Thomas Merton was one the great spiritual voices of the 20th century.  He died in 1968 by accidently electrocuted himself in Bangkok, Thailand.  He rarely traveled.  But he had received permission to speak at a religious conference in Bangkok.  He gave this parting advice to those in attendance. “If you forget everything else that has been said, I would suggest you remember for the future: ‘From now on, everybody stands on his own feet.'”  Many, including myself, consider Merton a prophetic voice, who saw through spiritual eyes much of what needed improvement in America.  It is interesting that this was his last spiritual advice.  It seemed to be said with some urgency and seriousness. 

So let me take a shot at saying something about his advice.  I am reminded of Paul’s exhortation to us in Ephesians, as he describes the spiritual battle in which we are engaged.  “Be prepared.  You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own.  Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet” (Eph 6:13 – The Message).  Let me share three short take-aways from the advice of Merton and Paul.

First the sense that there is an intensification in the spiritual battle we are facing.  Merton says “From now on.”  In other words, be alert and aware of the days to come.  Paul says “Be prepared.”   Jesus said, “All these are the beginning of birth pains” (Mat 24:8).  The prophetic voices in our culture and scripture seem to be clear regarding the future.  The battle will intensify.  So men, don’t be surprise .  The apostle John warned us, “Children, time is just about up.  You heard that Antichrist is coming.  Well, they’re all over the place, antichrists everywhere you look.  That’s how we know that we’re close to the end” (I John 2:18).  So don’t be surprised and caught off guard regarding the decline of morality, the loss of a Christian consensus and spiritual vitality in our culture.  It has happened all through church history.  Why should the good, old USA be exempted if we leave God out of the public square.

Secondly, we are exhorted to “stand.”  Men, that means not to sit (give up), run (being fearful) or cower (surrender).  NO.  We are to stand. Merton said “stand on your own feet.”  You are going to need other brothers to protect your back, encourage you and motivate you.  But we each have to ask for grace and strength from  the Lord to stand.  This means at least three things. First, be clear about your convictions, secondly,take responsibility for your actions, and thirdly, make a clear identification with Jesus and his kingdom.  Many men will have to reexamine their priorities and commitments. We can’t sit on the sidelines.

Thirdly, you are not going to be able to stand alone.  I am convinced that in the days to come, groups of men will be forming for the purpose of being ” faithful, loving warriors” in their communities, at work and in the Church. These men will be a challenge to other men by their combination of love , humilityand conviction.  They will gather because they know they will not be able to stand alone.  In their own sphere of influence they are going to gather so as a group they will be able “to take back the land.”  What is the land?  Their spiritual heritage and influence.  Men, our christian heritage is being taken from us.  We need to reclaim it one by one as we fight with the weapons of “love and humility.”  We can be an influence starting in our families and then move out into church, community and work.  Remember what will win the day is a Christlike character.  This will be vital in a “Post-Christian” America, where the majority are suspicious of “church people.”  We are not church people, but rather humble, loving followers of Jesus who are on a “subversive” mission to take back the land. Never forget we know we have won the battle as we follow the “alpha and Omega.”  In the meantime, there are skirmishes to be fought not just for our sake, but for our families and community.

From my post as “a watchmen” on the wall (Is. 62:6) here at Canaan’s rest, I sense along with a lot of other biblically orientated folks that the recent presidential election revealed a major shift in American culture that we might not have seen coming.  But the evidence is in.   As Jim Daly, Focus on The Family president, observed, “Not only did the majority of Americans vote to reelect a president whose policies have reflected a disregard for the fundamental issues of life, marriage and religious liberty.  At least two states voted to redefine the family in a way past generations would have found unthinkable.”  So what does this mean for men who are committed followers of Jesus.

Well, in my opinion, committed men need to turn their spiritual eyes away from the world and themselves and get a new focus on Jesus.  Along with Peter we confess anew, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God” John 6:68-9). Jesus did not say the journey would be easy (read Luke 21, Mark 13, and Matt. 24). He tells us in Luke 21:28, “When all this starts to happen, up on your feet.  Stand tall with your heads high.  Help is on the way.”  Yes help is on the way.  But our posture needs to be that of being alert (on your feet) and attentive (your head high).  Above, all men need to be standing tall.  Our hope is in the Lordship of Jesus and his kingdom, not the systems and structure of our culture.  

I personally identify with the phrase “joyful exile.”  I am an exile in this culture, but I also want to be a joyful exile.  I want to be a positive witness in a time of great uncertainty, cultural tension and spiritual lukewarmness.  With all my heart I say to you men, this is a day to be a JOYFUL exile. The phrase “joyful exile” comes from a book with the same title, by James Houston, my mentor in so many ways.  He says, “This book is for ‘exiles’ those who need the moral courage to move away from the familiar and the conventional and into the dangerously exposed places, to prophetically critique our cultural norms and institutional attitudes.”  Men, it is time for men to “stand tall with our heads high” not pulling back in fear and going back into the familiar.  No, it is a time to move out in boldness, willing as humble, loving followers of Jesus to bring constructive critique to our culture.

Let me close with an extended quote from Dr Houston. “Faithfulness to biblical convictions always calls us to live ‘dangerously on the edge’ of our culture.  This is not a call to individualism and independence of spirit.  It is an invitation to experience more deeply what it means to become a faithful witness of Christ.  This process requires that we have the moral courage and selflessness to confront cultural challenges, resisting the insidious pressure to depend on techniques instead of the love and Spirit of God.  It requires that we foster spiritual friendship and allow community to grow spiritually rather than be organized artificially.  It demands that we be more personally available to others in sharing the joy of God’s salvation.” 

In a culture that has lost its spiritual mooring, where the name of Jesus is blasphemed, and where a biblical lifestyle is mocked, it is time for the men of God to awake up.  This is now our time.  We are called to live on the dangerous edge of culture.  It calls for moral courage and selflessness.  As Dr Houston points out, we are to express to love of Christ and be dependent on the Spirit of God.  His challenge to foster spiritual friendship, along with spiritual community, does not come naturally to men.  But men, it is time for us to band together in small committed groups, to encourage one another to go out with the weapons of love and humility and to practice a “subversive spirituality” in territory that has now being occupied by what Charles Colson once called “the new barbarians.”