Why It’s Important to Keep Rank
If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25 NASB).
In the context of this verse, walk refers not to a person’s gait but to the rule or manner of life, to how one lives out the faith. Most often, the Greek word translated walk is peripateo. As I was going through Galatians recently, I noticed that Paul uses a different word for walk in verse 5 than in verse 16. In verse 5 he uses stoicheo. Interesting. What is the difference between the two words?
Spiros Zodhiates writes in the Complete Word Study Dictionary, New Testament, that stoicheo means “to stand or go in order, advance in rows or ranks…to live according to any rule or duty.” It’s a military term; an exhortation to keep step with one another in the strength and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
I wondered, then, why Paul resorted to a military term here. In David Lipscomb’s Commentary on the New Testament Epistles, he says the walk mentioned here is:
the manner of life in its relation with others . . . this is an exhortation to keep step with one another in the same strength and guidance. Submission of heart to the guidance of the Holy Spirit alone secures peace to the individual and harmony in the church. He who walks by the Spirit in his everyday life is the man who, by the same Spirit, keeps step with his brethren. The obvious way of uniformity of step is that each should keep step with Jesus Christ, the leader of all. To be in step with him is to be in step with all who walk with him. Hence, in order to attain to the unity among believers in Christ each is to watch, not his brother, but his Lord and Master.
The difference, then, is that peripateo is about the walk of an individual, and stoicheo is about Christians staying in step with one another by keeping step with Christ?
While I was pondering this, I happened upon an essay by F.W. Boreham written during the early years of World War I. The writer says that the sight of soldiers on parade reminded him of the Bible passage where mighty men from the Israelite tribes gathered around David after the death of King Saul. First Chronicles 12:38 says, “All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king” (KJV).
Keeping rank is to put soldiers in order in battle array. The essayist tells of one young soldier among the passing troops who was out of step with the rest. He heard the young man’s sister say, “Look, Mother, everyone is out of step except our Jock!”
Now, it isn’t likely, is it, that in the entire company only one soldier was keeping rank? Marching doesn’t work that way. Besides listening to commands and staying in step, keeping rank requires each soldier to maintain the proper distance between himself and the man in front of him and those at each side. One man among the many whose step doesn’t match that of the rest is out of step, however he may justify himself.
In addition to the men of war keeping rank, Scripture says, all the rest also of Israel were of one heart. They were united in their goal to make David king. Of all David’s famous mighty men, there wasn’t one, in that moment, with his own agenda. Not one was stepping out of rank to tell everyone else they were going the wrong way.
Sometimes I may be called upon to break rank. But how often do I look around at my fellow Christian soldiers and judge that everyone is out of step except me? Do I become so focused on my own walk that I begin to consider myself an army of one?
The author and finisher of our faith prayed that we believers would be one as he and the Father are one. Marching shoulder to shoulder with my fellow soldiers while keeping my eyes fixed on Jesus, who leads the way, will not only enable me to keep rank but encourage those behind me and to the sides to do the same when the fiery darts begin to fly.
Jesus, Lord of Hosts, guide us. Teach us to diligently tend to our own armor so we will be always ready for battle. Help us strive to build up your army by considering every other member as more important than ourselves. May we grow in the knowledge of the strength that comes from obedience. Amen.
Scripture for Reflection
Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (Galatians 6:10–12 ESV)
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:1–3 ESV)
Reach for More
In the army, “Dress right, dress” is the command for soldiers to check their position in relation to each other. Since I have never marched in formation, it was helpful for me to watch a video of soldiers practicing this command.
Consider these questions:
- With whom are you aligning yourself in your daily walk?
- Are you willing to constantly check your position in relation to those in your rank?
- If you’re out of step, will you put aside pride and make the necessary adjustments to walk in a manner worthy of your calling?
Through the gift of a faithful mother and grandmother, grew up knowing Jesus as a friend. Married for nearly two-thirds of her life, there has been time for several seasons, from homeschooling to owning a coffee shop. She has three grown children and eight grandchildren. An element of this season is writing about literature and life at Plumfield and Paideia.
Photograph © Clarisse Meyer, used with permission
