
In 1919, H.L. Mencken, an atheist known as the Sage of Baltimore, wrote:
“Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.”
How does that quote strike you? Does it totally appall you? Or does it stir something within your soul?
If it appalls you, don’t close this window just yet. Your Etsy shopping spree can wait. Give me but a moment or five of your time.
If Mencken’s quote stirs you, good. Grace perfects nature, it does not abolish it. Like Mencken, you know something is deeply wrong in the world, and you want to do something about it. You’re right to be disturbed to the point of being willing to put up a fight. But before we run off all half-cocked with the words of Mencken, we must redeem his expression of discontent with the world, and that begins by getting a few things straight:
First, only a small amount of spit is needed on our fingertips to turn the pages in our Bibles, our children’s books, and in the Westminster Standards. In a world full of wicked people who want to provide demonic catechesis for our wives and children, opening the Word of God (and books that edify the soul and educate the Christian mind) is the cultural equivalent to treason on the high seas—a betrayal to the cabal of man and their “progress.”
Secondly, the black flag that we raise is not one of piracy–it’s the banner that declares our service to the Resurrected Lord Jesus. But this banner is still a flag of piracy. It declares our intentions to see the strong man’s house plundered– indeed Christ has bound him for such a purpose. By the blood of the King, the captives of today become the captains of tomorrow.
Third, we need to understand that our enemy is not made of flesh and blood. Our enemy is the dominion of darkness, or as Paul put it in his salutation to the Galatians: there is a present evil age–an evil world order. And as the kingship of Jesus expands across the globe, that order is passing away. Just because the enemy is not made of flesh and blood, doesn't mean we don't have a real fight on our hands.
So, how do we put this redeemed piracy into practice?
First, by reading our Bibles. We read the Scriptures to feed ourselves. We read them aloud to wash our wives in the water of the Word. We read the Bible to our kids. We prepare our covenant children to be the continuing and ever expanding Church. We train them up to follow our King into battle against the Dragon and his minions. We teach them how to worship God.
And how do we wave our pirate-looking banner in the world? By living for Christ in all spheres. The world wants you to keep Jesus in your house and in your church. The world around us is very sabbatarian. It's just inverted: if you must be a Christian, they want you to do that on Sunday alone, and in Church alone. Maybe in private throughout the week. Maybe. Anything beyond your silence is resistance they cannot tolerate. Bringing your Christian ethic anywhere else messes with their worldview being applied–to business and society–unopposed.
Wave the banner of the King by baptizing and catechizing your children. Let them know early in life that they don't belong to the world or to the State. Christ has laid claim to their lives. Fly the flag by modeling for your wives and children how to confess your sins in corporate worship and in the home. We also model how to love and serve the local church. Teach them early on how to row the boat and hoist the flag with you.
Lastly, how do we fight our enemy, that Great Serpent?
Through worship. This includes the proclamation of the Word in various ways and in various places. Ministry of the Word can be formal and bold (the pulpit) and it can be more subtle and conversational (the coffee shop).
Our weapons include songs and prayers. As we sing hymns and psalms and spiritual songs—we fight. As we offer up petitions and supplications—we fight. Every song reflects a worldview and in some sense it is part of a confession of faith. Every prayer expresses what someone believes or doesn’t believe about their God. These things instruct those who hear them.
Many years ago, a PCA ruling elder said to me, “The greatest part about life is three or four men living in community together, fighting for the souls of other men.”
Keep in mind, brothers, that one family out on the high seas is just boat alone sailing along hoping to endure. But if you get three or more ships together with the same mission, flying the same banner—now you have a squadron. A handful of squadrons creates a flotilla. Gather many of those together in the same place, and now you have an armada. And that's what the world needs.
The world doesn't just need one man and his family flying the banner for Christ. The world needs a royal fleet of God's people with men at the helm pushing back against the present darkness that seeks to oppress mankind.
Spit on your hands. Hoist the colors. Get in the fight. For Christ is King.
Nate Xanders is the pastor of Christ the King Church (PCA) in Louisville, TN and serves as an editor for Reforming Men.
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