Knights and Armor

As a child, I was somewhat intrigued by fighting. You may remember the story of me punching a kid in the head who made fun of my sister. And kicking the boys (in the you-know-where) that tried to kiss me on the playground in elementary school.

I grew up watching WWF with my West Virginia grandpa, and thought Hulk Hogan was pretty funny. And amazing. I was pretty rough and tumble back then. I climbed trees and caught bugs and snakes, and was pretty good at spitting and shooting cans with my cousin’s guns. Compound bows, notsomuch.

Anyway, I loved watching shows like American Gladiator and roller derby competitions. I was a pretty tough little kid, and thought for sure I was going to learn to skate so well one day that I could join a roller derby team and knock out the competition. I really wanted to be a champion of some kind.

As I grew up, my tastes changed a little. When I first read stories and saw movies of knights of the round table, I became enamored. I loved the idea of a group of guys who were so bent on making things right and fighting the bad guys that they were willing to ride into battle.

Stories like the Narnia series, King Arthur and Lancelot, etc. really brought to mind these super cool guys riding in on a white horse to save the day. Throw in there the story of Rapunzel and other Disney princesses, and I had lots of imagery floating around in my head.

Of course, there was also the Monkees tv show reruns, Dragon’s Lair, and all the old movies that featured suits of armor as hiding places for bad guys, or the good guys, depending on the storyline, and that was even more fodder to be captivated by the thought of having one in my house.

I wonder where the idea of having a knight in shining armor came from, though.

This is going to seem totally off-topic, but I also love Nancy Drew computer games. My girls love them. And one of the characters made a statement that stuck with me.

“A knight in shining armor never did nothing for nobody. He never fought. A knight in dented, scraped armor, now that’s what you want!” -Renate Stoller Nancy Drew, Captive Curse

I had never thought about that before. We think of knights in shining armor as these heroes, but if they really have been in battles, if they’ve really been tested and come out victorious, it only makes sense that they should be a little bit roughed up.

And then I thought about my spiritual life. I used to try and project this image of perfection, like I never made mistakes, that my life was pristine, and that I was a great example for others.

Please. I know better now, so I do better. At least I hope I do.

If I am going through a trial, I want someone to walk alongside me who has also been in battle. I want someone who knows what it feels like to have your life turned upside-down. I want someone who admits they have struggles and need prayer and Jesus as much as I do.

None of these ivory tower people for me. That’s not relatable. That’s not real life. No one who’s done anything worthwhile for the kingdom is unscathed, and anyone who projects such an image is using smoke and mirrors.

So don’t be afraid to let your battle scars show to the other warriors around you. We need to hear God stories of victory, how He won the battle, even if it left you dinged up and weary. Shiny armor is only preferable as decoration. Give me a rough and ready warrior any day. Dented and scraped up armor is where it’s at!

Philippians 3:8-14
(8) Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, (9) And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: (10) That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; (11) If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. (12) Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. (13) Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, (14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 34:19
Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

Romans 3:10-28
(10) As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (11) There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. (12) They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (13) Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: (14) Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: (15) Their feet are swift to shed blood: (16) Destruction and misery are in their ways: (17) And the way of peace have they not known: (18) There is no fear of God before their eyes. (19) Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. (20) Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. (21) But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; (22) Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: (23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (24) Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (25) Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (26) To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (27) Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. (28)Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.