“Warfare”

by St. Tikhon of Zadonsk

In the world, we see that when one nation rises up against another, the other state prepares to defend itself and take up arms against the aggressor and join battle with him. Likewise, inasmuch as our flesh with its passions and lusts rises up against us, Christians, we should not slumber but should defend ourselves and resist it. When one state resists another and one tries to overcome it, then a battle takes place between them.

So, when a Christian resists the flesh with its passions and lusts and does not do what it wants, but even more so tries to subdue its spirit, then a battle takes place between the Christian and the flesh. And this is what the Apostle writes about: "For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another" (Gal S:17). In visible warfare, when one side does not wish to submit to the other, and so give itself up into slavery to it, it fights against it with all its power.

Likewise, the Christian must stand up and fight against the flesh with all endeavor and diligence if he does not want to be conquered by it, be subjugated by it, be its captive and slave. In warfare, the soldiers who are fighting against their enemy receive directions from the commanders and help from each other.

Likewise, a Christian fighting against the flesh must ask and expect instructions and help from Christ, the author and judge of struggles, and by His power subdue the uprising of his flesh.

The flesh wishes to be haughty and arrogant, but the Christian must suppress it by Christ's humility. In this world, the flesh desires to become rich and to acquire much, but the Christian must cut off this desire by Christ's poverty.

The flesh wishes to become angry at a person and take vengeance on him for an offense, but the Christian should tame its impulses by Christ's meekness and calm. In misfortune, the flesh is agitated, rushes about, wishes to grumble and not have patience, but the Christian must calm its unseemly impulse by Christ's power and patience.

The flesh wishes to hate those who are at enmity with it and to be angry at them, but the Christian should overcome it with Christ's goodness and love.

So also in other cases the Christian should stand up and fight against the flesh by the power and example of Christ and overcome it. In visible warfare, it happens that a defeated side again rises up and reorganizes and fights even more vigorously against the side that had defeated it.

Likewise the Christian, after being defeated by the flesh, must stand up and, calling on the help of the all-powerful Jesus, be fortified by His power, and again stand up and fight against the flesh, and not permit it to master and exercise dominion over it.

In visible warfare, the more one side is defeated, and the other side wins, the weaker the defeated side becomes, and the stronger and more powerful the winning side is. So also is it in the battle between the flesh and the Christian.

The more the Christian overcomes the flesh, the more the flesh weakens, its passions and lusts are calmed and subside, and the Christian is filled with great power and is strengthened and improved.

In visible warfare, the soldier stands and fights not against a single enemy but against all of them. Likewise, the Christian should stand and fight not just against only one passion but against all of them. What use is it for a soldier to stand and fight against one enemy and not to oppose the other and to be defeated and killed by them? A soldier, if he wants to preserve his life and be the victor, must oppose all the enemies coming against him. What use is it for a Christian to stand and fight against one particular passion but to be subdued by the others and fall into slavery?

Many struggle against lust, which is praiseworthy and excellent but are overcome by anger and rage. Others are generous and merciful to their neighbors, but do harm to a person with their tongue, slandering him and passing judgment on him. Many restrain their bellies from overeating and drunkenness but do not want to fast even a little from remembering of wrongs.

It is likewise in other things. As we arm ourselves and stand against one passion, so must we arm ourselves against others and fight with them. “The Apostle says concerning this, Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul" (1 Pet 2:11).

Christian! As you have armed yourself and fight against one particular pas-sion, likewise arm yourself against the others and do not permit them to defeat you. As you fight against lust and do not allow it to master you, struggle and wage war against pride; fight with haughtiness; contend with vainglory; grapple with anger, rage, and remembering wrongs; battle with greed and miserliness; tussle with hatred and envy; and so on.

As you restrain your belly from overeating and drunkenness, restrain your tongue from slander and condemnation, idle talk, foul language, and backbiting. As you keep your hands from murder, theft, stealing, and robbery, keep them too from fighting. As you fast from food and drink, abstain also from every evil. This is Christian fasting!

This is true abstinence! This struggle is difficult, but Christian duty requires it. Many conquer people, states, and cities but do not want to conquer themselves. This is Christian victory: to conquer oneself, that is, one's flesh. The more often a soldier takes part in battle and fights against enemies, the more skilled and braver he becomes.

Likewise, the more a Christian fights against the flesh, its passions and lusts, and defeats them by Christ's grace, the more skilled in the Christian calling and better he becomes hour by hour. For the Lord, seeing his effort, endeavor, and struggle, pardons and corrects him; frees him from slavery to the passions; and makes him a good tree that bears good fruit. "For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live" (Rom 8:13). "Those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires" (Gal 5:24). "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit" (Rom 8:1).

"Beholding the sea of life surging with the tempest of temptations, I run to Thy calm haven and cry unto Thee: Raise up my life from corruption, O Greatly-merciful One."

Text originally taken from "Gathering of Spiritual Riches" by St. Job of Pochaev Press