Run To The Roar Series

I’ve entitled our message this morning, “Run to the Roar.” The Fourth of July is a national holiday that many churches recognize; one which “celebrates America’s Declaration of Independence from the tyranny of England under King George the III.”(1) I find it interesting that we have a day celebrating an act akin to insurrection, when we couldn’t imagine something like that today. Those who signed the Declaration of Independence had a courage that we rarely see; and many of us do not realize how the courage that led to America’s fight for independence and freedom began a year earlier with the church. And yes, you heard me right! It began with the church! Listen as I share some background information on the American Revolution presented by David Barton of Wall Builders.

The Battles of Lexington and Concord, fought on April 19, 1775, kicked off the Revolution. Barton says that at the Battle of Lexington, 700 British came marching into town. So, Rev. Jonas Clark said, “My church will take care of this,” and Rev. Clark took 70 men from his church and they went out and faced the British. That was the battle of Lexington. In the second battle, 300 Americans were there to meet the British at Concord; but this time the 300 men were led by Rev. William Emerson.(2)

The British said, “This is not going the right direction. We had 70 opponents. Now we have 300 opponents!” So, they turned around and headed back to Charleston as quickly as they could get there, which was a 19-mile forced march; and along the way, there were 4,500 Americans lining the road on both sides. So, where did all those people come from? Rev. Peyton Phillips brought his church out, and Rev. Benjamin Boss brought his church out. The same thing happened at the Battle of Bunker Hill outside of Boston. Rev. Joseph Willard got two companies out of his church, and said, “Guys, it’s our town. Let’s go fight for it!” And so, the American Revolution consisted of these kinds of local battles.(3)

I personally find it difficult to reconcile this kind of physical force with what the New Testament teaches; but we need to keep in mind something called “situational ethics,” which holds that the situation determines our actions. You’ve heard it said, “Never judge someone until you walk a mile in their shoes.” Now, I feel it’s important to mention that the churches gathered there to fight resolved “not to fire the first shot.” It was the British who fired first. With all this said, let me lay out what I’m going to do this morning. First, we’re going to look at what the New Testament says about fighting; and secondly, we’re going to reflect on these initial battles of the American Revolution, and see how we can apply what we learn to the spiritual conflict that we face in America today.

Jesus Disapproves of Physical Force (John 18:10-12, 33-36)

10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?” 12 Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him . . .

33 Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered him, “Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”

From these verses, we actually learn that physical force and fighting are not tactics that Jesus approves for His followers. First of all, in verses 10-12, when Peter sought to stop Jesus’ arrest by using a sword, which was a deadly weapon, Jesus told him, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?” (v. 11). In Matthew 26:52, we find some more words from this exchange. Matthew tells us, “But Jesus said to him, ‘Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword’.” It seems that Jesus was against violence.

In verse 33, when Pilate asked Jesus if He were the King of the Jews, he wanted to know two main things. First, he was checking to make sure that Jesus wasn’t exalting himself above Caesar, for there was to be no king or god above Caesar. Secondly, he was checking to make sure that Jesus wasn’t a Zealot. The Zealots were a political movement which sought to incite the people of Judea to rebel against the Roman Empire. They were founded by Judas of Galilee,(4) who is mentioned by name in Acts 5:37. In fact, in Luke 23:5-6, we read of Jesus’ trial before Pilate, that the mob became “more fierce, saying, ‘He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place.’ When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the Man were a Galilean.” So, Pilate was checking to make sure that Jesus wasn’t associated with those violent insurrectionists.