Paper Lace: "Billy, Don't be a Hero"

This is one of two hits by this band in 1974. It tells how Billy joined the Union army and how his girlfriend warned him not to be fool hearty. Listen to the song here.

As Christians, we're in Christ's army. But as 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 (Bible in Basic English) explains, we don't fight like worldly armies do. "For though we may be living in the flesh, we are not fighting after the way of the flesh, For the arms with which we are fighting are not those of the flesh, but are strong before God for the destruction of high places); Putting an end to reasonings, and every high thing which is lifted up against the knowledge of God, and causing every thought to come under the authority of Christ; Being ready to give punishment to whatever is against his authority, after you have made it clear that you are completely under his control."

And as in any army, dishonourable conduct is to be punished and good conduct commended. We read in 1 Timothy 1:18-20 (BBE), "This order I give to you, Timothy my son, in harmony with the words of the prophets about you, so that by them you may be strong, fighting the good fight, Keeping faith, and being conscious of well-doing; for some, by not doing these things, have gone wrong in relation to the faith: Such are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have given up to Satan, so that they may say no more evil words against God."

We also need to help out ministries which feed us with spiritual truth. As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 9:7 (BBE), "Who ever goes to war without looking to someone to be responsible for his payment? who puts in vines and does not take the fruit of them? or who takes care of sheep without drinking of their milk?"

Serving in Christ's army isn't always sunshine and gentle breezes. As Paul also wrote in 2 Timothy 2:3 and 4 (BBE), "Be ready to do without the comforts of life, as one of the army of Christ Jesus. A fighting man, when he is with the army, keeps himself free from the business of this life so that he may be pleasing to him who has taken him into his army".

If our sacred commander and chief hasn't come by Thursday, I hope to tell you about the world's big ideas and how bad they are.