Why the Tip of a Spear?

Pastor Mike here.

Years ago, after posting some videos and text online, I was pulled aside by an authority and told that it wasn't my place to be doing those things. The fear was that I would needlessly alienate people or offend, and since I wasn't in charge of any specific ministry or church, it wasn't my place to be creating content that told people what to think.

At the end of that conversation, after rebuking me for what I had been saying, the leader told me "we're not here to be the tip of the spear." You know what, maybe he was right - in that position and at that time, maybe it wasn't my place to be the "tip of the spear."

And I still don't want to be the tip of the spear - I don't want to be the one who tells you what to believe. I don't want to tell you what's right or wrong. I don't want to tell you how to think.

But there's something that does.

The Scripture.

Now, the Bible was written in a time when the sword was the standard weapon of choice. Sure, spears are great and all, but the Bible isn't generally compared to a spear - it's a sword! It's a living, cutting, breathing, intuitive sword, that splits right down the middle and leaves all your motivations and longings raw and visible. A spear jabs, a sword cuts. A spear can be used to poke and prod, a sword cuts and then keeps on cutting.

So why's this blog called the "tip of the spear," and not the "tip of the sword."

Honestly, I wanted to be a little cheeky with the phrase. But beyond that, I hope that with this blog, you can get insights that will poke and prod at the world around us, seeing what's at stake, seeing what weak points exist, and seeing what other opportunities exist.

In the ancient times, a shield and spear made a great combination - a shield to protect and a spear to push the enemy off, dismount them, and leave them open for attack (with either sword or spear). I hope this blog is just that - a spear thrust to push someone off-balance which, when paired with the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit (which is the Word of God), could be used to drive back the darkness and clear out the fog of war just a little bit.

It'll contain notes from sermons, musings on the business of the day, and just general truths we need to remember. But remember, it's just a thrust to knock the enemy back, then we come in with what really matters - the Scriptures.

"For the Word of God is quick (living) and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword..."