The Fighting Intern

I bet that when Nathan, the preacher intern, goes out and gets a job somewhere he will have to do a variety of things. Since he’s been here, he’s gotten experience in teaching, preaching, handing out leaflets, home studies, and practice working with difficult people (Kieran and myself, to name just two!). Now he’s writing bulletins. -RC

I knew how to fight before I knew what I was fighting for. I grew up in a good home. I had two sisters, and both of my parents. My dad is a faithful gospel preacher, who knows the scriptures in a way I hope to some day. My dad is very knowledgeable in the scriptures. I have seen him quote a verse from Zephaniah before off the top of his head. He was an amazing man. My parents read bible stories to my sisters and I, and we would sing songs to each other at a very young age. We all loved to sing.

I was very young when I understood the “scheme of redemption” and I was very young when I understood what the worship of saints consisted of, and I understood that giving your life to Christ was a life long endeavor, and that you may have to give up a lot of things that will keep you from being a faithful Christian. In August of 1996, I was baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of my sins. I was on fire, hooting and hollering “let me at the world, and I will convert it!” I almost immediately called a friend of mine, and I started “getting to work” on her. Her name was Courtney, she was a Baptist, from a Baptist family, she recently lost an uncle who was a Baptist preacher, and though she was a Baptist, she was not a very devout one. I called her up, and I started preaching. I started telling her everything my little mind knew about things she needed to correct. Within a few minutes of this conversation, I received some of the coldest remarks in my life. The first thing I did after this was run to my dad, and find out the questions I had concerning our conversations, got the bible answers, and learned what I should have said. Yet, it was too late, every bit of the fire I had was put out by that conversation. It would be a little less then 3 years before I would seriously attempt to talk to someone about Christ. It would be about 3 years later when I understood what I was fighting for.

As Christians, we hold to God’s truth as hard as we can, even when we do not understand. We read, and meditate, and conform as much as we can to the teachings of our savior. Why do we do this? We do this for the reason that was introduced to us in Genesis 3. We have been separated by our sins from the one and only God, and we long for, and need, a relationship with our Father. Christ is our mediator to God, and Christ has taught us, through His words and examples, how to repair this relationship. I have the desire to study His scriptures due to the love He’s shown me, and my earnest (though feeble compared to His love) desire to love Him back. We need to have the faith that serves God, even when we don’t understand why things turn out the way they do. But there are a lot of things that must be understood. Understanding God’s sacrifices, His grace, His mercies, and seeing the countless blessings (I suggest trying to count them, and naming them one by one!) He has given us produces a desire to serve God with all our might. It is important that we know how to fight, but my personal growth was hindered greatly by not understanding the reason to fight. I worry that the reason some people have to fight, is out of pride, and knowledge. We know what God wants, and you don’t! Let each of us press on to know the Lord, that we may serve Him, and let us teach others of the Lord, and teach them how to serve him. We need to be sure that the youth of this congregation know why we are in this “fight.” Knowing why we are in the fight, and learning why they are in the fight could inspire them all to become the best stewards they can be for Christ.

Nathan Quinn

John 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

Acts 5:38-39 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

Acts 23:9 And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.

I Corinthians 9:26-27 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

I Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

II Timothy 4:7-8 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Hebrews 11:32-34 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: ho through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.