“Fog of war… in the Church”
| The stated mission of the Marine Corps rifle squad is to locate, close with, and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver, or repel the enemy assault by fire and close combat. (For Christians, their mission is somewhat parallel and identical.) Now, imagine being on a combat patrol in enemy territory and your squad is carefully searching for enemy activity, positions, and strongholds. Without warning, your squad begins taking enemy fire. Your training kicks in and you immediately return fire and begin to rush the enemy’s position in short intervals. But something is wrong. Very quickly you realize that you are the only one firing, moving, and advancing. As you take cover and pause to quickly assess the situation, you look back and see some of your squad curled up in fear, immobilized. You look to the right and see others that seem to be totally unaware an attack is happening, completely oblivious to the firefight and consequent danger. Some are actually sleeping. You look left and the remainder of your squad are on their smartphones, laughing at TikTok videos and memes! And now, since you were the only one engaging the enemy with fire, you’ve been targeted and bracketed as their greatest, immediate threat which draws their greater, concentrated fire. As bad as that sounds, things are about to get worse. Although receiving fire from the enemy is dangerous and life-threatening, you also begin to take friendly fire. You realize that some of the friendly fire is unintentional, which you can understand and accept – fog of war, and all that. But you learn quickly that much of the friendly fire is very intentional. In battle, this is the worst kind of attack. Friendly fire is more devastating and debilitating than enemy fire because it goes beyond physical damage. Friendly fire bears enormous psychological damage because first, it is unexpected (friendly fire is always unexpected), and second, it’s heart-stopping betrayal. Betrayal of this magnitude is akin to Robert the Bruce against William Wallace, Brutus against Caesar, or even Judas against Jesus. ▪Jim Stitzinger, addressing friendly fire in the church, wrote, “Friendly fire on a battlefield is right intentions in the wrong direction. Friendly fire in the church is wrong intentions in the wrong direction.” (Read Article) A similar betrayal takes place in the book of Nehemiah. While Nehemiah is set about the Lord’s common sense work of rebuilding the wall (“Build that wall!” anyone? Lol!), enemies do oppose the work. This is expected. However, friendly fire is always unexpected, and it’s revealed that Shemaiah, his kin, was hired by Sanballat and Tobiah to lure Nehemiah into a trap. (Nehemiah 2:10, 2:19, 4:7-9; 6:10-14) Of Shemaiah, Nehemiah understood and wrote, “I realized that God had not sent him,” and he cried out only to God for support. I am reminded of two separate, major movie scenes that depict failures and tensions between allies. First, in Saving Private Ryan, there’s a life-or-death, hand-to-hand fight between an American soldier (Mellish) and a German soldier. Mellish is literally grappling for his life and he’s in desperate need of help. Help should come in the form of Corporal Upham, but Upham hears the struggle in the room upstairs and is frozen in fear on the stairs below. Tragically, the German soldier slowly kills Mellish. As the German leaves the room and walks down the stairs, he sees Upham sitting there in fear. Upham actually even takes his hand off the trigger of his loaded weapon. The German soldier boldly walks past Upham, barely acknowledging him. Upham is quickly assessed and regarded as a non-threat by the enemy, not even worthy of the attention, time, or effort to kill him. Upham is left alone on the stairs, sobbing in complete shame and failure, fully disgraced. This scene is tragic for so many reasons! How many Christians does this scene actually describe?!! Too afraid to engage the enemy, their brothers and sisters remain in mortal danger. Movie #2: We Were Soldiers with Mel Gibson. Gibson plays the role of LtCol Hal Moore. His unit is fighting in Vietnam and is surrounded by the enemy. Their lifeline comes in the form of Army helicopter pilots who fly into the hot LZ to bring much needed supplies – fresh troops, ammo, water, bandages – all while taking direct enemy fire. During one particular mission, two chopper pilots, Randall (Call sign Snake) and Freeman (Call sign Too-Tall), are escorting Medevac choppers into the hot LZ to extract the wounded and dead. As they approach the LZ, the Medevac personnel are being wounded and killed