By: General James Green (p. 17 in Issue Thirteen of The Tribal Call)
What is a Warrior Tribe? A Tribe of people, a holy people, a blood-bought people that are rooted, grounded, and built up in Jesus Christ the LION (Eph 3:17). He is our Tribal King—we are His Tribal Warriors.
“Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” Col. 2:7
The Greek word for “nation” is “eth’ros” (Strongs #1484) (1 Peter 2:9). It means a race of people, i.e. a tribe of people, true Israelites (Col. 3:11, Romans 3:28-31) So, those who are born again, regardless of race, become a Tribal member (John 3:3,6). But, this does not make us WARRIORS. Becoming a warrior involves dominion, discipline, and deliverance! Where do we begin? With our King Commander, Jesus Christ. “…the Lion of the Tribe of Judah has won—has OVERCOME and CONQUERED!” He will teach us to overcome and conquer.”
“There is neither Jew not Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” Gal. 3:28
CALL TO ARMS
“Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand.” Joel 2:1
The calling to arms is of utmost importance, a calling that will take us out of the “safety zone” and into the “danger zone.” It is a call to become warriors for Christ, a call to put our inward enemies under foot and put our outward enemies to flight, and a call to fight the good fight of faith. Our warfare is not against flesh and blood, dear brothers, sisters, and comrades, but we wage war in the Spiritual dimension (2 Cor. 10:3-6)—Spiritual warfare.“
Set the trumpet to thy mouth. He shall come as an eagle against the house of the Lord, because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law.” Hosea 8:1
Jesus was called to do battle on our behalf. He took on the forces of Hell and legions of sins that hold men and women, boys and girls in death throes. He overcame every attack and conquered death, hell, and the grave. He took on all the Satanic hosts of demons (Col. 2:15). Not only did He unlock the prison house that holds men captive, but he also unlocked the treasure house of the Kingdom of God (Matt. 19:21; Mark 10:21; Luke 12:33, 18:22; 2 Cor. 4:7; Col. 2:3).
“Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.” Matthew 13:44
Unfortunately, many men and women are either ashamed of the Tribal Uniform (Eph 6:11-17) or afraid to do combat with God’s/their enemies (Psalms 78:9). They fear the enemy’s camp more than they fear God! But we are commanded to “Fear God. Honor the King” (I Peter 2:17). Just as the military recruiting poster aims to promote a “fearless spirit,” so we must pray to God for the WARRIOR SPIRIT. If men and women in the service of earthly kings and governments can sacrifice life and limb, can we sit idly, fearfully, and allow the enemies of God to prevail? History proves over and over again that men and women have a built-in capacity for aggressive behavior which, given the right provocation or stimulus, can be harnessed. History also proves that men and women are capable of extreme cruelty, ruthlessness, fear, greed, and power. All these ingredients are found in men and women at war. But mans’ inhumanity to man is not true evidence of an aggressive lion instinct. We are instructed, yea, commanded to hate the sin, not the sinner. Yet in spite of this command, bloody wars have been waged in the name of religion. But, Soldiers of the Cross, we can be empowered with kindness, compassion, courage, and loyalty. We can be a meek people (not weak), fair but firm. We must realize that demons influence and motivate men and women, and when they yield to these demonic forces, they inevitably do evil.
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” I John 2:15-16
Movies, television, and printed matter all help to glamorize war—the wrong kind of war. The media madness has thoroughly poisoned our society. Even the bloodiest battle scenes are illuminated with a CULTivated glamor. Kids’ videos are nothing short of perversion, sick murder, and delightful killings. Yet can we get Christian soldiers who will stand against such filth, men and women of God who will fight such things? Most Christians DEFEND their televisions, their “Bible video games” for kids, and all the rest of their cheap entertainment deVICES. They will even rebuke you for taking such an aggressive stand against sin.
GOD or gods?
Wars have been waged in the name of religion, not just the Christian religion, but many religions. Superstition, greed, fear, self-preservation, and other things are causes for war. The combination of BELIEF and the honor of dying for the same produces fanaticism. The fatalism of the militant Muslim, confident that death will bring everlasting sensual delights, is the same spirit found in the exhortations of staff-recruiting sergeants, the preaching of army chaplains, and the suicidal attacks of Japanese Kamikaze pilots in World War II. Let us not forget the Biblical exhortation that we should earnestly CONTEND for the faith. The word “contend” means to struggle and fight for something, in this case the Apostle is referring to the Christian faith.
POWER AND GLORY
There are those who fight for the power and glory of it. Mercenaries fight for CASH, not for CAUSE. They are not usually driven by fanaticism or nationalism as we know it, to them war is just a job! We should look at our service in the Kingdom as a job without the power, glory, and cash that rule so many professing Christian soldiers of today. The influence of Power, Glory, and Cash— demonic god/idols in themselves—drives men and women into the arms of God’s enemies. But we as missionaries, under the commandship / Kingship of Jesus the Lion, must do our job out of love for Heaven and love for humanity. We are to seek the things above (Spiritual), not the things of this earth (carnal). When we seek service to be seen of men, a sick system develops as absurd as it is convenient. This system has shamefully degenerated into a lustful desire for money without the godly will to fight. For our Modern Churchianity, this process has become a trade, a business. Now we find ourselves fighting among ourselves (Tribal feuds). Once the war is on, we become enemies of the Lord’s true camp. Let us remind ourselves that we fight for the King (Jesus) and His country (heavenly estate) (I John 2:15-16; III John: 9,11).
