This post originally appeared at Tactical Wisdom and is reposted here with permission from its author JD.
As a dedicated student of God’s word I am always encouraged when other disciples’ study produces fruit that truly edifies us believers. This article and its 22 rules derived from Erasmus’ The Manual of A Christian Knight and expanded on by several brothers in Christ is just such a fruit that is not only solid theologically, but timely and inspiring. I’ve recreated these rules into a half-letter size booklet. Print pages 1 and 3 then put those pages back in the printer and print pages 2 and 4 .
I pray that we live these principles, by our Lord’s grace and calling, with a dedicated servants heart.
In 1501, a writer and priest named Desiderius Erasmus was staying at a castle occupied by one of the orders of knights then spread throughout Europe. He met a Knight there who was rather friendly, but quite rough around the edges. The Knight’s wife begged Erasmus to help her husband, so Erasmus wrote Enchiridion Militis Christiani, or The Manual of the Christian Knight. It was a guide to how a Knight should live.
This book has passed down over the generations as an outstanding guide for the sheepdogs and warriors among western society as a way to guide your behavior. It’s been a favorite of mine since a Chaplain turned me on to it many years ago. The picture at the top is an affiliate link to buy a copy.
Sgt Pascoe of the Michigan State Police pulled out Erasmus’ 22 Rules and Lt Col Dave Grossman recapped them in his work, On Combat. We’re going to look at them here and discuss how they apply to us today.
But first, here is today’s Tactical Wisdom, which applies to Knights and Protectors:
Learn to do right; seek justice.
Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
plead the case of the widow.
Isaiah 1:17
First Rule
Increase Your Faith
Even if the entire world appears mad.
Our faith can carry us through the worst of times. If we lose our faith, we lose our guiding principles that set us apart from the evil we claim to resist.
Second Rule
Act Upon Your Faith.
Even if you must undergo the loss of everything.
We are called to “Go and Make Disciples” in Matthew 28. We are not to keep our faith bottled inside; we need to share it. Also, when we know something is wrong, we cannot just say “Oh, well. I can’t do anything.” James 4:17 says “If a man knows the good he ought to do and does not do it, it will count as sin for him.”. Act on your faith, even if it is unpopular.
Third Rule
Analyze Your Fears.
You will find that things are not as bad as they appear.
Things are never as bad as they look. In order for things to look bad, you have to be ALIVE. If you are wounded, you are not DEAD. There is always a good thing to be seen.
Fourth Rule
Make Virtue The Only Goal Of Your Life.
Dedicate all your enthusiasm, all your effort, your leisure, as well as your business.
It’s not enough to be good most of the time. Sure, Christ paid for our sins and errors, but that doesn’t mean we can just run out and do whatever. Remember, you cannot become worse than that which you claim to fight.
Fifth Rule
Turn Away from Material Things.
If you are greatly concerned with money you will be weak of spirit.
This doesn’t mean you must be poor. The Bible never says MONEY is bad, just the LOVE OF MONEY. If you are always chasing the next possession, you will eventually cut corners to get there. Your soul is more important than possessions.
Sixth Rule
Train Your Mind To Distinguish Good And Evil.
Let your rule of government be determined by the common good.
When we are placed in charge, we work for the good of the whole, not just for our own benefit. No, not socialism, mutual benefit. Like our security arrangements, we are contributing to the greater good around us.
Seventh Rule
Never Let Any Setback Stop You In Your Quest.
We are not perfect—this only means we should try harder.
We cannot give up. There are no half measures. We are in a literal fight between good and evil and most refuse to see it. We can’t sit idly by, and we also can’t just try to do one thing and give up. You can’t stop fighting…. there are no timeouts in survival. We are in it to survive and THRIVE, so never give up.
Eighth Rule
If You Have Frequent Temptations, Do Not Worry.
Begin to worry when you do not have temptation, because that is a sure sign that you cannot distinguish good from evil.
The minute you stop worrying about if you are the right person or good enough, is the time that you are at risk. Be watching for temptation, but realize it comes for us all (1 Corinthians 10:13). In Equalizer 3, a doctor tells McCall that he knew McCall was a good man because when he asked him, McCall had answered that he didn’t know if he was a good or a bad man. If we are certain, we’re not good.
Ninth Rule
Always Be Prepared for an Attack.
Careful generals set guards even in times of peace.
