–– Paul Schlehlein
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Godly men are called to fight, but they must pick their fights prudently. “Fight the good fight of the faith,” Paul said (1Tm. 6:12). “I have fought the good fight,” were his last words (2Tm. 4:7). This differs from today’s 11th Commandment: Thou shalt be nice. Break this command and you’ll incur the world’s wrath.
Consider the recent expulsion of final-year law student Shaun Christie from North-West University in South Africa. On 6 February 2024, an orientation programme was held for first-year students at the Potchefstroom Campus. Students were forced to sit for LGBTQA+ indoctrination, which opposed many of the students’ religious convictions. Christie, a Christian, publicly stood and voiced his protest at the presentation, which was captured on camera. Afterwards, the university expelled him for what they called disruption and denying free speech. Christie refused to back down.
So far the African Christian Democratic Party has defended his actions in print and in Parliament and has called for his immediate reinstatement, as have other Christians.
On this issue, I am ashamed of North-West University, my PhD Alma Mater, which approved my dissertation arguing for a biblical view of marriage. This historic school began as Potchefstroom University for Higher Education, established over 150 years ago upon Christian principles, including the teaching that the Bible is true, no matter what modern sentiment proclaims. One of those Scriptures includes 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. “[No] men who practice homosexuality…will inherit the kingdom of God.”
Fast forward to 2024. NWU sent an email to alumni, saying they “strongly condemn” Christie’s actions.
On the contrary, I do not strongly condemn Christie’s stand for truth. I applaud him and pray, “Lord, give us a million courageous men like Shaun Christie.”
Godly Principles for Picking Fights
If we need more Shaun Christies in our world, how should Christian men go about fighting? Consider the following principles.
First, godly men must fight faithfully. Jude 3 says, “Contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.” We get our word “agonize” from the word “contend”. God calls us to struggle with intense effort for the truth of Scripture, even if it costs us dearly. We must not quit in the face of opposition.
Paul said, “Be not weary in well-doing” (Gal. 6:9). Solomon said the righteous are resilient. He rises again, though he falls seven times (Pr. 24:16). The Catholic Church demanded that Martin Luther recant his views on justification. “Revoco?” the pope queried. The wild boar countered: “I neither can nor will recant anything, since it is neither right nor safe to act against conscience.”
Second, godly men must fight articulately. Read of the Trio’s eloquent rebuttal to Nebuchadnezzar’s evil decree. They would not bow the knee (Dan. 3:16-18). Read Peter’s cogent reply to the demand to quit preaching. He would not consent (Ac. 5:29). Read Micaiah’s silver-tongued response to Ahab’s call for positive words. He would not comply (2Chron. 18).
American patriot Patrick Henry loved liberty and repudiated tyranny. But he had more than courage. Some call him the greatest orator that ever lived, others describe his eloquence as beyond the power of description. It is not enough to stand. We must prepare ourselves to give articulate defenses of the truth (1Pt. 3:15).
Third, godly men must fight righteously. We don’t fight dirty. Because our consciences are clean, we go to war whistling “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.”
When our soul is among lions and we suffer reproach, it must never be because of our own sins. King David said, “May those who hope for You not be ashamed through me” (Ps. 69:6). We do not slander but rather love those that oppose us and pray for them, as Jesus said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Mt. 5:44).
Fourth, godly men fight strategically. Men fight over deep doctrines and serious sins. We don’t quarrel over peccadillos and grey areas. We fight for true liberty—not the freedom to do whatever we please, as the humanists argue. Rather we fight against vices according to the “perfect law of liberty” (Jms. 1:25), which frees men from the tyranny of pornography, human sacrifice, sodomy, divorce, drunkenness, polygamy, infanticide, the sex trade, drug addiction, and witchcraft. With sinners, we are willing to fight, so that they may have peace.
Finally, godly men fight manfully. Men must lead the fight for truth. Women are created to help and nurture, while God designed men to lead and fight in the home, the church, and society. One reason God made men stronger physically and emotionally (1Pt. 3:7) is so they can fight for the truths worth fighting for.
In fact, godly women want men to do the fighting. Deborah, for example, despised Barak (and so should we) for insisting that a woman do the fighting for him (Judges 4).
Conclusion
Godly men must seek peace, but never at the expense of truth. Families, churches, societies and nations will flourish when men reclaim a biblical view of fighting, men that declare with courage: “Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen.”