WHERE'S THE FIGHT?
- Simon Rennie
- Jan 25
- 7 min read
Where’s the Fight?
Not that I’m particularly looking for one. Nevertheless, there’s a verse (and opening paragraph) in Judges 3 that has often grabbed my prophetic attention.
These are the nations the Lord left to test all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan 2 (he did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience): 3 the five rulers of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites living in the Lebanon mountains from Mount Baal Hermon to Lebo Hamath. 4 They were left to test the Israelites to see whether they would obey the Lord’s commands, which he had given their ancestors through Moses.
In the NIV translation verse 2 is in parenthesis (that’s brackets for most of us!), yet it’s in these words that we find God’s wisdom and strategy for a rising generation.
After 40 years of wilderness wanderings, an entire generation has died, except two; leaving the faithful and visionary leaders Joshua and Caleb to settle the land. It was God’s provision since the days of Abraham, yet just as Isaac had to contend for his father’s wells, the land required God’s people to defeat its pagan occupants under the direction and might of God.
The unhelpful influences of Israel’s neighbours would always a vulnerable area that could lead to spiritual compromises and infidelity. Even under Moses’s leadership, as nomads, just passing through, the Moabite women were still a snare (Numbers 25:1-9).
Back to Judges 3. God deliberately left some nations within the land for two specific reasons. From verse 2, to teach a new generation warfare. And, from verse 4, to test the people in their obedience to the Lord’s commands.
I’m a baby-boomer, just! A sociological category for those born from 1945 to 1964. So, I was a teenager in the late-1970s, a student in the 80s, and later in that same decade, I got married, bought a house, and found my first jobs.
In my printed books and elsewhere within these blogs I have included plenty autobiographical material, because the last fifty years of church life have been quite extraordinary. Many of us have felt we needed to contend for effective change. We have seen the looks of indignation from our elders. We’ve been misunderstood, written off as enthusiasts, and clearly seen as a threat to the spiritual status quo.
When I started to reflect on the ecclesiastical changes, I’ve both witnessed and contended for, the list just grew and grew. Without a doubt, two standout areas were,
all the consequences of a church experiencing charismatic renewal,
and the changing role of women in ministry.
Other areas could include child spiritually through the reformation of traditional Sunday School classes into far more interactive and dynamic children’s churches. Also, there’s the never-ending issues that surface around (and within) worship ministry and its personnel. Plus, the recurring themes that relate to church government, leadership, communion, baptism, approaches in evangelism and basically, theology – though the word is not always used.
Personally, I know the battles I had to contend within. Mainly in regard to Charismatic spirituality. It wasn’t always easy, especially when those in your ‘camp’ had bad theology, weak Bible knowledge and flawed characters. For me, as I review the years 1977 through to about 1994, I had to learn to celebrate the small victories of minor skirmishes, knowing fine well the war was far from being over. Perhaps my language here is a little dramatic. But if you were there, you’d know, spiritual renewal had its casualties.
Let’s not forget (and many haven’t), improving and expanding the role of women in ministry was fiercely fought. Leaving those victorious pioneers glad that the next generation didn’t have to face the same level of misogyny underlined with misplaced Scriptures and flawed human values.
I guess that’s what Judges 3:2 is getting at. When one generation has fought for its freedoms and changes, the next generation benefits, but may also become unaware of the need to both stay firm and push through for more. When we serve an infinite God within the context of an expanding Kingdom – there’s always more!
An example of a benefit. Ahhh, it’s refreshing to strum a guitar with no particular song in mind, while praying in a mix of understandable and untranslated languages as others in the room participate in filling the space with their spontaneous praise, amidst a tangible sense of rising faith and growing expectancy. Thankfully, these days we don’t need the clutter of unnecessary explanations and proof-texts to engage in aspects of corporate worship. For most of us, we’re happy to function in Spirit-led environments, flowing within the overlapping dynamics of prayer, praise, and prophecy. Phew! But it wasn’t always like that.
