In the morning, the staff (that’s includes me) are going on a several mile ruck march(hike)—maybe four miles, maybe five, or even six—I will just do what I’m told.
I was told to be in “full battle rattle”. “No big deal” I thought, until I started remembering what that meant…
But what did that mean?
Armored Vest—with bulletproof plates?
Ruck sack or assault pack?
Ammo Pouches or not?
Elbow pads? Knee Pads? Gloves?
And on and on…
The truth of the matter was, I really didn’t know exactly what “Full Battle Rattle” really meant for this setting.
I needed a definition. I needed a standard.
How many times do we go out saying—”I’m a Christian.”
This means different things to different people.
In this day and age, different people define “Christian” as different things.
To one, it may mean that he/she believes in God—with a mix of Hindu mixed in for Reincarnation.
To another, it may mean that he/she attends a church but does not believe in Christ for Salvation.
To another, it may mean that he/she believes that Christ saves everybody—on the basis of whether they are good or bad.
The Bible, however, teaches that it is Christ alone for Salvation. It is the acceptance of Christ, through the repentance of sin, that allows a person to enter heaven.
It is important (1) that we have a standard and (2) that we believe in the Christian teaching of Christ dying on the Cross as a substitute for our sin…
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, ESV)
Patti Bennett says
I read your blog through Mindy’s site, but thought for sure you were going to use the battle dress as an illustration for the Armor of
God. How to be fully clothed in the Armor of God protects us. But I have come to realize that yes Christianity means different things
to different people and that sometimes in my niave thinking that everyone look at there salvation the same way I do. So thanks for adding to my recent thoughts on the subject.
Monica says
Great post! We all do need standards…the correct ones.