ONWARD "CHRISTIAN" MERCENARIES?!
Pastor Jim Van Etten,

“Onward Christian Soldiers” is a popular Christian hymn that has been sung in Sunday school classes  and for congregational singing in many independent Baptist Churches. This great song is sang to rally fellow Christians to not sit still but to fight along side their Christian Brother's and Sister's holding high the cross of Jesus as the banner. Sadly, today many Fundamental Independent Baptist Churches have become “Mercenary Camps” and no longer fight for the King.

A) Mercenaries fight for Money not for Morality

King Jesus demands Holiness 1 Peter 1:15,16 and to come to him with a repentant heart as is taught by the Brass Laver in the Tabernacle. The priest was to wash over and over again as he went about doing the work in the Tabernacle. Not only are we to repent at our enlistment when we trust Christ for the payment of our sins and repent from our wicked ways. But we are to come to Him daily with a repentant heart asking Him to search us Psalm 139:23,24 and change us to be more like Christ.

Most Fundamental Independent Churches follow a more Mercenary style approach today. The Church has become a place of monetary business instead of doing business with God. They have put aside Holiness and Repentance and allow anyone to fill a pew that is willing to drop money in the offering plate. Of course the amount of sin condoned is directly proportionate to the money given to the Church.  The Horn blowing is done to draw attention to the big spenders  Mathew 6:1-4 and not to wage battle on sin.

A Pastor/Commander is given much more lenience than a common brother or sister. I have seen a preacher get away with stealing ½ million dollars from a Church and even though his “repentance” speech is riddled with lies and deceptions everyone is so quick to forgive him and I have seen a handicapped woman in that same Church take 1/200th of that when she was mostly after attention and even after 3 times coming in front of the Church weeping and repenting still be rejected fellowship.

B) Mercenaries fight for a Commander not a King

This is the biggest difference right here. This one is dedicated to all your preacher worshiping mercenary camps claiming to stand for Christ the King but bowing down to a man. There are preachers and pastors out there that claim to be God's anointed and encourage those around them to entreat them with worship.

These self loving, covetous, boasting, proud, blaspheming, disrespectful, un-thankful, unholy, hateful, truce breaking, false accusing, incontinent, fierce, haters of good and truth, traitorous, heady, high minded, pleasure seekers pretend to be Godly but spend their day in tanning salons and getting their smile worked on for television instead of studying God's word! But yet they have crept into our Churches and convinced silly women that they are the rock instead of Christ and encourage them to lust after them and make them chocolate cream pies and bake them cookies. These silly women lust after the preacher and give the affection due their husbands to these deceitful worms. (2 Timothy 3, Oh yea, it is here)

C) Mercenaries do not belong to the Country they fight for Greed.

As a Christian I am an ambassador for my Country, Heaven. I love the Song:

 

D) Mercenaries bribe, threaten and even maim anyone who tries to leave their camp

While true soldiers are driven by a desire to serve their country we have seen that mercenaries are not. There are many reasons that someone may desire to leave a mercenary Church. Perhaps they thought all along they were fighting for the King but were deceived. Maybe they really got into the Bible and truly got saved and enlisted in heaven's army. It doesn't really matter as the results are mostly the same. Feeling threatened and dismayed that they may loose certain skills or income the Mercenary Commander will use everything in his power to keep the soldiers.

1.Bribes
At first sign of someone that may leave the close brotherhood of the mercenary group bribery is often used. Some young preacher may be called to plant a new Church, to keep them  they may be offered control of a ministry or a promotion by their Pastor. This is deception as a call to Pastor or Preach is a higher calling than that of a deacon but many times they will be ordained as a deacon or given some position and will accept it because of pride.

Sometimes monetary rewards are offered to entice someone from their calling. New equipment for their ministry, a salary or a promise of renewed interest towards someone's ministry may be used to keep the person. I have even heard a Pastor say “The Holy Spirit called you to be my golf partner” in order to keep a member.

2.Threaten
Usually bribery is tried first but if that doesn't work then closed door meetings are in order. At this time threats are used to try and force someone into submission. Words are carefully chosen but that is what they are threats. Examples are “You need to find a replacement for your ministry, or you will be out of the will of God”. Threats are usually made in God's name with a loose usage of God's word (mostly out of context) but it is all an attempt to try to scare you into staying.

3.Maim
If the above two don't work and the person tries to make a break for it the maiming begins. Usually all the other mercenaries in the group are raised up against the person. This is done by shunning and turning everyone they can against you. Even though these lowlife criminals will cry “what about our kids” like the Hezbollah they have NO problems at all hurting the wife and children of the person trying to break out. They attack viciously and have no problems going after your family and friends like mafia thugs.

E) Mercenaries groups are many times made up of Criminals

The independent Baptists are a magnet for con men and criminals. Since they are independently governed it is easy to find any old Tom, Tim, Bob or Joe with a weak mind to serve as deacons and church leaders  and take full command of the Church. If there is evidence of the King they throw out any of His followers. Then they ignore the King's knocks at the Church door. (Revelation 3:20)

F) Mercenaries are judged harshly when taken into custody and judged.

When a captured soldier is found to be a mercenary, then they can expect to be treated as common criminals and may face execution.

Matthew 7:21-23  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

God will not condone a mercenary. He is looking for Soldiers of the Cross. You need Jesus Christ the King as your leader not some mercenary commander that will ruin your life, testimony, eternal rewards  or possible send you to Hell. If you are involved in one of these mercenary style Churches. Make a break for it! It may not be easy, trust me I have been through it, but GLORY BE TO GOD it is WORTH IT. AMEN

I am going to preach Hard and Straight like the Old Timers did, I'm going to be like "Sand in your Shorts"!