Risking Spiritual Death

(Part of the Church Militant Training Series. This follows from the post: O.I.L. for Holy Spirit Fire)

Military discipline and effectiveness is built on the foundation of obedience to orders. Recruits are taught to obey, immediately and without question, orders from their superiors, right from day one of boot camp. Military members who fail to obey the lawful orders of their superiors risk serious consequences. Article 90 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice makes it a crime for a military member to willfully disobey a superior commissioned officer. In fact, under Article 90, during times of war, a military member who willfully disobeys a superior commissioned officer can be sentenced to death.

However, when we decide to ignore and neglect God and His will for our lives, like the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32), we are choosing to remove ourselves from His company. This is far more serious than disobedience found in the military, as this disobedience, this refusal to love, brings with it eternal consequences. This creates a spiritual death that cuts us off from the Divine Life of God, from our friendship with God, and from our heavenly inheritance.

And so, why did the Bridegroom say, “I do not know you” to the foolish virgins who did not bother to bring enough oil? They signify those who avoid the extra effort; the sacrifice that is vital in any love relationship. Instead, they neglect, take shortcuts or avoid altogether the greater demands of obedient love – it is that “Christian in name only”, lukewarm, “what-can-I-get-away-with?” association that has laid hold of souls at epidemic proportions in our times. Stuck in this spiritual sloth, there is no holy fear and, therefore, they are content to keep God as merely an acquaintance, at an impersonal, manageable distance, as they remain just a part of the crowd – a pew potato – a bench warmer who is content to be on the team, but avoids the effort of getting in the game. Theirs is a safe and empty religiosity that wallows in dull mediocrity, doing only what is minimally expected. They exclude themselves from joining the dance of life.

In the Book of Revelations, we can see the level of disdain God has for those who seek the easy way and avoid the demands of a face to face, Semper Fi, love relationship with Him: “I know your works: that you are neither cold, nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. But because you are lukewarm and are neither cold nor hot, I will begin to vomit you out of my mouth” (Rev. 3:15-16). St. Jose Maria said, “How pathetic – a ‘man of God’ who has fallen away! But, how much more pathetic, a ‘man of God’ who is lukewarm and worldly!”

(Church Militant Training Series continues with next post)