by enemy fire. The Medevac Commander immediately tells his choppers to abort, before extracting any wounded soldiers. Too-Tall is shot down, but Snake continues despite heavy enemy fire. At great risk to himself, Snake completes multiple missions and successfully extracts many wounded throughout the day. Darkness settles in and flight operations must cease. Snake completes his last mission of the day and finally lands safely home. He shuts downs his engines and then takes a few moments to reflect on all the danger, damage, carnage, and loss. As Snake shakily climbs out of his bullet-riddled chopper, full of adrenaline, he actually throws up. As Snake tries to gather himself, the Medevac Commander is yelling in the background. Then, this raw conversation takes place. Commander: “Where is he?!! Where is Snake?!!” Staff: “He’s right over there.” (He rushes towards Snake, screaming.) Commander: “Crandall! You led my men into a hot LZ!” Crandall: “Yeah, somebody had to fly out the wounded.” Commander: “No! No! Don’t you play hotshot with me! Now, you know the rules! You suckered us in there! You ever do it again, I’m gonna have you busted!” (Shoves Crandall) Crandall: “You got the balls to face me, but not the balls to face the enemy?!!” (Crandall quickly pulls out his pistol, cocks it, and points it at the Commander. Random pilot steps between the two.) Crandall: “I ever see you again, I’ll kill ya.” (Medevac Commander slinks away.) Random Pilot: “Quite a day, huh?” Crandall: “Tomorrow will be worse. If they make it to tomorrow.” I share these scenes to convey that in battle there is always confusion – the fog of war. And be ever mindful that Scripture makes is clear that we are in a great spiritual battle. – “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. (vs.12) For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Eph 6:11-12) – “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. (vs.5) We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” (2Cor 10:4-5) – “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (vs.9) Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (1Pe 5:8-9) – “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (Jn 10:10) – “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, (vs.19) to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”(Lu 4:18-19) I often present set up questions to congregations. “Is the world lost, in pain, confused, and dying?” Nodding heads. (Gotcha!) “What are you doing about it?” I emphasize our great spiritual battle and as brother and sisters in Christ, we all have a part. I remind them that we are all members, but one body (Read 1Cor 12:12-27). As such, some may battle as evangelists, others battle as teachers and shepherds, others may battle as prayer warriors, and some may battle using their finances. We’re all supposed to be doing something. I submit that a fundamental measuring stick for determining whether someone is actually in the battle is that they all AUDIBLY wield the word of God (their Sword) in battle. Imagine discovering a Marine, upon the conclusion of a vicious battle, having never fired his weapon in that campaign. Why wouldn’t he fire his weapon? Only two reasons that I can think of. 1) Too afraid, and 2) Didn’t know how to use it. (Lol! If you’re thinking maybe his weapon was malfunctioning or broke. We’re talking about the word of God, here. Ain’t nothing malfunctioning or broke about it.) Most Christians simply do not know the Word of God, nor how to use it properly. Questions to ask ourselves: Am I really in the battle? Am I keenly aware of the battle? Am I very effective in the battle? When was the last time I shared the gospel? How often do I share the gospel? Do I even know the points of the gospel? Have I ever countered someone’s argument with the Word of God? (Again, why would a fighter not use his weapon?) How effective do I use the Word of God in prayer time? In daily conversations? Against the enemy? What percentage of my “God conversations” are actually with non-Christians? Am I more focused on discussing doctrines than saving souls? Do I spend too much time and energy criticizing other’s theology and doctrines rather than actual faith-works? Am I quick to criticize Christians? Are my so-called “faith-works” more so inside the wire (the church), rather than outside the perimeter? Indicators for Location on Battlefield: a. Do you ever draw enemy fire? If not, you’re probably a closet Christian… a spiritual POW. (Read “It’s your move!!!”) b. What’s your specific mission from God in this battle? c. Am I guilty of “friendly fire”? Unintentional? Intentional? d. What