If you were to Google my title, you would find that it is a quote attributed to the "British Bulldog", Winston Churchill. Some report that after a long and eloquent introduction, Churchill stood and said only those words and then promptly sat back down. It is perhaps one of his most famous speeches ever. Churchill was delivering a commencement address to a group of college graduates when he delivered this infamous address … or did he???
Actually, in the midst of a twenty minute speech, he said, "Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never-in nothing, great or small, large or petty — never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense." Churchill was known as a tenacious, courageous, cigar-smoking, bulldog of a man who would stare down the likes of Hitler to assure the defeat of the Nazis and their world-dominating aspirations. His advice to these college graduates was to fight and fight hard … but know when to give up.
If something is right, we should fight for it! We know that our faith requires tenacity and strength. Paul told the Corinthians to "Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong." (1 Cor. 16:13) Our enemy is pressing down on us with a fervor like I personally have never witnessed before. It is easy to see on the grand scale but I believe we are experiencing it on the personal level as well. So many have grown weary with the daily onslaught. We've got to fight … that's for certain! But church, we've got to fight smarter! Even the indomitable British Bulldog knew when to give in! I am persuaded that there are some really important areas that we need to throw in the towel.
So here's my formal resignation to the status quo. I quit! I give up! I give in! I quit being fearful! I quit being nominal! I quit being mediocre! I quit letting the enemy have the upper-hand! Too much is at stake for us to continue ho-hum, monotonous, tame ministry! The only time we should give in is when what we are fighting for stands in contradiction with honour or good (common) sense. It is not honorable for us to continue fighting for something less than excellence for the sake of Christ. Common sense has left us when we fight for outdated traditions that are irrelevant to our current context. Jesus expects us to be in the world and not of it. To be in the world is to be sensitive to the world. Jesus is never irrelevant!
It is not time to throw in the towel and concede defeat to our adversary! No, on the contrary, we must fight like we have never fought before. I use these broad terms like "we" because every believer should be on the battlefield against the common enemy … that old sly serpent Satan! But as the Pastor of Powell Baptist Church, it is my responsibility to lead my regiment into battle! So I quit anything that hinders me from being the tenacious, courageous, non cigar-smoking, bulldog of a man that will stare down our adversary to assure the defeat of evil and it's soul dominating aspirations! 2 Chronicles exhorts, "But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded." Come on troops! Who's with me?!?! LET'S GO!!!
