Medieval Christianity was defined by two types of characters, the knight and the monk. We need both types of men – in fact, every Christian man needs to balance monkery and knighthood in his own life.
Monks were men of self-denial and sacrifice. They focused on developing the inner world of personal spirituality and self-discipline. They emphasized private devotion. They sang psalms and prayed. They studied the Scriptures and cultivated the intellectual life. They were sensitive to the temptations of worldliness and knew the Christian life was a life of suffering. They were men of mercy, generosity, and humility. They were peacekeepers. Monks focused on changing themselves, making themselves better.
Knights were men of warfare and courage, heroism and glory. They focused on the external world, where their mission brought them into conflict. They aimed at public virtues like justice. They developed the competencies and skills needed to take dominion in the world. They knew the Christian life is a battle, that the culture war is real, and that evil must be faced and defeated. They were assertive, confident, even aggressive. They wanted to change the world, to make the world better.
The Christian man must be both a monk and knight. He must fight the inner war and the outer war. He must develop inner and outer discipline. He must better himself and the world around him. He must cultivate personal spirituality and he must extend his dominion in the external world. He must be a man of prayer and a man of action. He must pursue both mercy and justice, in proper measures and in wise ways. He must be willing to suffer and sacrifice, but he is no punching bag – he knows how to punch back when it’s called for. He wants peace but is willing to fight. He disciplines himself, but not just for the sake of the self – his discipline enables him to serve others. He knows how to create wealth, and he knows how to share wealth. He knows God and he knows the way the world works. His theology is practical and his practice is theological. He aims at holistic maturity, spiritually, intellectually, and physically.
Every Christian man should be a man of private integrity and public virtue. Every Christian man should be a man of personal depth and responsible dominion. Every Christian should fulfill this double archetype – he should be a monk and a knight, a monk who fights and a knight who prays.
TPC Pastor's Page 