What does it mean to be a 'soldier for Christ'?

Are all believers soldiers?

 

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I have never been in the army, but if we were to take this analogy to the end, it would seem to me that a Christian soldier is the very least a believer should be. Yes some are soldiers and leaders or sargent what have ya, and Christ is our Captain (heb 2:10-11)

In other words are you saying this...?

That all believers are "chosen of Christ to be soldiers"?
That non-believers are not chosen to be soldiers?

Is this like saying a person is chosen for salvation?

Eph 6...Yes to fight is the reason.

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And I agree that this fits right in with the analogy. I want to point out that most people don't walk around with armor on. Only soldiers wear it. In other words, a non-soldier is not called here to carry the armor of light, but a believer/soldier is told he must.

I agree.

 

I’m not really disagreeing with you guys, but I do not think it is as simply as been stated so far.

For starters, we must deal with these verses….

Within the soldier analogy God also views non-believers as the enmity of God. In fact friendship seems to be wrong.

Now many may want to claim that this is the world system. The system is wrong, because it is sinful. Dogs do not sin. A house does not sin. Governments can only sin if people are part of governments.

Mankind is the one that sins, and you cannot remove man from the world system for it is man that sins.

ok....what is your thoughts?

 

Would it not be better said that God enlisted us?

But yes, I agree that all believers are to be soldiers of Christ.

 

I'm not sure one has to be a Calvinist to say that. I only posted a Bible verse. You must agree that this is what it says. Now we both could take it and add our own meaning to it.

 

Hello Gina,

It will for me be different, and in fact it has changed the way I view others. I am only told to share the gospel and pray for others. At times some think it is cleaver words one may use, or maybe good stories they will win over people for Christ. But it is God that saves, and not our flowery words.

Have you been in a church service that deals with Church governement and have someone become a believer? And then maybe next week you may have the best gospel message preached and not one person responds? I don't understand it but to say it is how God works in mans heart.

So as to how it changes me, when I preach or share the good news, I am reminded it is not me and my words, but God. I pray for God to change hearts.

Gina, what I asked was if we should say it like it is said in the Bible. Why is that not better?

I'm not sure what you mean here.

I agree with this. I still say we are with war. It is not for us to fight the war, but God.

Look, I'm not saying we need to "fight" with people. I feel it would be good to see it as it is. One of my top ten books I love is "A long War Against God" by Dr. Henry Morris. If I had the book with me I would post some quotes from it. Morris shows how each movement by mankind is against God. Great book...read it if you can.

Anyway..I happen to agree with Morris in that if you are not "for God"..you are against Him.

I agree with what you mean.

Again let me quote the verse that got a few people upset.

I agree with the verse. Do you?

 

Gina,

Allow me to disagree on somethings.

FIRST YOU GO..
Why do you go to enlist? Are you are drawn? You see the text does not say he goes to enlist(as we will see), nor does it say he was drawn. However if we add to the text as you just have done, we must consider all scripture for now we are into system theology and your "system" is beginning to show.

One may claim my system has been showing all along. OK..I'll give you that. But in this case the verse posted I only used as seen in the context, and have kept the meaning pure not needing to go beyond what the text says.

ONE ONE GOING..
I like the Darby Translation but hardly use it. You are building your system on the wrong meaning of the word strateuomai. strateuomai means a soldier that goes to war or to battle.

stratia (heavenly host) is the root of strateuomai. The angels are not going to enlist, but going as part of their duty as a servant of God if you will. Likewise, our text does not say we go to enlist, but we go to battle. Maybe even you could use the words "sent forth to war". Maybe the best place to see this is in James.

Yes. In fact this is just how the KJV translates it. (that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.) I like the KJV and I agree with how the translators saw it here, and...........this only makes my case stronger, however, in this case, though I agree with the meaning the translators of the KJV added some interpretation to the text here. They all (the KJV translators) were a bunch of Calvinist you know.

Having said that, I too interpret it as the KJV says..."chosen to be a soldier".

Indeed it has. Ok...not that one verse alone, but the whole idea found in scripture of God is the work of Salvation, not us.

Yes...but a better eater of food then a writer.

I'm sorry. I feel your pain.

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yes. I only fixed a slip in words by another poster and based it on the Bible. This has lead to a full page of post where people disagree. Why so picky?

The tread was not meant for that debate, but being I'm a Calvinist and others are not, we will disagree on somethings. Some see man enlisting, and I see God as enlisting. Therefore we see the debate.

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If only people would not disagree with me, there would be no debate.

Now we are getting somewhere.

ok.....well..
I'll skip this one. To much to write and I have to go to church.

Then why debate? Why not just read what I posted and go on?

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If you use C or A for debate only and not see it's end as a need reach the world with the gospel then you are wasting your time with a foolish debate. Both systems should give us to share the good news. I feel one gives a much higher view of God. This is the one I hold to.

It is clear you have not read many of my post. I may hold the record in long post.

 

Yes I agree. But going by this passage and going by many other passages, who is it that choose 1st? A soldier is not a soldier going by this passage till Christ enlist him. Then the choice to serve Christ well, is up to the soldier.

As the passage says...

No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of [this] life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

In other words...be a good soldier and not entangled with the world. Because good soldiers are out to please the one that chose him to be a soldier.

Plain as day. I'm not sure what you guys are fighting over.

OK. I rest my case.

You mean like a draft in war time? I have no idea how the Brits do it, but I know what the passage says and I happen to believe it. Do you?

I believe what it says "God chose is to be a soldier" but I don't see God forcing anyone, so this view does not entail force.

I happen to believe the Bible as it is, with no need to change the words, not ad to the text.