The Chocolate Soldier or Heroism – The Lost Chord of Christianity

by C.T. Studd

“Heroism is the lost chord; the missing note of present-day Christianity!”

“Every true soldier is a hero! A SOLDIER WITHOUT HEROISM IS A CHOCOLATE SOLDIER! Who has not been stirred to scorn and mirth at the very thought of a Chocolate Soldier? In peace true soldiers are captive lions, fretting in their cages. War gives them their liberty and sends them, like boys bounding out of school, to obtain their heart’s desire or perish in the attempt. Battle is the soldier’s vital breath! Peace turns him into a stooping asthmatic. War makes him a whole man again, and gives him the heart, strength, and vigour of a hero.

EVERY TRUE CHRISTIAN IS A SOLDIER—of Christ—a hero “par excellence!” Braver than the bravest—scorning the soft seductions of peace and her oft-repeated warnings against hardship, disease, danger, and death, whom he counts among his bosom friends.

THE OTHERWISE CHRISTIAN IS A CHOCOLATE CHRISTIAN! Dissolving in water and melting at the smell of fire. “Sweeties” they are! Bonbons, lollipops! Living their lives on a glass dish or in a cardboard box, each clad in his soft clothing, a little frilled white paper to preserve his dear little delicate constitution.”

The apostles were certainly not “Chocolate Christians,” and they definitely obeyed the Lord in boldly declaring the truth, regardless of the consequences.

“In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.” (Psalm 138:3).

“The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.” (Proverbs 28:1).

“But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?” (John 7:26).

“And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word…” (Acts 4:29).

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 14:13).

“And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost [Spirit], and they spake the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31).

“Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles” (Acts 13:46).

“Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness [boldness] of speech—” (2 Corinthians 3:12).

“Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation” (2 Corinthians 7:4).

“Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you: But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.” (2 Corinthians 10:1-6).

“For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:19-21).

“For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 3:13).

The Root Cause is Lack of Biblical Separatism

The biblical principle of “separation” begins in chapter one of the Bible, and continues to Revelation 22, the end of the Bible. God utilizes separation in the creation account, with His people the Israelites, and with the Bride of Christ – the church. In various ways, God either implements separation Himself, or through His people. God commands it, and we are to obey Him!

“So Samuel said: “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD?

Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to harken [heed] than the fat of rams” (1 Samuel 15:22).

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1).

So too, in many places in Scripture, God commands separation from false and aberrant teachings and teachers and false prophets. Those who profess to follow Christ but are unwilling to separate from false teachers and false teachings are clearly in error. They themselves, no matter how popular they are, should also be exposed. Why? They are a threat to the body of Christ because they allow false teachers and false teachings to come into the church. Here are but three examples of God the Holy Spirit warning the church.

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen” (Romans 16:17-20).

“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 3-4).

Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am [innocent] pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in[from outside the church] among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves[from within the church] shall men arise,speaking perverse things,to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears” (Acts 20:26-31).

On the Internet and in published literature, one can now find many articles that reveal just how far many modern day church leaders have gone in not separating from unbiblical teachings and aberrant and false teachers. There is simply no excuse for Calvary Chapel ecumenical compromises. This documentation (see section at end of this article) deals with the problems of interfaith dialogue, ecumenical compromise, Jerry Boykin’s close-knit associations with false prophet Rick Joyner and the ecumenical Knights Hospitallers, Calvary Chapel’s neglect of standing firm for sound doctrine and against Purpose Driven, contemplative spirituality, and much more.

Biblical preachers and church elders are supposed to prevent such things, not endorse, promote, and participate in them. It should long be remembered that those who refuse to make a public stand against false teachers, strange doctrines, and ecumenism, have already made a stand to allow it into the church.

The biblical standard is preaching, reproving, rebuking, and exhorting with all long suffering and sound doctrine. The principles that Jesus and the Apostles and God’s prophets have always used have been warning and teaching and warning and teaching – not just teaching, teaching, teaching. Far too many in the church today simply teach and teach and teach, and either forget to warn altogether or purposely refuse to warn in order to remain popular and politically correct.

Neglecting to warn the church and protect God’s people from false teachers, antichrists and counterfeit watchmen who masquerade as popular Christian conference speakers is a horrible thing indeed. Sharing speaking platforms with such not only confuses masses of people, but it destroys godly reputations and repulses those who faithfully walk with the Lord. Calvary Chapel pastors and others who claim to teach the whole counsel of God are no exception to the rule. If they share speaking platforms with avowed Ecumenists, false teachers, New Age/New Spirituality sympathizers and the like, they will destroy their own reputations and drive the name of the fellowships where they serve straight into the ground. It is happening now on a very large scale, and the amount of people leaving the Calvary Chapel movement continues to grow.

At the beginning and the end of the day, God’s Word is clear – faithful men of God are to warn of error, and teach the truth. Anything less is not God’s will for the biblical preacher, teacher, evangelist and church elder. Those who want to confuse the body of Christ and blow the trumpet of confusion, should sincerely consider again what the Word of God instructs:

“I charge [command] thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry” (2 Timothy 4:1-5).

“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily” (Colossians 1:27-29).

It is one thing to stand firm in sound doctrine out of love for the Lord Jesus Christ, and it is altogether another to tolerate that which God hates. To the corrupt church at Thyatira God’s rebuke was clear about their sin was – toleration of evil and not making a stand against it. Sadly, the same can be said about many popular churches and personalities today.

“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, ‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow…” (Revelation 2:18).

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The above article was taken from the source below.

Sharing Speaking Platforms – When Leaders Wrongly Share Speaking Platforms with Ecumenists and Aberrant and False Teachers.