Take the Hill!
The city of Megiddo was located along the most important trade route of the ancient world. Because of its location, Megiddo became a powerful city financially and culturally. The city’s ability to influence the world caused Megiddo to be a place of great desire for world powers, and battle after battle was fought for its possession.
In Hebrew the city of Megiddo was referred to as the hill of Megiddo, translated Har Megiddo. In the book of Revelation in the New Testament, the writer, John, mentions the “hill of Megiddo” in its Greek translation, which we read in English as Armageddon (Rev. 16:16).
Up until the time that king Solomon had possession of the city, it was used as a place of Canaanite worship. Just as the worshipers of Pan at the Gates of Hell in Caesarea Philippi believed that their gods lived in the underworld during the winter and entered the world in the spring, so did the Canaanites believe that their gods lived in the underworld in the winter and surfaced in the spring. To entice the gods, Baal and Ashera, to mate, the priests and priestesses of Baal would have sex with each other and other people, and they would burn infants alive as forms of worship.
Megiddo represented the constant spiritual battle over the souls of the world. It was here that people fought to have influence over what people believed, how they lived, and who they worshiped. This is why taking the hill of Megiddo was so important and why the city was conquered and destroyed, and then rebuilt over seventy times.
Influencing the world for Christ requires that we take the hill of Megiddo in our world today. In a pluralistic society where even Christians are beginning to reflect a more tolerant mentality toward the gods of the world, we will find it tempting to share the hill.
Influencing the world for Christ requires a strategy of compassion and passion. Though we are not to enslave the world with rules and rituals or attack them with finger-pointing and brow-beating, we will only be effective when we share the gospel convinced that Jesus is the Way.
20 comments:
Great analogy.
Here’s a loaded question: How are we supposed to “take the hill?” You mentioned sharing the gospel . . . but what does “taking the hill” look like? Does it mean taking Washington? Taking the media? Taking our school systems? Etc . . . what do you think?
Blessings,
Bret
Hey Bret,
That's exactly what taking the hill looks like.
The method of "taking" is where Christians begin to divide. Some think taking the hill (media, education, politics, etc.) has to be done by blowing up abortion clinics and going to Disney's Gay Day to tell homosexuals that they are going to burn in hell.
Others take a more accepting or tolerant approach. These Christians accept what is handed and believe that God is ultimately in control, therefore, we really don't need to "do" anything accept be still and know that He is God.
I would suggest that the assertive methods do not win people to believe that Jesus taught us to love one another, nor do they reflect Paul's empathetic methods of "becoming like" those to whom he ministered. Nor do the toleration methods produce anything more than a subservient class of religious pacifists.
I like to think of "taking the hill" using an additional metaphor of a great therapist. We listen, we observe, we take notes, we educate ourselves, and we get inside the mind of the world while showing others that we sincerely respect and value them as we share the teachings of Jesus by way of example. The therapist is aware of the issues and he is passionately concerned about teaching his patient better thinking and behavioral methods for getting along in the world. He doesn't threaten his patient with being ostracized or sent to prison. He patiently and methodically shows him the way.
Grace and peace,
Johnny
Walker Said:
>>Does it mean taking Washington? Taking the media? Taking our school systems?
The word "nations" in the "Great Commission" refers to "tribes,"ethic groups. It does not refer to governmental 'nation-states' as we understand the term today.
"Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's, Render unto God that which is God's."
And please remember: "prayer in schools" is different than "prayer by schools"
Namaste
We can make this a little more palpable by changing the word "take" to "influence."
That is, after all, what is actually meant by "take the hill." I agree with Walker on this.
However, we can always influence each of these institutions with Christian values. And though the U.S.A. was initially founded by Deists and Christians, the majority of our laws were rooted in Christian commandments. Here we see the "influence" of Christian values without having a theocratic nation.
In my opinion, influence is the key to spreading the message of Christ, not the use of forced indoctrination or guilt and fear tactics.
Johnny
influence + love = effective evangelism
tracks + fire + brimstone = dirty looks from non-christian who feels judged and thinks christians are wierd
Kathy,
I love it. You are so funny. And you are so right.
Johnny
Influence+love+tracks+fire+brimstone=My CSM
Sounds like an Evangelical.
Walker Said
Kathy, may I use those for awhile as my tagline at a contractor' forum (with attribution?)
Namaste
Walker said
QUOTE
Deists and Christians, the majority of our laws were rooted in Christian commandments. Here we see the "influence" of Christian values without having a theocratic nation.
END QUOTE
Judeo-Christian commandments, which are pretty much the same as the basic principles of all major religions.
Also, then, as now, the 'majority' of our laws are based on the common law tradition of judge's attempting to deliver justice within the overall values and fabric of society. Whether to adopt the then existing English case law (including that which had been developing in the colonies) was specifically discussed at the time of adoption of the Constitution. (I studied legal history as a law student, severl 'lives' ago...)
Namaste
Walker,
Thanks for the education. There is a great deal of information concerning the development of the U.S. found in the subject of Church History.
I am learning as much about the development of nations, including Russia, England, India, France, and Italy as I am learning about the Christian church just by studying the birth and development of Christendom.
Forever learning and being educated by blog comments,
Johnny
Johnny - I miss you. I can hear you laughing in my head.
Walker - Use away. Spread the equation to the world.
Kathy,
I miss you too. You are the funniest person in the world. I wish the others on this blog had the blessing of having the kind of friendship with you that I and many other Kathy fans have.
You're a blessing.
Johnny
Right back at ya Pocket Johnny
We have taken a perfectly good steak dinner and turned it into a sweet, little pudding pop.
Will someone please add something controversial?
Allow me to sing the Golden Girls theme song, just to get under your skin :)
"Thank you for being a friend. Travelled down the road and back again. Your heart is true, you're a pal and a confidant. And if you threw a party, invited everyone you knew. You would see the biggest gift would be from me, and the card attached would say, 'Thank you for being a friend'. (cue musical ending) Doo, doo-doo-doo, doo, doo, doo."
Walker Sez:
>>Will someone please add something controversial?
Oooooooo.....
Yer asking fer it.
How about: "I'm a card carrying member of the ACLU?"
Namaste
Let us pray.
I am a card carring member of the ACLU.
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