Prologue in Sermons: December 23

Christians Are Soldiers Appointed To Battle

December 23
 
(A Certain Peter's Words About Resisting Everything.)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

The Holy Apostle Paul calls a Christian a soldier and points out that he must suffer much in war. "Therefore," he says, "you must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" (2 Tim. 2:3). So, a Christian is a soldier. But who are his enemies, and what harm have they done to him? And what should a Christian do to defeat his enemies?

The word of the Church says: "First, the Lord created righteousness in men. Then, unrighteousness arose within them from the devil and began to war against and persecute righteousness. And men accepted unrighteousness and rejected righteousness, and righteousness abandoned them, and they began to live of their own free will, only to perish. And so, debauchery arose against virginity and destroyed virginity. And impurity arose against purity, malice against meekness, and hatred against love. Gluttony arose against fasting, and drunkenness against sobriety. Resentment arose against humility, and robbery against brotherly love. Stinginess arose against generosity, and disfavor against mercy. And lawlessness arose against the preservation of the law and against all good deeds."

Thus, according to the word of the Church, these are our enemies: our passions and sins, our corrupting inner serpent; and the evil they do to us is to drag us to hell. What then remains for us to do to vanquish these enemies? The word of the Church also tells us what to do. "Let us," it continues, "cast out unrighteous wealth with mercy and love the poverty of Christ, that through it we may acquire heavenly riches. Let us cast out carnal lust with abstinence, that we may live chastely and abide in virginity with the angels. Let us cast out love of glory with humility, that God may have mercy on us at the Judgment. Let us cast out hypocrisy and man-pleasing from ourselves, that we may become servants of Christ, that He may accept our tearful prayer, cleanse our sins, and save us. Let us cast out worldly delights and disdain the joys of this world, that we may rejoice in the future life. Let us cut off evil desires from our hearts, so that God's truth may dwell within us. And let us finally submit our will to God's will, so as to draw closer to God, who has mercy on all, helps all, and fulfills all."

Now you know, brethren, that we are truly like soldiers set to battle; you know who our enemies are, and also what we must do to defeat them. What can we add to this? Let us add the following: since our spiritual warfare with our enemies must continue throughout our lives, we must also be vigilant and cautious throughout our lives, and always clad in the full armor of God, as Saint Basil the Great teaches us. "Just as a worldly soldier," he says, "does not lay down his arms while the war continues, lest he be wounded by the enemy; so too, you, a soldier of Christ, must not be careless, for your enemy never sleeps" (Homily on Fasting).

"Finally, brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might" (Eph. 6:10). "Therefore we will not fear, nor be dismayed before the faces of our enemies, for our battle is not ours, but God's; and we shall see the salvation of the Lord with us" (2 Chron. 20:13, 17). Amen.

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.