“The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.”
—(Proverbs 15:9
The Narrow Path of the Christian Footman
The narrow path of the Christian footman is one that I can only describe as an adventure. But as with any adventure, rarely is it finished with ease. Though we revel in the best moments, we often fail to mention when our foot was tripped by the upturned root, the knee scraped, or our exhaustion an unbearable anguish. As is the way of the soldier, he will regale you with tales of his glory, but is less inclined to speak of his defeats. Yet the journey of the Christian is filled with both defeats and triumphs. As the Christian footman marches toward glory, his eyes burn with the sweat of his brow or from the tears of his sorrow. His spear becomes a walking staff; he clings desperately to life as he presses forward. The armor he wears that once gleamed with gold has been battered and beaten by the various battles of life or the traps of the enemy, which we rightly know as temptations or the snares of the devil. Yet, though the battle-hardened footman may be weary from his adventures, he has been commanded to pursue that which will give him life. For what is suffering for a little while, if our rest in Christ shall be eternal? Is it not so with the adventurer, that he suffers for a time but gains a lifetime of joy from his pursuits?
Is it not a great joy to know that we are walking well-trodden paths? The thistle’s spine may pierce our flesh, and the rocks may wound the soles of our feet. Yet are we not, as Scripture says, “compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses,” those who have walked the path before us and have already received their eternal reward? For our path is unique to ourselves, but it is a familiar path. For while I am made unique in the eyes of God, I am created in his image. Yet is not my brother made in this same image? Has my sister not also been made for righteousness and sanctity? Though I struggle with the sins of my father before me, am I not likewise called to overcome them? Though my flesh craves its desire, am I bound in chains or am I equipped for battle? This I must impress on you: too many who pursue righteousness as footmen for Christ dwell upon their own weaknesses and clasp the iron chains of man’s slavery to themselves. Nowhere in Scripture do I find cause to rejoice in making myself a worthless slave to my own afflictions. Rather, when I open the Gospel of St. John, I find comfort in our Lord’s proclamation: “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” Therefore, not only is my path well-trodden, but I am also free from any affliction of sin, however the devil may seek to ensnare me.
The Church Militant
And what shall the Christian footman expect, as St. Paul says, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” It was no mere chance that we were born in this age rather than another. We have been called to carry not only the torch but also the sword and shield of the faith, to cast off the forces of darkness, and raise the banners of faith entrusted to us by our Fathers. Has God left you helpless and without instruction? Has he not called men before you to lead you? And remind me, when has the Church not been under constant assault from the devil and his forces? The difference now, my beloved, is that the enemy has invaded our camps, disguising himself among our own ranks to deceive and destroy from within as well as without. Yet even this is nothing new to the Christian footman. Yet what use is surrender? Shall we lie down and succumb to the fiery darts or the wicked spear? Shall we become food for that villainous dragon with his ceaseless hunger? As soldiers of the faith, we are called always to be on guard, for the world has turned against us. But do not be afraid, my beloved, for we are but footmen in an army that has never been defeated. Has Satan not tried to wrest the Church from the saints before us? Did not Arius himself seek to strangle the Church with his heresy? Yet, did not the ankle of our Lord crush the throat of the dragon? Has the cheek of Arius’ face not been struck?
Though war is a most gruesome beast, you are a footman in an unconquerable army. Remember this: the Christian walk, though narrow, is not a lonely path. Though the church may be in anguish, her soldiers file into the narrow doors of our narthex, reclaiming sanctuaries beset by the enemy. For Christ’s bride may suffer grievously, but the gates of hell shall not prevail against her, as our Lord has promised (Matthew 16:18). False teachers surrender themselves to the world and its poisons, seeking to drag Christ’s bride, the Church, down with them. Yet together we stand united, reclaiming what has been stolen and rescuing those enslaved by the deceptions of this world. So while there may be a time to grieve, my fellow soldiers in the faith, we shall wipe the tears from our eyes. We shall go to battle against the powers of darkness, striking aside the arrows of the enemy with our shields and charging forward, bearing the banners of Christ above us as trumpets sound his glory.
The Christian Household
But in the moments of silence, when we find rest amid the struggles of this life, I implore you, fathers, not to abandon your duties. Do not raise your children passively, neglecting your duty as the head of your household. For you are called to be a source of strength for your family, one to whom your wife and children may turn for comfort, protection, and wisdom. You shall lead your family in prayer, instruct them in the doctrines of the faith, and teach them the importance of living as children of Christ. Too many fathers have left these responsibilities to the clergy, abandoning their duties for worldly gain or, God forbid, leaving their children to discover the faith on their own. Have we gone mad? Have we become bellhops of Hell? But fear not, you fathers, for you shall not raise them alone. Raise them among the wise, and seek the company of wise men yourselves. Seek out learned men who have accumulated more years of wisdom than you have lived. Draw your family close to the halls of the Church, and do not flee so quickly after service. For those who come merely to take their fill often depart unsatisfied, and are running gracefully into the teeth of the beast. And to you, wives and mothers: your beauty is found in your virtue. What joy there is when a woman leads by example, both for her children and for those around her! How fondly she will be remembered throughout the generations by how she carried herself! She shall be like Hannah or Ruth. The world cries out for virtuous women, and so shall they rise. Yet it takes other virtuous women to call them away from the temptations of the world, lest they succumb to the devil’s deception. Without one another, the devil is at his most powerful when he tears man from woman, when he corrupts marriage, and when he separates the Christian footman and divides the line.
The Victory Is Already Won
So do not be afraid of what is happening or what shall happen, for victory is already at hand. The enemy has been vanquished, and in his defeat he seeks to take as many as he can with him. Yet in Christ we are victorious. Do not be troubled by the ways of the world; instead, march on to victory. For whom shall we fear? If Christ is fighting for us, who can be against us? You were born in this age to stand against the world. Do not forsake your calling by becoming like the world. Take up the armor of the Lord, take up your sword and shield, and march on! Everyone is needed. And when our time has passed, let us rejoice that those who come after us shall continue to carry the banner that has been borne since the birth of the Church.
