One army base had just cancelled a practice session at the rifle range, but the training run to test the soldiers’ physical fitness would proceed as scheduled.

Pondering this, one soldier said, “Does it bother anyone else that the Army doesn’t seem to care how well we can shoot, but is extremely interested in how fast we can run?”

When Jesus said that the gates of hell would not overcome his church (Matthew 16:18), he did not mean to portray the church as being on the defensive. The picture is not of the church hiding in its foxhole, frightened as it helplessly endures Satan’s attacks. To the contrary, Jesus depicts the church as being on the offensive, breaking down the enemy’s strongholds.

Therefore, let us not be afraid to play offense. The church has played defense for too long now. Let us boldly take the initiative. The church should take its marching orders from the Lord rather than let the world set the agenda. Let us stand up for the truth, even when it upsets some people.

This doesn’t mean that we set out to offend people. We must, like Jesus, speak the truth with grace (John 1:14). But those who oppose us will naturally react negatively to the truth. That mustn’t stop us from taking the offensive. We cannot shirk our responsibility; the stakes are much too high!