Soldier of Christ

In his book De Corona Militis, Tertullian tells the story of a Christian soldier in the emperor's army who refused to wear a laurel wreath upon his head in honor of a sacred idol. All the other soldier's wore crowns of bays upon their heads, but not this soldier. He came under great ridicule and mockery from the other soldiers and, in particular, other Christian soldiers. Tertullian defends the man: "This soldier was more God's soldier, and more constant than the rest of his brethren, who presumed that they might serve two Lords, and, for avoiding persecution, comply with the heathen in their superstitious rites." This example, of course, raises the question for each of us: how often do I simply comply with culture so as not to be persecuted, ridiculed, or mocked. Are we not soldiers of Christ? Then let us stand at our post and let the world do its worst.