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Lion-Hearted Christianity



So often as Christians we are urged to be silent and turn the other cheek. We are told not to defend ourselves verbally or physically. From the pulpit it is preached we should endure persecution and be persistent in being peaceful. There is merit to this disposition, but it also has a major flaw. Yes, Jesus was silent before the Sanhedrin and yes he said "turn the other cheek," however this pacifist Prince of Peace side of our Lord must be reconciled with a vigorous and lion-hearted Savior. When Jesus entered the Temple Courts during Passover (Passion Week), he threw over the money changer tables and took up a whip and drove out the people. (John 2:15). When Jesus confronted the Pharisees and Teachers of Religious Law, he called them "hypocrites," and even said to them "you snake and vipers!,"-"you sons of your father the devil!' (Matthew 23:33, John 8:44). From these actions and words alone, we can see that God is not just passive and disposed to be picked on.

If we examine our Lord's words and actions carefully, we will find that temperance must prevail, but there is a time to be silent and a time to speak. A time to be angry and act, a time to be cool and calm a be patient. Jesus says to Peter when he resists in Gethsemane, "Peter put away your sword, those who live by the sword, die by the sword." (Matthew 26:52). This is used my ministers to drive home that Jesus is a pacifist and yet Jesus also said, "Soon you will need to sell your cloak and buy a sword," ( and "I came not to bring peace, but a sword.." (Luke 22:36). These seem like contradictions or paradoxes at first, but if we put them on scale and consider the situations of life, we will see that Jesus is artfully telling us there is both a time to take up the sword and fight and a time to put it away and stand down. Only with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the context of the events, and the searching of our own hearts can we know which to do.

As humans we like to live in extremes. We either want to be black or white, warm or cold. We either become passive Christians who let people abuse us at every turn or we become militant and crusade against every offense and person who has offended us. The key as always is balance. We must be both a lion and a lamb. Jesus was lamb to many and lion to others. He even was a lamb one moment with Peter saying, "you did not come to this of yourself, the father has revealed it to you," (regarding Peter's Revelation that Jesus is the Son of God) and then right after "get behind me Satan!" (in regards to Peter telling Jesus he shall never die). Each situation calls for us to respond differently. We must be diligent to be a diplomat first and then a warrior after negotiations fail.

The problem is that in the Christian Church the crusader is gone. There are no believers who will stand against the tide of evil approaching. If a holocaust awaits God's people, will they not fight to avert such lose of life? Of course there must be appeals and amiable negotiations is possible first, but at some point the lions must rise to defend the sheep. We should not be war mongers or ready to chop someone's head off, but if a time should call Christians to arms, we should be ready. At this point we have sold our swords. We are lambs, but there are those who want to make lamb chops out of us. It is time for us to live the balance Jesus set forth for us. We must live as lambs, but be ready to be lions. We must practice soft speech and a mighty battle cry! We should be peace makers and peace keepers! The Priest and Knight rolled into one! The time has come to be lion-hearted Christians with the compassion of a lamb. God is abundant in mercy and justice, so should we be tender and mild but also tenacious and mighty. Ask the Father, The Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit to guide you to be in the right disposition in each moment. Let the Lord teach his Church to be lambs and lions in this life.

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