Just like Nehemiah, we have to always post a guard, always be armed, and always be ready. Famously, he had each man work with a weapon in one hand to be ready for attack. The world is dangerous and getting worse, and we don’t get to pick the day.
Tenth Rule
Spit, As It Were, In The Face Of Danger.
Keep a stirring quotation with you for encouragement.
It’s OK to be afraid, it’s not OK to give in to fear. Fear makes us cautious. Channel that fear into right action. We don’t get to give up when it gets too rough, we’re in it for survival.
Eleventh Rule
There Are Two Dangers:
One Is Giving Up, The Other Is Pride.
After you have performed some worthy task, give all the credit to someone else.
We already talked about giving up. Remember that any good you do is a team effort. Tell people what your tribe did, not what you did. You didn’t do it alone.
Twelfth Rule
Turn Your Weakness Into Virtue.
If you are inclined to be selfish, make a deliberate effort to be giving.
This is a good one. We all know our strengths, but it’s our weaknesses that need work. If I’m prone to embellish my part of events, when I tell the story, I should tell what someone else did. If I’m bad about giving praise, I should look for a reason to praise others.
Thirteenth Rule
Treat Each Battle As Though It Were Your Last.
And you will finish, in the end, victorious!
Go into any struggle with the idea that you will either win or die trying. This is important. When I teach self-defense, I mention having the attitude of winning versus surviving. I can have horrible things done to me and survive, but if I beat my enemy, I won’t. Win – don’t merely survive.
Fourteenth Rule
Don’t Assume That Doing Good Allows You To Keep A Few Vices.
The enemy you ignore the most is the one who conquers you.
This goes along with some of the earlier ones. Don’t think that because you do MOSTLY good, this one little evil I do is OK. It corrupts and grows, and eventually kills the host.
Fifteenth Rule
Weigh Your Alternatives Carefully.
The wrong way will often seem easier than the right way.
The right path is seldom the easiest one. Men always take the least painful and least stressful way, but that is almost never the right way.
Sixteenth Rule
Never Admit Defeat Even If You Have Been Wounded.
The good soldier’s painful wounds spur him to gather his strength.
Being wounded means you are still alive and can still fight. There are no timeouts. If I fall and break my leg right after a hurricane, I can’t say “shucks, maybe next time”. If I don’t get up and deal with the injury, there may not be a next time. The same goes in combat. You are never out of the fight, as Lt Michael Murphy used to say.
Seventeenth Rule
Always Have A Plan Of Action.
So when the time comes for battle, you will know what to do.
Listen, we harp on this. Do your area study. Develop PACE plans (TW-03A can help). Put in the thinking now, so you don’t have to under stress. PLAN.
Eighteenth Rule
Calm Your Passions By Seeing How Little There Is To Gain.
We often worry and scheme about trifling matters of no real importance.
Never commit to fights that don’t matter. I see this on Twitter (yes, I know, I’m the worst at this). Fight the fights that matter, and don’t get worked up over things that don’t. Fight the battle you are in, not the one you’d prefer.
Nineteenth Rule
Speak With Yourself This Way:
If I do what I am considering, would I want my family to know about it?
This is among the best ways to consider your possible courses of action.
Twentieth Rule
Virtue Has Its Own Reward
Once a person has it, they would not exchange it for anything.
Being good feels good. We all feel bad when we do things that are wrong, because the Holy Spirit (your conscience) dwells in you. Do the right thing and you’ll feel better.
Twenty-first Rule
Life Can Be Sad, Difficult, And Quick:
Make It Count For Something!
Since we do not know when death will come, act honorably everyday.
There may not be time later to make up for our shortcomings today. If you live for something bigger than yourself (your family, your tribe, your church) you will make a bigger difference and a mark on the world.
Twenty-second Rule
Repent Your Wrongs
Those who do not admit their faults have the most to fear.
The guy who says he has no sins or faults has at least one – he’s a liar. We all do things wrong every day. What sets us apart is REPENTANCE. Ask God for forgiveness and He will grant it before you’ve even finished the request. You’ll feel better after too. Repenting isn’t merely apologizing; it’s that plus taking steps to correct the error and to prevent it from happening again.
I hope Erasmus’ 22 Rules can help you live out life as a Righteous Protector of your community.
Sons Of Thunder Signal Corps Ministry 