do you complain about? You can always tell someone’s location in the battle by what they complain about. Years ago, I was in the Gulf War on the front lines. We saw SCUD missile launches. We received indirect enemy fire (155mm mortars). We drove through enemy minefields and even allied unexploded ordinance. During the breach, the Humvee in front of me actually hit a landmine and the rear driver’s side tire went flying about 100 yards in the air. With the disabled vehicle, our column was now pinned (we couldn’t go left or right because of the minefields). We were in danger. We captured and collected Iraqi POW’s. We had multiple casualties from friendly fire. Throughout all this, as the Supply Chief, my biggest complaints were bullets, batteries, beans, and band-aids. Two or three times a week, I would drive four hours south to the the Port of Jabal for resupply. I learned that a reservist friend had been activated and was serving at the port, so on one supply run, I found him and we began catching up. He immediatley began to complain and tell me how rough it was for him, e.g., his cot was uncomfortable, there was little privacy in his Seabee-constructed, canvas covered sleeping quarters, the inconvenience of the port-a-johns, the chowhall food wasn’t Olive Garden quality, and the hot water pressure in the showers was too low. (Yes, he actually complained about the hot water pressure.) I practically screamed, “Bruh! We’re getting shot at! We’re taking casualties! We sleep in the dirt, in a hole in the ground! I use my canteen as my pillow! We eat MRE’s exclusively! We crap in cat-holes! We take canteen showers! We don’t have showers, let alone hot water!” He went silent. My point again is, you can always tell where someone is in the battle by what they complain about. Today, as a full-time missionary, I complain about needing resources – helpers, families, permanent personnel, musicians and singers, finances for rent, utilities, and expenses – to assist in carrying out my mission. God calls us to fight the good fight (1Tim 6:12; Eph 6:12; Jms 1:12; Mk 16:15-18) and contend for the faith (Jud 1:3; 1Pe 3:15). However, throughout this good fight, conflict among Believers is inevitable. From personal experience and observation, the vast majority of Christians are not really engaged in battle with the enemy or the works of darkness. They are not in the good fight. Instead, they are disengaged and neutralized. They are lukewarm for a wide range of reasons – immaturity, fear, ignorance, distractions, disobedience, rebellion, pride, etc. They only battle they ever engage in is with other Believers. Why? Because it is safer. Friendly fire, much? For example, years ago, I had a Deacon approach me and accuse me of “doing more harm than good” because I was “too confrontational.” He actually said I was pushing people farther away from God and that people would end up in hell because of me. (Sigh. Friendly fire.) His criticism, not counsel, bothered me greatly. I mulled it over and sought God. Finally, God spoke plainly into my spirit-man, “Nick, if anyone ends up in hell, it will NOT be because you turned them off. It will be because of their sins.” I went back to that Deacon and shared this with him. He just stood there in silence. Suspicious, I asked him, “When was the last time you shared the gospel with someone, or led someone to Christ?” He never had. He was critical of me because my works made him feel guilty. How many Christians do you know that fit the descriptions in this newsletter? Convicted yourself? Far too many Christians ignorantly choose to engage and battle fellow Christians (particularly their leaders) rather than get involved with saving lost souls and/or confront the real enemy. Doing the right thing requires real faith, real courage, and real dependence upon God. Don’t fool yourselves. Don’t confuse your activity with accomplishment. Don’t be that Christian that’s a hindrance and an obstacle to the real work, the good fight. The enemy does that enough. We’ve been commissioned by Jesus Christ to share the gospel and save souls (Mk 16:15). We’ve been given the privilege of joining Him in the good fight. Fight well! (Read “Don’t be a sissy!”) – Make a Donation – Remember to Share this Newsletter |
