUPbearers, a discipleship ministry centered on the Lord Jesus Christ located in Englewood, Colorado.
For more than 25 years Bob has pastored the Rocky Mountain Evangelical Free Church in Black Hawk, Colorado, in tandem with his discipling ministry.
Bob has ministered in the Philippines (1962-1979, 1995, 1998) and a number of other countries in Asia and Europe with OCSC (1962-82), Panama (1996) and in Trinidad (1998). His additional ministry opportunities have been to Singapore, Thailand, and Hong Kong (2001), and Nepal (2001), China (2006).
Bob also served as Chairman on the CMF Board of Directors for many years.
God's Design for Relationship in Marriage
The Apostle Paul likens marriage as similar to Christ’s relationship with His church in Ephesians 5:21-23. Prior to this he encourages unity between all believers. “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise [not the wisdom of this world, but the wisdom of Christ] making the most of your time, because the days are evil [do not waste your life on foolish pursuits].” “So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will [pleasure] of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:15-17). The apostle John adds that your testimony should be is Jesus’, “I always do the things that are pleasing to Him” (John 8:29).
Paul’s initial instruction to both husband and wife also encourages unity, “… The subject [in intimate relationship] to one another in the fear [reverence and respect] of Christ” (vs 21).
To the wife:
The wife’s responsibility to her husband is referred to three times in this passage:
First
, “Wives, be subject [love and unity of purpose] to your own husbands, as to the Lord (vs 22). Paul has in mind that her husband is a shepherding husband, leader and protector as Jesus is to his church.
Second
, she should follow the example set by her church “But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything” (vs 24). However, very few churches present a good example because they do not look to Jesus to be the shepherding and leading head of their church. Rather than looking to Christ, most often the church leaders depend upon their combined creative fleshly intellects for the churches vision, direction and purpose.
Consequently, the husband also does not have a biblical model to follow as a shepherding and leading husband because of the failure of the church to allow Jesus Christ to Shepherd and had the church.
Third
, “…The wife must see to it that she respects her husband” (vs 33). It is easy for a wife to respect her husband if he is prepared to lay down his life for her while loving and cherishing her as Christ loves and cherishes his church.
To the husband:
The apostle Paul spends the rest of this passage [Ephesians 5:23-33] focusing upon the husband’s responsibility for caring for his wife as her shepherding husband.
First
, “…The husband is the head of the wife,
as Christ also is the head of the church
, he himself being the Savior of the body” (vs 23). Jesus is never a controlling despot demanding his own way, but always gives of himself to protect, encourage and lift up each of the precious members of his church.
Second
, “Husbands, love your wives, just
as Christ
also
loved
the church and gave himself up for her.” Jesus gives of himself to us and does not require a payback. Husbands tend to be takers rather than givers. His expectation is that his wife will be responsible for the household by caring for the children, preparing meals, laundry, shopping, etc. plus being there to meet his needs. He sees his job as being a good financial provider. Because of his giving he expects her to reciprocate with a payback. After a while some wives feel that they are unloved and or just their husbands slave.
Third
, Jesus loved his church “so that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that he might present to himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless” (vs 26-28).
You husbands recognize how difficult it is to do what only Jesus can do, but he dwells within believing husbands and is prepared to be in, through and with you all that he designed you to be. So confess your inability and ask him to take over and show you how to cooperate with him.
As you and Jesus Shepherd your wife she will respond and become more and more beautiful to you as you both age together.
Fourth
, likewise, “So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of his body” (vs 29-30).
You and your wife are “one flesh”. You, with love, take great care of your own body by nourishing and cherishing it. Since God has made you one with your wife, you lovingly will nourish and cherish her also. This is a privilege for you and not a burden.
Fifth
, marriage is designed to be an exclusive relationship worked the two function as one. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh” (vs 31).
Sixth
, marriage designed by God is spiritually made up of three persons. Jesus Christ is the godly husband and the union of husband and wife functions spiritually together as Jesus’ bride. “This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church” (vs 32).
Jesus Christ is the only male in his church and Christians function as his bride. “Therefore, my brother and [husband and wife], you also were made to die… Through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another [as in marriage], to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God” (Romans 7:4).