“From whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.” James 4:1-2
Rebuke the spirits of greed and powerlust. Pray for the Spirit of sharing and share alike, for kinship, for unity of community within the Tribe. Don’t let the devil rob you of life, put death under foot (I Cor. 15:25-27). The spirits of selfishness and greed have all but devoured the Body of Christ. Jesus taught the principle of sharing. As a Tribal Leader, He paved the way for the birth and growth of His NEW TRIBAL ARMY. Hence, the interests of Tribal leaders should bare a close relationship to the interests of the Tribe. But dear ones, look at what we’ve got today. A class differentiation has transpired: the leaders have embarked on wars, usually fighting to build a bigger organization than their rivals, solely as a means of fulfilling their own personal ambitions. Another area we need to avoid is the divine right of kings / queens syndrome. Success in business/battle (like the multi-million dollar T.V. ministries), coupled with self-authority (fleshly, carnal, and sensual), can and does lead into a CULT of hero worship. The ruler / leader becomes their very own ardent admirer!
“Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” Matt. 23:10-12
The belief of a credulous populace in his/her almost god-like qualities (not God-like), usually convinces them that they really and truly are divine—a god! Many of todays popular Televangelists are a good example of this. The divine right of kings and queens, as it is commonly understood, can be interpreted in such a way as to indirectly impute divinity to the ruling monarch. They demand the praise and worship of their subjects, exercise dominion (fleshly) over them, and extract great wealth from them (pay up or I won’t perform). Rulership and leadership have their place in the Body of Christ, but Jesus taught that the GREATEST shall be the SERVANT of all (Philip. 2:7).
Sad but true, the lust for power of the “Christian” empire-builders and glamour stars is matched only by their cravings for wealth, much of which is spent conducting campaigns to accumulate more power and wealth—the war goes on!! Cold-blooded murderers of Biblical truth and ruthless self-seeking are smartly camouflaged under the guise of “spirituality” (Col. 2:4; 2 Cor. 4:4).
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Col. 2:8
WARRIOR ELITE
History tell us that the success of the Spanish Conquistadores was a tribute to their military elite. They were successful! They conquered by murder, Mass (militant Catholicism), and massacre. The epitome of military elitism were the Samurai of feudal Japan. They developed a code that forbade them any activity other than the martial arts and DEMANDED strict adherence to vigorous principles of discipline and honor. Cowards were scorned and zealots praised, the chicken and eagle syndrome.
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the putting down of strongholds).” 2 Cor. 10:3-4
The true way for Christians to fight is on their knees, not with guns, swords, or bombs, but in prayer—humility prayer. We need not look to the world, for the world has its own way of fighting. Our victory lies in the profound truth that we refuse to fight as the world does; we refuse to lower ourselves to violence and hatred, which are the essences of mortal combat. We need to look to our War Captain Jesus for battle inspiration. We must look to the one who defeated the Kingdom of Hell through the ultimate humility sacrifice. The Captain fights for total victory, the faithful soldiers follow their Captain.
FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT
“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” II Tim. 2:3-4
Fighting the good fight of faith is likened unto patriotism. As mentioned before, faith in the Kingdom of God can be perverted by greedy and power-hungry people. Patriotism, mans’ need to belong to a kingdom, can be perverted by power-hungry politicians. Preachers and politicians, warriors and wars, mercenaries and missionaries, the Kingdom of God and the kingdoms of men— all of these come into play as men struggle for what they believe is right. Music played, men sang, off to war they went…to fight and die in battle. Patriotism: love of one’s country, religion, ideals, and people. Patriotism: the expression of sentimental attachment to what is familiar, reassuring. Patriotism: mans’ basic need to belong, his craving for identity, what the Bible calls “tribal feeling.” Biblical and secular patriotism can both be twisted and perverted by power-hungry or ignorant leaders, and sold to the masses through mass-media propaganda, public education, and tradition. Therefore, it becomes justified—justification for the countless atrocities committed in the name of “my country, my religion, right or wrong! “Patriotism produces the “Warrior Spirit.” It promotes loyalty, comradeship, unity, and culture—all good qualities. The politics of secular patriotism leads to destructive forms of nationalism wherein people only fight for that which will perish and neglect the salvation of souls, but the politics of true Christianity leads to Tribalism, unity, community, and one Tribe under God. Secular nationalism is the precursor of feelings of national superiority (as we, dear Americans, well know!). From a secular point of view, this is right, but from God’s point of view, as the Transcendent God who is the Creator of men, pride is an abomination, whether it be spiritual or in the form of national superiority. Remember, God is the Creator; we, the people (all races), are the created. Militant nationalism is usually just a step away from racism, and from there to war!
“But we are citizens of the state (commonwealth, homeland) which is in heaven, and from it also we earnestly and patiently await the [the coming of] the Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, as Savior.” Philip. 3:20 Amplified Bible
THE NEW TRIBE
There is nothing wrong with being a patriot in the true sense of the word, but patriotism for any nation other than God’s true Tribe automatically leads to secular nationalism, causing people to take sides against each other, when neither one is right with God. Distinctions arise between “us and them,” “white vs other colors,” “USA vs other nations.” Not so in the Tribal Kingdom of the Lord. We are not identified by race or culture, but by position. The Bible also tells us that Jesus “…hath raised us up together, and made us sit together (all races) in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:6). There is no doubt that God is raising up a NEW TRIBE, a new government of His Spirit with a new brand of patriots who will swear their allegiance to the Kingdom of Heaven first. We can experience a clean, holy patriotism, and a healthy nationalism that seeks to share its resources (Spiritual treasure) with all men, regardless of race, creed, or color. And as we work together under the command of Jesus our Tribal King, He will be our protection and He will fight for us. We will not take up the weapons of the world which bring forth death, but we will fight with the weapons of the Spirit and bring forth LIFE!
“And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.” Rev. 5:5