Boot Camp for Believers

May 4, 2025

Philippi was a city with a significant number of Roman Soldiers, perhaps former members of the Praetorian Guard and was considered an extension of Rome. This means that many of the citizens there had the uniquely military type of mental discipline.

This mental discipline is noteworthy for this brief essay about one verse in the Apostles Paul’s letter to them.

In verse 2 he wrote: I am writing to all of God’s holy people in Philippi who belong to Christ Jesus, including the church leaders and deacons.

I hope that I am not being presumptuous, but I do assume some of the leaders had been soldiers and maintained much of that kind of disciplined thinking and a similar behavior in the way they carried themselves…

Nevertheless, here is one of the most important promises Paul encouraged them with: And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. — Philippians 1:6, New Living Translation (NLT).

There is one precept that I believe is an assumption held here by Paul — and again, I hope that I am not being presumptuous. Paul asserted that God began His work within individuals and would complete it, and I am assuming that just like the training in whatever Romans considered as Boot Camp fully prepared the soldiers for what lay ahead, God prepares individuals for the mission ahead which God has set forth for them.

Here’s the kicker, though: We Born Again Christian “grunts” have to have a teachable attitude. What I mean by that is like soldiers, we simply have to cooperate with God, willing to adapt and change our thinking and our behaviors to conform to the image and character God has planned for us to develop.

So, after turning away from our hurtful and harmful behaviors and turning to God and receiving Jesus’ forgiveness, individuals have to train, exchanging the old ways of thinking and living to the new.

In other words, our new life begins at the foot of the cross, but we must continue training until we are made complete.

It’s called Discipleship.

It’s not like suddenly we are perfected. It’s not instantaneous. It is a journey. Sometimes it is a regular slog through the muck. Yet, Jesus will lead us through whatever comes our way…

Let me note here that Jesus will train us in the way we should go, but unlike Boot Camp, He doesn’t act at all like the notorious and fabled Drill Sergeant. Look at what Jesus said about His radical approach:

Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. — Matthew 11:29, NLT.