| We make disciples! This transformation occurs quickly because we literally have no time to waste. For example, if you’re on Camp Schwab on UDP, 1) Our time together is very short, 2) Six-month deployment = 52 hours together (1hr at Zebulun and 1hr at R&R), 3) That’s only if you stay on SCHWAB the whole six months and attend every class, 4) Most Marines are only here half that time (Operational Tempo/Exercise) which leaves us with only 26 hours, 5) That’s literally only one full day together for classes and training! Don’t miss our short time together! You will be transformed! Agree with Us in Prayer: a. For the Brig/Prison: The Friday Sxxual Integrity classes are experiencing opposition to attendence. There seems to be an influential prisoner who’s been discouraging some men from coming out. Also, pray against opposing clergy. Last, please pray for the Brig Wednesday night bible study of twenty years to resume. I have an appointment with key personnel soon. Pray for favor! Pray for all the souls in the Brig — the inmates, the guards, and their families. Bind up spirits of bitterness, unforgiveness, shame, condemnation, and pride. And loose a spirit of salvation, discipleship, forgiveness, exposure, healing, deliverance, peace, and restoration! b. For continued increase at ZCDC (Churchplant). Pray for Rebuilding and Re-gathering in the midst of COVID and other opposition. Pray for my strength and wisdom. There are many new souls on Camp Schwab, so pray for the gathering of sheep and the conversion of goats. Schwab is a very unique area with an extreme operational tempo, and a high turnover rate. Many service members are here only for a 6-month deployment, so our time together is very short. Try to imagine the challenges of rebuilding a ministry every six months. It’s not for every missionary, but it’s what we do! And, we make disciples! So, pray for mature, Qualified Families and Permanent Personnel to co-labor with us in this northern-most, remote area of Okinawa. c. For Zebulun Worship Team. A guitar player/singer showed up and is filling lead of worship. He has stepped up in faith and is doing a great job. Now, we’re praying for more singers and musicians. d. For our Believers, that they walk in increased discernment, wisdom, maturity, power, and works, that they are properly discipled, and that they bear much Kingdom fruit! e. Pray against retaliatory, unclean spirits from On-Base and Off-Base. Bind up demonic spirits of control, division, envy, strife, competition, lust, and fear. And loose a spirit of unity, peace, love, maturity, discipleship, and faith among Believers. f. For our current schedule (finances, resources, wisdom, strategies, and strength): – Sun: Share/Report Christians In Action – Mon: Radical & Relevant (R&R) @7pm – Wed: Brig Christian Fellowship (BCF) @7pm – Thu: Publish Think On These Things Newsletters – Thu: Publish YouTube Videos (Channel: YahwehHasASon) – Fri: Sxxual Integrity & Restoration (SIR) @9am – Sat: Zebulun Christian Discipleship CenterZebulun Christian Discipleship Center (ZCDC) @6pm – Facebook Live Video Broadcasts |
| This woman, here! We’ve been through some things, and we did it together. What a privilege it is to be the recipient of Sandy’s love and affection. She looks at me and she still melts my heart. She’s such a wise woman. She’s molded me and guided me. I’m such a better man because of her choice in me. (Sigh) I love her with all of my heart. In closing… Saints, we continue to covet your prayers. Your words of faith encourage and empower us. We remain focused on making disciples! We involve! We expose! We provoke! We challenge! Understandably, my approach and methods are unorthodox and intimidating to many. I get that. However, it’s my position that 1) Christians have spent way too much time uninvolved and indifferent, and 2) Churches have wasted precious time not seriously discipling, activating, and releasing. There’s a battle going on and Christians need to engage, now! My methods will expose you. My methods will involve you. It’s not easy. Buuuuutttt… as you endure the fire, you will be discipled! You will be transformed! We make disciples for the glory of God! You can help us. Being full-time missionaries in Japan is hard work and very expensive. Please consider partnering with us in these Kingdom works through your monetary donations. Donations can be made online at Christians In Action. Or, you can mail contributions to the address listed below.I declare that many will glorify God because of you! (Gal 1:24) <*{{{{>< In His hands, Pastor Nick & Sandy GuerraContributions can be sent to: Dominic Guerra (Acct# 426) c/o Christians in Action Missions International P.O. Box 25093 Fresno, CA 93729 ▪ Please ensure Acct #426 is annotated on your contribution so the funds can be allocated correctly. ▪ Please share/forward these newsletters at your discretion. Make a Donation |
| — Our Mission & Vision — “Gather Sheep & Convert Goats!” “Catch, Clean, & Release!” |