Gladiator has to be one of the best all-time ‘guy’ movies. I love it, not only for the awesome fight scenes, but it’s also full of little nuggets of truth; and all truth is God’s truth. When Russel Crowe enters the coliseum with all the other gladiators, in his knowledge and experience of battle, he takes charge and says to the rest of them: “We have a better chance of survival if we work together. Do you understand? If we stay together, we survive.” When the enemy comes out looking to destroy them, a few decide to go off on their own and are immediately cut down. They obviously didn’t understand. But those who stick together win the battle and emerge victorious.
The same is true in life. That’s one of the reasons God created the church. Commitment to a local church is one of the greatest things you could ever do for your spiritual life. And when I say ‘commitment’ I don’t mean just Sunday morning attendance. But you have to get into a circle, a small group of some sort. I’ve known too many people who have sat in a pew their entire lives but are no closer to God than the day they walked in. Rows are good, circles are better! Continue reading