Confused Masculinity

3-9-07
I am furious.
I just watched 300. It was amazing. The graphics were awesome, the fight scenes blew me away and the plot was very suspenseful. But I think what made it so much more amazing was that the entire time I could not help but think of our Spiritual Warfare.
"We do not fight against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Eph. 6:12). With every crushing blow, I saw my own sin being conquered…mastered by the sword. With every invigorating proclamation given by King Leonidus, I heard the rock solid proclamation of God "I WILL be exalted among the nations. I WILL be exalted in all the earth!" (Ps. 46:10) and of KING JESUS "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. GO! Therefore, and make disciples (MARTYRS!!) of all nations, baptizing them in the name of (causing them to submit to) the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey ALL that I have commanded you. And behold, I AM with you always; even to the end of the age!" (Mt. 28:19-20). This is the same Jesus from whom His enemies will hide and beg the rocks to crush them rather than face His horrible wrath (Rev. 6)
If defending Sparta and so called "freedom" is so epoch and awesome, HOW MUCH MORE is this ETERNAL battle!? How can we look at that and be amazed, then turn to the REAL battle and yawn with boredom!? This is WAR, Christian! WAKE-UP!! I mean, what in the world are we doing!? Look at us. Look at this "church". This "army" full of "soldiers" who 1) aren't equipped for battle, 2) wouldn't want to battle (because of our love for the enemy), and 3) don't even know there IS such a battle!!? For "no soldier gets entangled with civilian affairs" (2 Tim 2:4). Look at us! How pathetic!? We are obsessed with physical prowess and strength and muscle…all the while, we are Spiritual Pansies! Oh that Spiritual strength and valor would be valued so highly that physical strength would become infinitely SECONDARY! "for bodily discipline (physical muscle and beauty) is only of little profit, but Godliness (Spiritual muscle and beauty) is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also the life to come" (1 Tim. 4:8).
I am so sick of sin. I am so sick of worldliness…especially in the church. And someone may say "Well, that's just because it effects you negatively". Maybe so, but if it affects me negatively, how much more does it affect the millions of others who have it worse off than I do? That doesn't change the fact that it still IS negative! It's evil. And it's rampant in the Church to such an extent that sometimes I'd feel as if I would be doing someone who's hurting a dis-service by offering the Church as an aid. I'm sorry for this rant...but I feel that this…and much more is needed. I long to be able to fight with brothers the way they fought in that movie. But then I look around, and not only realize that we aren't fighting like them, but we aren't fighting at all! I love you all and I hope this doesn't come off as a rebuke, but an encouragement to press on more than any of us have ever dreamed ...into the front lines