Wolves have long been one of my favorite wild animals.
It’s not surprising, because I love dogs, I grew up owning dogs, and at times
during my childhood, I spent more time alone with my dogs than with other kids
my age. I have been described by numerous people throughout my life as a loner,
so I suppose it makes sense that I have often felt a kind of kinship with the
trope of the lone wolf.
While it’s true that a lone wolf can be an effective
hunter, such a beast will find itself limited to small prey. But a pack of wolves? That’s a different
story. Wolf packs are among the most successful of nature’s hunting parties,
able to bring down prey that would be impossible for (or even deadly to) a lone
wolf.
Believe me when I say that life as a Christian is much
the same way.
A lone Christian can make some impact on the world for
Christ. Some would argue that it is in one-on-one contact and close
relationships with non-believers that a Christian is able to share the Gospel
most effectively, and they wouldn’t be wrong. But even so, all Christians need
to have regular contact with other believers, lest they cease to be the hunters
and become the hunted. Fortunately, there is a place where individual believers
can go to recharge their batteries on a regular basis.
Yes, it’s the church.
Even the strongest and surest individuals need a
support system. Indeed, as stated so succinctly by author John Donne, “No man
is an island.” Living and working in isolation is difficult for social beings,
whether they be wolves or humans. The work is tiresome, the resources scarce,
and the rewards limited. But as part of a group (or pack), the Christian can
find the strength and support to accomplish far greater things than the loner.
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| Photo by Neil Carey (license CC BY-SA 2.0) |
An excellent picture of the power of a unified group
of individuals comes from Paul’s reference to faith as a shield in Ephesians
6:16. While the Roman scutum
was a formidable bit of equipment for the individual soldier, the collective
strength of these shields when used in unison by an entire unit became the
stuff of legend.
When outnumbered or facing a rain of arrows from
distant archers, Roman legionnaires could unite in a special defensive
formation known as the testudo, or tortoise
formation. Soldiers along the perimeter of the formation would hold their
shields upright, side-by-side, while those inside the formation would lift
their shields horizontally above their heads, overlapping them to form a
virtually impenetrable shell encasing the entire unit. The formation could
maintain its position nearly indefinitely, and it could even move and advance
into enemy lines while providing superior protection to the soldiers beneath
the canopy of overlapping shields.
The testudo
formation illustrates the power of faith within the collective entity of the
church, as well as being an excellent picture of the church’s proper function
in the life of an individual member.
One notable factor about the testudo formation is that each individual shield is the same as all
the others. This does not mean that individual Christians should all be the
same, but it does illustrate the importance of sharing a common faith. A church
cannot make a positive impact on the community around it if the individual
members aren’t on the same page. Concerning faith, this reveals the importance
of clear and consistent teaching within the church.
One of the primary functions of the church is to
instruct believers in the faith. Here, faith
refers to the specific beliefs (doctrines) of the church. It is extremely
important for any organization to share a cohesive vision amongst the
individuals who belong to it, and this is of course true of the church as well.
Churches generally teach the details of the faith via both small groups (think
Sunday school) or in mass (via sermons).
Another of the primary functions of the church is to
build up believers during our time together so that we are strong enough to
face the challenges of daily life while we are apart. A single soldier can quickly become tired.
Within the Roman tortoise formation, the individual legionnaires were able to
expend less energy and recover their focus. The same can be said of the church.
While we go about our daily lives, the world presents us with certain
challenges. Temptations to sin, opportunities to witness, and attacks on our
faith all drain our energy, but the local church should be our place of rest,
recovery, and renewal.
One of my favorite passages in the Bible comes from
Paul’s instruction to the church to “encourage
one another, and build each other up,” in 1
Thessalonians 5:11. Morale within any organization is vital. If members
are confident of success, then success generally follows. Low morale tends to
lead to disorganization, mistakes, and potentially, failure. It is therefore of
vital importance for the local church to comfort members who are hurting, help
members who are struggling, and encourage members who are on the verge of
giving up.
As individuals, the Shield of Faith can do a lot. Covering
the gaps in one’s own Breastplate of Righteousness is a good place to begin. After
all, it is faith in God’s forgiveness that gives us reassurance that our sins
will be blotted out in eternity. Additionally, it is by faith which we believe
that God works all things together for our good. Faith reassures us that even
though there is pain tonight, joy will come in the morning. How much more so
for all of these situations when believers come together to share
encouragement, accountability, and forgiveness! So many shields, so much faith,
so much encouragement!
And finally, the marching testudo is a wonderful symbol of a church on the move. Just as a
unit of soldiers in the tortoise formation had a huge tactical advantage over
their adversaries, so too a group of faithful Christians gains great power in
the reality of daily spiritual warfare! The testudo
made Roman legions more effective at reaching their objectives, just as our
collective faith spurs us forward in reaching the world for Christ.
So how can a local church put on the testudo of
faith? Aside from supporting, teaching, and encouraging individual members as
mentioned above, there are numerous ways that a local church can carry our
collective faith out into our communities.
Open or support a food bank or soup kitchen.
Host or support a women & children’s shelter.
Run, sponsor, or support a halfway house.
And much, much more.
In the words of Bigweld from the 2005 film Robots, “See a need, fill a need!”
As we have seen, the Shield of Faith has applications
for both individuals and the church as a collective. If ever you find yourself feeling
isolated and overwhelmed, don’t be afraid to contact another church member for
help, comfort, and reassurance. Be available at all times to be the one who
provides such aid. Stop being a loner! Share your burdens and invoke the
strength of the pack!
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MORE IN THIS SERIES
The Final Cut (The Armor, part 18)
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