Ronin

 "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11...."In the early church there was no taking Christ as Saviour now, as Lord later - maybe never.....Today churches are filled with 'believers' who have never been made disciples. They have never denied self, taken up the cross, and followed Christ." Vance Havner......"Everyone wants a saviour. Few want a lord." Tony Evans

In Japanese feudal times, the Samurai were the warrior class, and it was their honor to be sworn to a Lord that they followed unconditionally. To be a Samurai without a lord was to have great dishonor brought upon yourself. Such men were called Ronin, and they sought to end their place of shame by becoming dedicated to another lord that they would live and die for. As I think on that, I begin to see the American church as one that is filled with Ronin, men and women who have no real lord and master but themselves. And they see no dishonor or shame in that.

We love to talk of Jesus as our Saviour. Our sermons and songs are filled with references to Him as being so. He is, but the word "Saviour" as pertaining to Jesus only appears a handful of times in the Bible. The word "Lord," as referencing Him, occurs many, many times more. Yet most of us have never noticed that, or chosen not to. As Evans said, we all want a Saviour. Few of us are looking for a Lord.

I go back to the Samurai reference. Their life was completely built around the wishes and desires of their Lord. Whatever he commanded them, they were to do without question or hesitation. Their obedience was instant. Such a way doesn't fit into our western mindset. Not in the secular sense, and since so many of us are still so heavily influenced by that mindset, even controlled by it, it doesn't fit into our spiritual mindset either. The evidence for this is seen in how easily we throw off spiritual authority when it doesn't agree with our view or desire. We see it on every level. We see it in the decisions people make about relationships, jobs, ministries, and really, most everything about their lives. Many a pastor will tell you that those who have sought counsel about significant issues in their life, after being shown how Scripture speaks to it, often ask in essence, "What's my other option?" We see such in the book, Jeremiah, when the remnant of the Jews asked the prophet Jeremiah to ask the Father to tell them what to do after some of their number had killed the governor the Babylonians had established over them. It was their desire to flee to Egypt in fear of reprisal, but they promised to do what God said. Jeremiah did inquire, and God told him that the people were to stay and that they would be well. When the people heard that, a response that wasn't in accordance with what they wanted, they told Jeremiah he hadn't heard from God at all. They fled to Egypt, where eventually they were destroyed by the very Babylonians they sought to escape. Our inbred tendency to resist His Lordship is nothing new. It's part of our fallen DNA.

There is only one answer to this; surrender, but surrender is something alien to our flesh. So we live like Ronin, masterless, except, we end up being mastered by most everything else. Our total well being lies in being completely yielded to Him, as does our true freedom. Israel ended up being slaves in the land God had given them because they continually rebelled against His Lordship. The same happens to us. How much longer will this go on for you? For us?

How weary are we of life as spiritual Ronin? For a Ronin, death was preferred over remaining in that condition. Until we're willing to die to our flesh's obsession with being in control, we will remain spiritual Ronin, living outside the fullness of His life. The true Samurai enjoyed the bounty of all his master owned. The Ronin usually lived off what he could steal or beg. A similar choice lies before you and me. Will we live on the abundance of His Bread and Water of Life, or go on as Ronin, living on sips, nibbles, and scraps of that Life?

Blessings,

Pastor O