Ave Imperator, morituri te salutant

I thought about what Jesus one said…Matt 11:12
12 “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force.”

I wonder sometimes if we spend to much time trying to make Jesus cool. I wonder sometimes if we spend to much time trying to make church a cool place. I wonder sometimes if we spend to much time setting up a buffet for people to choose from, and continuing this consumer mentality.

We certainly cannot beat people into the Kingdom of God. So could it be that it is our attitude that must be like that of a warrior? Maybe we are to fight for those we share with…Never giving in, never quitting, always looking to infiltrate the enemy camp, always willing to cross enemy line with the hope of being able to usher in life change for just one.

Fighting for what we know to be true. Not begging, not mamby pamby actions. But actions that show others we are there to rescue them from the “domain of darkness.”

My son was in Iraq. Separated from his wife and family for a cause. Whether or not you agree with the cause does not matter. He did. And he was willing to lay his life on the line because he did. As he once told me, “I am a Marine dad. That is what I do.”

Can we as believers be no less willing to lay our lives on the line?  How can we sit by and make our life change the end of the process? Our willingness to be a bit more willing to get involved in the lives of people, having the attitude of a gladiator…knowing that the battle is real, this should move us. Knowing that we are actually fighting for a life.

‘Gladiator’s Oath’ is inspired by the famous oath spoken by gladiators to their emperor before an event. The oath in Latin is “Ave Imperator, morituri te salutant” which means “Hail Emperor, those who are about to die salute you.”The battle is real. So is life change.