One should always be willing to accept both the responsibility and consequences for words spoken or actions taken. An Idiom that is sometimes used is: “Falling On Your Sword”! It is an expression that means: “If someone falls on their sword, they resign or accept the consequences of some wrongdoing.” We have just seen this unfold yesterday as a four-star General – Stanley McChrystal - was humiliated in public, dressed down by civilians, and relieved of his command in Afghanistan. Even though he has served this nation bravely, courageously and well, comments that he made and allowed in a Rolling Stones imbedded interview brought about this sudden change in a selfless career. Could it be that his frustration over civilian interference in combat readiness and battle execution boiled over into his untimely remarks? What if you had been told additional troops and equipment would be sent to the battle zone, and then a long-wait ensues – is that not an occasion for frustration to some degree? What if you see the death-toll of your troops begin to increase and the enemy becoming more daring while your hands are tied, would that cause a reaction by you? Even though an Officer should maintain decorum and discipline at all times, it is understandable how a trained and experienced General would feel frustrated by the mixed signals of an untrained and inexperienced Commander-in-Chief.
There is another example on “Falling On Your Sword” in History. In the July 3rd issue of World Magazine, a review appears regarding must-read Books Of The Year. In a column - If We Lose The Battle - by Eric Metaxas and Marvin Olasky, our runner-up for book of the year is Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy (April 2010, Thomas Nelson). The review raises these thoughts: “What if we found ourselves living under dictatorship, with our children and ourselves given daily instructions to kill those who disagree? This year brings the 65th anniversary of the Nazi hanging of Dietrich Bonhoeffer for his attempt to overthrow Adolf Hitler, and that martyrdom is well known—but Metaxas illuminates, mile by mile, the road to full resistance. Early this summer the book rose to The New York Times bestseller list, suggesting contemporary resonance with its 20th century themes. Metaxas describes a man of aristocratic background and intellectual talent who descended from social and university heights to do the hard work of ministry. In doing so he placed himself on a collision course with Hitler, a man who so envied and hated aristocrats and academics that he devoted his life to forcing them and millions of others to bow down to him…Bonhoeffer's belief was that "it was the role of the church to speak for those who could not speak." He fought Nazi attacks on Jews and called for "costly grace" by which Christians would give up comfortable lives to follow Christ's call: "Costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life…Bonhoeffer in 1933, at age 26, understood these holes in men’s souls and gave a radio talk on the problem only two days after Germans elected Hitler to be their chancellor. He said, "Whereas earlier leadership was expressed in the form of the teacher, the statesman, the father…now the Leader has become an independent figure. The Leader is completely divorced from any office; he is essentially and only the Leader… continued his critique of the Führer principle: If he does not continually tell his followers quite clearly of the limited nature of his task and of their own responsibility…then the image of the Leader will pass over into the image of the mis-leader, and he will be acting in a criminal way not only towards those he leads, but also towards himself. The true Leader…has to lead the individual into his own maturity…He must let himself be controlled, ordered, restricted."
Bonhoeffer demonstrated what it means to “Fall On Your Sword.” He would be executed on April 9th, 1945 days before the Surrender of Germany in World War II. The times in which we live are uncertain and may become dangerous. We might do well to embrace the commitment and choice stated in Acts 20:24, “I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.” In The Message Translation of Acts 20:25-27, Paul wrote: “And so this is good-bye. You're not going to see me again, nor I you, you whom I have gone among for so long proclaiming the news of God's…kingdom. I've done my best for you, given you my all, held back nothing of God's will for you.” This is complete abandonment to a just and worthy mission and cause. Are we up to a similar task and stand? Consider these things with me!
There is another example on “Falling On Your Sword” in History. In the July 3rd issue of World Magazine, a review appears regarding must-read Books Of The Year. In a column - If We Lose The Battle - by Eric Metaxas and Marvin Olasky, our runner-up for book of the year is Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy (April 2010, Thomas Nelson). The review raises these thoughts: “What if we found ourselves living under dictatorship, with our children and ourselves given daily instructions to kill those who disagree? This year brings the 65th anniversary of the Nazi hanging of Dietrich Bonhoeffer for his attempt to overthrow Adolf Hitler, and that martyrdom is well known—but Metaxas illuminates, mile by mile, the road to full resistance. Early this summer the book rose to The New York Times bestseller list, suggesting contemporary resonance with its 20th century themes. Metaxas describes a man of aristocratic background and intellectual talent who descended from social and university heights to do the hard work of ministry. In doing so he placed himself on a collision course with Hitler, a man who so envied and hated aristocrats and academics that he devoted his life to forcing them and millions of others to bow down to him…Bonhoeffer's belief was that "it was the role of the church to speak for those who could not speak." He fought Nazi attacks on Jews and called for "costly grace" by which Christians would give up comfortable lives to follow Christ's call: "Costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life…Bonhoeffer in 1933, at age 26, understood these holes in men’s souls and gave a radio talk on the problem only two days after Germans elected Hitler to be their chancellor. He said, "Whereas earlier leadership was expressed in the form of the teacher, the statesman, the father…now the Leader has become an independent figure. The Leader is completely divorced from any office; he is essentially and only the Leader… continued his critique of the Führer principle: If he does not continually tell his followers quite clearly of the limited nature of his task and of their own responsibility…then the image of the Leader will pass over into the image of the mis-leader, and he will be acting in a criminal way not only towards those he leads, but also towards himself. The true Leader…has to lead the individual into his own maturity…He must let himself be controlled, ordered, restricted."
Bonhoeffer demonstrated what it means to “Fall On Your Sword.” He would be executed on April 9th, 1945 days before the Surrender of Germany in World War II. The times in which we live are uncertain and may become dangerous. We might do well to embrace the commitment and choice stated in Acts 20:24, “I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.” In The Message Translation of Acts 20:25-27, Paul wrote: “And so this is good-bye. You're not going to see me again, nor I you, you whom I have gone among for so long proclaiming the news of God's…kingdom. I've done my best for you, given you my all, held back nothing of God's will for you.” This is complete abandonment to a just and worthy mission and cause. Are we up to a similar task and stand? Consider these things with me!
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