True spiritual fruit can only come from this union. Jesus said, “for apart from me you can do nothing” (Romans 15:5).
Seventh
, husbands love your wife as you love yourself because you are one flesh, “nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even has himself” (vs 33).
Loving your wife as you love yourself is so important in God’s design for marriage that the apostle Paul emphatically concludes his understanding of God’s marriage design — loving your wife as you love your own self.
If the church, as our biblical model, would submit to and enjoy Jesus Christ’s shepherding care, so a wife will also be able to submit to and enjoy her husband shepherding care.
Now the apostle Paul’s initial instruction to both husband and wife makes sense, “…Be subject [in intimate relationship] to one another in fear of Christ” (vs 21).
Note:
The structure of this passage of Scripture is often missed and/or misrepresented by focusing the weight of the passage upon the wife’s submission to her husband.
The wife’s submission is addressed only three times in this passage. The husband’s responsibility is addressed seven times in conjunction with the shepherding care of Jesus for his church. As Jesus is to his church, the husband is to be to his wife.
This is truly God’s design for relationship and marriage.
Robert W. Flynn
Bob has been with the Christian Military Fellowship since 1981. He has served as a Local Leader, Coordinator of Ministries, Chief Operating Officer, President/CEO, and Chairman of the Board of Directors. After a short retirement he returned as Chief Information Officer. His ministry area has been one-on-one mentoring and discipleship. He now also leads the the Remote Access Discipleship Program creating opportunities for our members to engage in Bible study where ever they happen to be standing.
Bob enlisted in the United States Navy in 1968 and served on active duty until 1991 when he joined the CMF Staff. He and his wife, Nancy, live near Buckley Space Force Base, Aurora, Colorado.
Casualties of War – Friendly Fire
I am grieved in my spirit of late at the breaking news about all of the terrorist activity reported in the news. Not the television network news, nor even the cable news, but reports from the front lines in the battle for souls. My ears are still ringing from reports of church splits, pastoral staff resignations, mischief and misbehavior at Christian universities. What fuels the flame of this seemingly continuous conflagration that destroys lives, churches and makes impotent the work of the Gospel? It is the sin of anger! Yes, you heard it here first. Anger is a sin.
I did not come to this conclusion by way of thoughtful consideration of my intellectual prowess. It came instead by incremental illumination by the Holy Spirit as He worked upon my heart during a ten-year long sojourn in the second chapter of the Epistle to the Philippians. It could not have happened any other way! It was and is a continuance of the work that God began and will finish on the day when Christ returns (Phil 1:6, paraphrase mine). For how can mere flesh and blood stand in the midst of Him of whom angels sing, “Holy, Holy, Holy.” For He who brings everything into conformity with His will had already spoken through the Apostle Paul and said, “Be humble, thinking others as better than yourself…In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing….” (Phil 2:3b, 14) Instead, our lives should epitomize the “attitude that was in Christ Jesus.” The only innocent man who lived did not cling to His innocence but rather sacrificed himself on the altar without complaint. He could have been angry at those who falsely accused and condemned Him. He could have clung to His excellence and rightly held us in contempt. Instead He went as a lamb to the slaughter. How then shall we live? Shall we continue giving aid and comfort to the Enemy? Shall we continue inflicting casualties upon each other because our lives are not “blameless,” “clean” and “innocent” “as children of God in a dark world full of crooked and perverse people.”? (Phil 2:15) How then can we be angry with another without thinking too highly of ourselves?
I know that there are those who would argue with me, but C.S. Lewis pretty much covers the basis for this conclusion in his book, Mere Christianity.
“The law of gravity tells you what stones do if you drop them; but the law of Human Nature tells you what human beings ought to do and do not. In other words, when you are dealing with humans, something else comes in above and beyond the actual facts. You have the facts (how men do behave) and you also have something else (how they ought to behave). In the rest of the universe there need not be anything but the facts. Electrons and molecules behave in a certain way, and certain results follow, and that may be the whole story. But men behave in a certain way and that is not the whole story, for all the time you know that they ought to behave differently.”