“Baptism… Then Fire” (Matt. 10:39; 16:25; 3:10; 6:9ff; 1 Jn.4:18; 2 Cor.6:9; Rom.11:16ff; 1Cor.15:24-28) [Reflections on Ralph D. Sawyer's Translation of One Hundred Unorthodox Strategies - Battle Tactics of Chinese Warfare #51-52]
Baptism, Paul and Christ believe,
Is “Burning boats” as world we leave
To live in Christ, on Kingdom-layer
(If done as child, “Confirmed-so” later).For death to “Self” and “Worldly-life”,
Has impact in the cosmic strife
Christ wages ’gainst the evil side;
We join, as we in Christ abide.Some folks see just “Club-membership”;
A pew to warm – they stand and sit
(And kneel if in some branches where
They kneel when they partake in prayer).They raise their kids in Sunday school
(Inoculate, lest kids be fooled
Into belief that’s “Radical”
To point where precious blood gets spilled).Ho-hum – been that since Emperor
Of Rome won battle – Christ concurred –
Told him to fight as Christ’s own man;
He did – succeeded in his plans.Then danger to one’s life and limb
For “living life apart from sin”,
Was gone – then quite respectable
It was to put on spectacle –Of “Holiness” and “Sunday School”;
Who wouldn’t? One would be a fool
To pass up opportunity
To further one’s pursuit of ‘Me’.Then monks set up their little groups
(Or lived alone, cut off their roots),
And courted danger, poverty,
To get a fact which Chinese see –For C’hi, or spirit, gets a boost
When one courts danger – “Cooked your goose;
And certain death is all that’s left” –
You fight; give life your total best.Seek easy road, and great escape?
You will not in the battle take
It as your last great enterprise,
For “Skipping out” has filled your eyes.Lord, as I turn this part around,
I’m hearing, “Up above the ground,
From whence My battle plans are laid,
My troops are “Dead”, their debts all paid.“So what’s to fear? Not fear itself;
Or being placed on side-lined shelf –
Affronts to evil, when and where
I bid you make (Outrageous care) –“Have impact, through audacity
That has no fear – capacity
To act by grace, from Kingdom-layer,
Makes visible one’s private prayer.“But now it’s “Intercessory” –
I guide, direct – you cannot see
What’s best to do, but as I see
Connections, you act ‘Fittingly’.”But that takes courage – like in text;
Your strength, O Lord, to do ‘Our’ best –
That’s us in You, and You in us,
Addressing evil’s constant fuss.Thanks Lord for this.
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