“16 Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily. 6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. 11 So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. 13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. 14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. 15 And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.” (Acts 16:1-15 ESV)

The gospel imperative to Rule, to Reign, to lay Claim: it leads to public demonstrations of faith such as the March imperative, the Banners over the quote-unquote “Parish” (as in, the church’s “body” being more than just who sits in its pews: it consists of a geographic neighborhood in toto). The gospel imperative has no more time for somber “just look at me submit, dad!” reactions, instead being a Variegated Evangelization of… of the West (cue “The Celtic Way of Evangelization” book)… of the two-thirds world (cue the Missionary and Pentecostal influx, revival, new beginnings)… of the Middle East (cue the Joshua Fund or other Jews for Jesus movements)… of the East (cue our best reactions to an apostolic—Scriptural—literature that warns against even trying to appease or live amongst the Eastern tribes; we send the missionaries! We bless the chosen and called! We pray for the House Churches!). 

The Christian’s prerogative, however, starts with the stranger affection for the religions of others, as we cope with and bless, nod over and ascent, to “Christian-like” morality or Hope. We endeavor less for the literal moral Code as for the rather embarrassing to the unbeliever Faith in the Undead, in the Undying, in the routine and act of Dying towards the End of Living A Second Life.

Not all is ebb and flow, equal all things told: some evolved Religion is better than others and—like the tree-dweller scampering to hide from the roaring T Rexes—it is no guarantee that the right will prevail. More, Religion gives its adherents Immediate Response, as in: so-and-such world religion is Immediately Informed and Built Up, Reinvented, around sage notions… of the Cross… of the Resurrection… of the gift of the Spirit. We can harbor no long-term grudges.

And for a season even those lagging behind, turbanned or collared and suited and sticklers for “the Law”, even to these a breath of fresh air is implicitly Obtained and Owned: the fresh air wherein, come Judgment Day and Day in the Court, these practitioners vote with their resolve for a Faith that has a je ne sais quoi, a reliance on the Unseen and the Uncodified, an Affection for brothers and sisters across the aisle who, all legalism topsy-turvy and at odds, are still Acknowledged as Brother, as Sister. Because of Something owned and taken seriously, some Dedication to the Faith Once Delivered, some Sincerity of Possession and Occupation.

Religion unify around notions of Sin, yet to fight Sin is difficult at best: we believe in some prerogative or inclination that is not easily reversed or corrected. Almost as if hypnotized or “suggestible” at the hands of—let’s face it—our enemies, we struggle to Right the Good Ship of Morals. It is a prayerful bright sunny morn when we arise from prayer, from bed, from a good night’s sleep, intent on Correction and Change, Amendment of Life, even though an enemy has slandered us and labelled us as incorrigible. Even if we no longer feel in the good graces—such patient and long wearied graces—of the church itself. No, still we shall be Moral and Clean-Living, not as an end in itself, but because we are the servient Elder Brother, Sister, to said Church. We have a duty, and if good works will mask or aid our better Decisions and Purpose, so be it: good deeds we shall Own and Carry Out. And when it is we who are in the sadder embrace of our church friends, it is with a childlike innocence—no, not just any old childhood, but that childhood that has taught Trust and Allegiance to the parent figure—that we fall into the church’s arms and seek Restoration.

We do all this in Preparation. All this in Intentional Posture, Fighting Stand, and no more despondency or frustration at the paradoxes and doubly-bent mirrors and curves of the wild ride called Evangelism. When sickened by the overall outlay, we fast and go to a simpler brand of Intake and Output: Prayer and Holy Writ, ingested and appreciated. Because we are those appreciated by the turbanned and collared Headship. We are appreciated because we nodded in the direction of the Law, even as we claimed at once a Mercy Seat superior to it as the angels are superior to Man. The Law… people go crazy at liberalism and free societies, but also begin to see the Fruits of a liberal society, just perhaps. And the notion of War: just as our Faith is a bequest from greater wisdom of generations past, our Fight Today is some unknown Appreciation as well, that we know of all things One Thing: God for us, and we no scarcity of resources deprived, but Peace and Able to get along all of us. There is so much room for Getting Along, when once we’ve tasted of the Fruit of Brotherhood, Sisterhood.