My concern, in this particular area, is that some have simply watched and imitated, using their natural skills. They may not know the why of biblical praise – that requires a level of theology. Nor have they understood how to prepare as a servant of God – that requires increased spirituality.
My generation had to constantly face the jokes, the disdain and the general dismissiveness that surfaced around repeated and repetitive songs. Nevertheless, we contended for the space. We courageously modelled the new. We also had the Scriptures that explained and justified this different approach. We knew what we were fighting for. However, has our succession planning been effective? Did we explain our biblical thinking to others? Or are our church worship leaders simply leaders of songs within a style that has become a cultural norm.
I’m aware that certain Reformed (or Conservative Evangelical) voices still don’t get it! So be warned, if we simply put our late-twentieth century approach to corporate worship down to personal preferences and musical styles, we will lose hard fought ground and (I believe) the church will diminish in its spiritual authority and effective Kingdom ministry. Should it therefore be left untouched? By no means! Please, let it be developed and strengthened – but never move a fence until you’ve asked why it was put there in the first place! It's not about musical styles but rather maintaining biblical integrity (mainly focussed on the original Hebrew words for praise, of which there are several) that then need creative contemporary applications that are congregationally accessible.
Hmm? Are these just the ramblings of a grumpy old man, or is the church in danger of drifting into mediocrity? Though we’re called in Scripture repeatedly to love one another, I am not convinced that true spiritual compassion can manifest when God has been rendered impotent. Please hear this ageing voice crying into the internet – When the Holy Spirit is eclipsed by human talent and natural skills, church will quickly become boring, demanding and exhausting.
Drawing again from Judges 3, I leave you with two areas for your prayerful consideration, or even a corporate discussion.
Who are the neighbouring nations God has left within our borders? In other words, what are the present societal influences that might rob us our spiritual integrity and faithfulness?
What are your present ecclesiastical contentions? Or in other words, what burning biblical vision for ministry are you carrying that the present church either is ignoring or misunderstanding?
Finally, some further clarity to help.
I’m not asking you to become a zealous demon-spotter. Biblically, demons are not at the top of the ‘poison tree’, humanity, which was originally created in the likeness of God (unlike inferior angels), when flawed and left unchallenged, can be far more destructive, damaging and abusive – with or without the presence of an actual demon. My earlier question is asking you to prayerfully discern societal traits that are dangerously opposed to Kingdom values and God’s revealed purposes.
A proof-text, not always the most mature way to present a case. So, I use it here to build on my previous statements. Matthew 11:12 needs some careful exegesis, and our English translations can vary.
And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it.
If your version uses the word ‘violence’, you need to know that the Greek word here is biazetai, which is where we get our words bio and biology. It speaks of life, yet specifically the force (or dynamics) of life. Even a plant’s first shoot must push its way through the earth to gain light, water, increased strength and eventually bear fruit. The Kingdom is advancing ‘with force’, because a passive kingdom (like a passive plant) would make no difference. What of the other ‘violent people’? Two options, those opposing the Kingdom. Or we see this verse as a piece of Hebrew parallelism (common within the Psalms, and prophetic oracles), where the first statement and its emphasis remains the gist for the second. In this case, the long-awaited Kingdom is forcibly advancing (demons flee, Pharisees take offence, etc, in short, it’s noticeable). And the second statement echoes the first, where these forcible individuals are not fighting against the Kingdom, they represent the zeal of those in the flow of God’s ongoing work. Just as the Kingdom’s advance is dynamic and noticeable, so too are those who align themselves to God’s mission; our presence, especially when initiating or re-shaping a ministry, will be noticeable – and often, can stir opposition. For examples of this, read the Book of Nehemiah, the Gospels, Paul, as found in the Book of Acts, and again within his own writings.
I’m not looking for a fight. I never have. Nevertheless, Kingdom ministry can place us in uncomfortable environments.
Are you part of the Kingdom’s advance?
Welcome to 2025 – and don’t get too comfortable.
Simon Rennie
January 2025
Further Reading
Book, School of Praise
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