 
Change Movement Sermons Series
PARABLE OF JOE THE SOLDIER
Joe was a tough, no-nonsense fellow. He grew up in a rough neighborhood and
frequently mixed it up with guys who challenged him. Joe was proud to be an
American. He did not read the newspaper and only occasionally caught the
broadcast news, but he had patriotism in his veins and was ready to defend
his nation should an enemy attack her. When war erupted, Joe rushed to the
recruitment office and volunteered for the Cause. In boot camp, he had his
share of scrapes with other recruits. After he was assigned, he was
encouraged to get into the company's boxing program. He put many a man on
the canvas and loved doing it. When he was shipped across to the battle
zone, he continued to look for challengers to meet in the ring. Man after
man fell before his fists and his peers cheered him on and called him their
"champion." In fact, so successful was Joe at boxing, that his commanding
officers kept him busy in the gym and meeting boxers from other outfits.
Before he knew it, his hitch was up and Joe came home. When his buddies
asked him about his war experiences, all Joe could tell them was how many
G.I.s he had whipped in the ring. While other men fought the enemy, Joe was
whipping other Americans. Some men were wounded in combat. Some died. Joe
got a broken nose, cauliflower ears and a few scars on his face. He was the
champ. As he grew older, and as he thought about his buddies who died in
the conflict, Joe felt a little embarrassed and did not care to tell his
grandchildren about his years as the company's boxing champion.
When the disciples asked the teacher what this story meant, he explained
that Joe was a gospel preacher. The war was a spiritual conflict for the
soul of the church. The enemy was those who were those who despised the
church and were determined to change her into their own image. Those Joe
fought and whipped were fellow preachers. And the teacher said, the sons of
this world are wiser for their own generation than the sons of light.
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