A Pastor’s Perspective

“Fight the Good Fight” by Mike Hill, pastor of Calvary Chapel Aberdeen (mjhill@ida.net)

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I have a friend that is a pro fighter in a “UFC”- type organization.  Okay, maybe this will help—“no holds bar cage fighting.”  Believe it or not, he’s a godly Christian as well.  Christian cage fighter…is that an oxymoron akin to “jumbo shrimp” or “government intelligence”?  I’ve seen him fight.  He’s an incredible athlete and skilled grappler.  He transformed his honed wrestling finesse from his years at Boise State into a multi-faceted fighting style opponents find hard to resist.  In other words, his opponents are prone to submit under his well-placed pressure and pulverizing fist-poundings.

One time I asked him if he hated the other guy in the cage.  He responded with something such as “No, actually, when guys get all fired-up with anger and hate, they lose mind control and swing wildly.”  He’s in it for the skill and fun of it (he works at HP—so it’s sort of just a hobby), not because he’s got chip on his shoulder.  I was amazed to see fighters hugging each other after they beat the tar out of one another.  It seems their greatest opponent is not necessary the other guy but themselves—to not give up and fight the best fight. 

I’ve also witnessed my friend’s passion to fight outside the cage.  He was continually sick and in misery for years.  The medical tests revealed that he needed to have his large intestine removed.  I popped in on him during his stay at the hospital and suddenly he went code blue.  Nurses and doctors flew in and stabilized him.  He’s a fighter.  That was some seven years ago. 

Most importantly, he’s someone who “fights the good fight of faith” in Jesus (cf. 1Timothy 6:12a).  You can tell he belongs to Jesus because of the genuine love and humility that is conveyed through his life.  Surveying the quality of his relationships at work, in the gym, at church, and his family, it’s not difficult to conclude that he’s the “real deal.”

But can “fighting” and “faith” co-exist or are they mutually exclusive concepts?  Paul chose to use graphic “fightin’ words” when it comes to the life of a believer.  “Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.  But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified” (1Corinthians 9:26-27).  The fight that believers are engaged in is not necessarily against other humans directly but against their own sinful nature, destructive philosophies of a fallen world, and the devil (Galatians 5:16-17; Ephesians 6:10-17; 1John 2:15-17).

Do you fight the good fight of faith or are you someone who allows circumstances to determine your choices?  God will enable you to be “more than conquerors through him that loved us” (Romans 8:37b).  The key to a winning strategy and an effective training regime are found in His Word, the Bible.