Misguided Warriors

Every church has them. Some (very small) churches are completely made up of them. Many of them, however, are not connected to a particular church, but float around, thinking they need not join a particular church (a convenient way to avoid spiritual authority among other things). Who am I talking about? I am talking about passionate believers whose focus and energy are placed on the wrong things. I am talking about Misguided Warriors.

Make no mistake, these people are warriors. They are fighters. They don’t back down. They are bold and wear persecution (often self-inflicted) as a badge of honor. They are out to correct everyone else, especially pastors and especially anyone who leads a larger church or ministry. The bigger the ministry and the more successful the ministry leader, the more brazen the Misguided Warrior. According to the MG, these pastors are clearly off-base and must be brought back to the narrow road, or at least torn down as much as possible. They typically loathe the likes of Rick Warren or Beth Moore (two of the most wonderful people to ever grace the face of this earth.) However, since they can’t always get to famous people, they will also go after any spiritual leader they can find, especially those with a following (How dare they have a following, i.e. lead?).

Misguided Warriors destroy small groups. They destroy churches. They are a force for disunity like no other. Still, they think they are in the right. They have the unpublished books to prove it. They have the teachings of their favorite unheard-of preachers, teachers and prophets. Their cause is just and true. They must correct the church, and if they cannot correct it, they will identify it as false and bring it down so that the true church can emerge… or wait, is there a true church? Or are they the only ones around who really know the truth? Aren’t they, pretty much, a church unto themselves?

Oh, and I should point out that there is often truth to what Misguided Warriors say. Sometimes, they may be even be right on, in terms of facts. Christmas trees and Easter eggs are customs with pagan origins. Yep. That’s true. And the MG will tear your church apart over getting rid of these things. More often, however, their information is scant at best, and purely false at worst. How dare the pastor say, “Happy Easter!” Does he not know that the word Easter was derived from a pagan goddess? [By the way, etymology is almost always debatable, and just as likely the word, Easter, comes from German and English translations of what is now termed Passover. Besides, meanings of words change, and there is also the biblical concept known as redemption to consider as well. Can God not take what Satan meant for evil, and use it for good? For more on Easter, see: https://answersingenesis.org/holidays/easter/is-the-name-easter-of-pagan-origin/

Meanwhile, there is a war going on for souls! Eternity is in the balance for billions. And even while millions die every day destined for Hell, Misguided Warriors are busy spending their time telling the pastor he should take a firm stance against the Easter Bunny. After all, millions of children are being kept out of heaven, not because they haven’t heard the Gospel presented in a clear way, but because they are worshipping a pagan fertility symbol. Really?

The couple had been attending for months. They had been a little concerned about our vision graphic/logo. They thought it reminded them of some mystical symbols from a heretical movement used almost a millennia ago. They did a web search, and found some symbols they thought were similar (after all, they were circular), symbols connected to the mystic movement. They sent me these in hopes I would consider doing away with our vision graphic. They also noticed I had mentioned “practicing the presence of God” (ala Brother Lawrence), and boom, I needed to be called out on leading our church toward mysticism. [By the way, inasmuch as mysticism is the practice of walking in the Spirit and actually practicing a personal relationship with God through Christ, I have no problem with it.]

Another couple decides I’m using too many translations of Scripture. They prefer the King James and find fault with the rest, as if other, frankly, more accurate translations are not even authoritative (after all, they were not authorized by King James). Truth be told, I use what most scholars consider the most literal translation available (NASB) on most of my sermons,  unless I am doing a series designed for seekers (about once per year). It was during one of these series that this couple left, looking for a King-James-only church. By the way, is Old English the only language in the world? Should Latin Americans translate their Bible into Spanish from the original languages, or should they translate them from the Old English, KJV, which would give them a translation of a translation? And what of Wycliffe’s Bible or Tyndale’s or Luther’s (all before KJV)? Are they heresy?

Still another couple recently wanted to make sure our pastors are not a part of the “evil” government’s “Clergy Response Team,” because this would be a clear violation of “separation of church and state,” and we would be allowing ourselves to be controlled by the government in terms of our faith. “If we find that you are involved, we will insist you inform the entire congregation,” and (presumably) face the consequences, they threatened. [Incidentally, we are not a part of this.] The same couple wanted me to preach anti-Obama sermons more often, because they said it is a “godly cause” to tear down ungodly leaders. They recommended an unheard of book, written by a so-called scholar (fringe) to help me get over my obvious misconceptions of the thirteenth chapter of Romans (the idea of submission to the government, something I certainly do NOT over-interpret, and probably err on the side of a bit too much civil disobedience). Little do they know I could not be more unhappy with the government, nor do I submit to it in all regards, but they don’t think I talk about this enough from the pulpit. They want an anti-government pastor. Why? Because that is what they saturate themselves with. Everything they read, listen to, or think about… calls upon the church to be anti-government. We become what we read.

Others are wrapped up in a particular set of interpretations of apocalyptic Scripture. Others want a stronger stance against certain immoral practices. Still others get all up in arms over church polity, bylaws, Robert’s Rules, whether or not to incorporate or become a 501c(3), etc., etc., and believe me, I could go on. These are Misguided Warriors. They are few in number, and take pride in what they think they know, that most people don’t know. They think some people just haven’t read the right books. They do not represent the thoughts, opinions or desires of 99% of my congregation or most congregations, except where they have managed to group up (usually a church of under 50).

These are warriors, but they are also misguided. The saddest part of this is not even the division such people can bring to a church like mine. As lead shepherd (Gr. pomein = pastor = shepherd), one of my primary responsibilities is to protect the flock from those who would tear it apart (wolves in sheep’s clothing), and I do just that. But what makes me saddest is that these Misguided Warriors might have been great assets to the Kingdom of God. They are passionate people. They are bold. They are not afraid of persecution. They are ready to be laughed at and scorned and even find motivation in such things. They have SO MUCH potential, but they are fighting the wrong battles. That’s sad.

I am reminded of 1 Corinthians 13:2, “If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing” (please forgive the "unauthorized translation"). Can a Misguided Warrior be turned back around? I’d like to think so. I can remember a few times in my life when I was a Misguided Warrior, so I need to be gracious (Oops).

For me, when I was in my twenties, I had more zeal than love. For instance, all it took was one documentary about the holiday we call Halloween, and my mission became anti-Halloween. Since then, with more historical perspective and a few years of maturity, my view is still not positive, but it is more balanced, and I simply am more focused on matters of greater concern (i.e. The Great Commission). The point is, that any of us can read something or watch something persuasive and wind up on a witch hunt that really takes us out of the center of God’s Will for our lives.

Let me close by addressing the reader, directly. What if you are in danger of becoming a Misguided Warrior, yourself? Well, I would tell you to stop saturating yourself with the fringe books, the fringe videos and the fringe teachers, especially those who are all about what you need to be against or “watch out for” or how things need to be fixed in the church. A case can be built AGAINST anything. I promise you, I could build a case right now against just about anything you want to bring up. I could probably sell books to the ignorant and misguide many. Why? Because God gave me the gift of persuasion. Some people use their God-given gifts for the wrong reasons. I would encourage you to get back to the Bible and teachers who teach it as it is, without personal agenda.

There is a Commission to be fulfilled. There is The Gospel to be preached. God is calling His warriors to fight for the right things against the right enemies. Let us make His mission our only mission. Let us make His Gospel our only message. Let us leave the latest pet topic in the dust, and follow Jesus together, into the world. Let us use our passion and our boldness and our energy to be warriors for Jesus, fighting only His battles, guided only by Him. Who’s with me? Let’s go!