During the Civil War, there was one soldier selected as a standard-bearer, carrying the flag throughout the battle. Through the haze and noise of cannon fire, this flag could always be seen. If the soldier was wounded or killed, another would grab the flag before it could fall to the ground. The standard-bearer was a symbol, reminding the soldiers of the cause for which they were fighting.
Today, we stand in the midst of a spiritual battlefield. "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Eph 6:12). As soldiers of Christ, we are all called to be His standard-bearers for the world to witness. Unfortunately, too often we let the standard fall, holding instead the banner of our denomination, doctrine or a particular preacher. The problem with holding humans as our standard is they will eventually disappoint us in some way, and we find ourselves carrying no standard at all. We depend on our leaders in church to the point that when they fail us, as humans will, we turn our back on our church, our brothers and sisters, and Christ, Himself. As Christians, we were not meant to be divided by doctrine and beliefs. We are to be unified in Christ; "walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all" (Eph 4:1-6)
We need to remember we are all humans, with all of the frailty of the flesh. None of us are perfect - not our pastors, teachers or deacons. We all need to pick up the standard of Christ and set it before us as our leader. How many could be saved if we carried His standard and not a doctrine? How many churches could be saved if we follow the leadership of Christ rather than that of a man?
We are in a spiritual warfare. The decision is yours: will you be the standard-bearer of a denomination, doctrine or preacher; or will you be what we are called to be – the standard-bearer of Christ?
