Mettle:
The Warrior as the "Man of Peace"
Part
1 deals with the internal, personal characteristics of the Warrior. This
will serve as a guide to aid development of your internal Warrior or other
character traits you are led to change or develop.
These character traits, while intangible, have very real effects when acted out.
For example, compassion or discipline bear witness to themselves in
expression of word or deed, and are easy enough to identify.
An individual can truly be touched by an act of kindness or justice.
These are examples of character traits of the internal Warrior that will
be looked at in the chapter dealing specifically with character.
Many
of the characteristics of the Warrior may be seen in the expression and action
of our Lord Jesus, both as a “Man-of-Peace” and as a “Man-of-War.”
When Christ, our perfect role model, appeared to man for the first time,
he was seen as a Man- of-Peace. His
life was the epitome of honor and compassion: traits that should be our guiding
force as we live our lives. His
first appearance was to accomplish the redemption of man.
Rather than appear as a King or military leader, as the Jews were
expecting in a Messiah, He came, however, as a Man-of-Peace.
It is fitting for us to refer to Him as “the Prince of Peace.”
A good example of the expression of the
Man-of-Peace is the occasion of Jesus’ arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Jesus stayed the hand of a follower who had drawn a sword to protect Him.
Jesus’ response was simple and most revealing . . .do you think
that I cannot appeal to my Father, who would promptly send more than twelve
legions of angels to my defense? But
then, how would the scriptures be fulfilled that say this is the way it must be?
Matt. 26:53-54.
How better may He have portrayed a
Man-of-Peace? His actions revealed
many of the qualities of the Warrior as a Man-of-Peace. Two that come to mind are discernment and control on His
part. In order for us to develop
all of the spiritual protection required by a Christian Warrior, we must
understand how building up one fortifies the other.
This protection is readily available, and extremely necessary, if one is
going to engage in the spiritual war embroiling our world today.
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