Loose Cannons (Unabridged)

Days before warships were equipped with fixed-turret guns they carried muzzle-loading cannons as their primary offensive weapons. Mounted on wheels these could be rolled back and forth between gun-ports. A gun not properly restrained could break loose, either from the force of recoil, or from the buffeting of the vessel in choppy waters. Rolling dangerously about deck it presented a major hazard to sailors and soldiers alike. Consider the huge damage and potential loss of life such an unfettered weapon might inflict on its own !

Vividly imagined by writer Victor Hugo in his 1874 novel entitled, “Ninety Three” here’s his description of a cannon being tossed about following a violent incident onboard ship:

“The carronade (cannon), hurled forward by the pitching (of the vessel), dashed into this knot of men, and crushed four at the first blow; then, flung back and shot out anew by the rolling, it cut in two a fifth poor fellow … The enormous cannon was left alone. She was given up to herself. She was her own mistress, and mistress of the vessel. She could do what she willed.”

How gross is that !!

Now used metaphorically of “dangerously uncontrollable persons” – those who shun all forms of accountability, yet are motivated by a desire to manipulate and control others – “loose cannons” appear in all walks of life. This particular usage was first attributed to US president Theodore Roosevelt (1901-9) who said of himself: “I don’t want to be the old cannon loose on the deck in the storm“.

Christianity has certainly suffered more than its fair share of “loose cannons” over the course of its 2000 years history, free-wheeling their “ministries” both within and beyond church. Mostly men, but not exclusively, who through their unteachable and independent spirit contrive to wreak havoc in lives, and leave a trail of destruction and damaged people in their wake.

In his third very brief letter, of one chapter, the Apostle John writes of an early-day “loose cannon”: “Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say … I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words; and not satisfied with this, he himself does not receive the brethren, either, and he forbids those who desire to do so and puts them out of the church.”

This is spiritual abuse, and should be exposed and resisted ruthlessly wherever it exists today. It contrasts so markedly with the Lord Jesus, who in the Gospel incident cited below clearly indicates what authentic spiritual leadership should look like in His Kingdom.

MATTHEW chapter 20 verses 20-28 (English Standard Version) Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” 

And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

There we have it – servant-hood, self-giving, sacrifice – all exemplified in Jesus Himself – as outstanding hallmarks of spiritual leadership. Let the Master’s own words speak for themselves and may we pay close attention.

It does make me seriously question whether “loose cannons” will find themselves among that group of people mentioned in another Gospel passage, in which St. Matthew quotes Jesus’ words from the famous Sermon on the Mount: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit … Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'”

Oh yes, ‘that Day’ will reveal all …

So, with those chilling words of Jesus resounding in our hearts here’s the challenge we face, and the plea I would make:

• If your life has been blighted by the activity of a “loose cannon”, please know that there is a place of healing, recovery and restoration. It will mean following the path of forgiveness, and receiving the grace of God to move forward into a healthy and mature walk with Him.

• Conversely, if you will recognize the “loose cannon” tendency in your own attitudes and actions, and that you may have crossed the line of what is appropriate, damaging those around you in the process, then please know that there is a place of repentance, forgiveness, humility and genuine accountability to be reached for.

My prayer is for vibrant, healthy, mature believers who do the Father’s Will …. Amen

~~~~~

P.S. UNABRIDGED because an extension and development of an earlier Facebook post !

The Fire Still Burns

My initial experience of “The Pilgrim’s Progress” by John Bunyan was a series of dramatised radio broadcasts, for children, in the 1950s. I was a patient, aged 7, in a Sheffield hospital, being treated for a serious kidney problem – nephritis. The programmes were transmitted every weekday morning, and intrigued me with the varying characters, particularly Christian, and their exploits.

In October 2020 a passage from this great classic came strongly to mind while I was reflecting on Psalm 92:10b: “I have been anointed with fresh oil“.

It was the incident occurring in the House of the Interpreter, and here it is:

~~~~~

A Fire Burning Against the Wall

“Then I saw in my dream, that the Interpreter took Christian by the hand, and led him into a place where was a fire burning against the wall, and one standing by it, always casting much water upon it, to quench it; yet did the fire burn higher and hotter.

Then said Christian, ‘What means this?’

The Interpreter answered, ‘This Fire is the Work of Grace that is wrought in the heart; he that casts water upon it, to extinguish and put it out, is the Devil: but in that you see the fire notwithstanding burn higher and hotter, you will also see the reason of that.’

So he led him about to the backside of the wall, where he saw a Man with a Vessel of Oil in his hand, of which, he did also continually cast (but secretly) into the fire.

Then said Christian, ‘What means this?’

The Interpreter answered, ‘This is Christ, who continually with the Oil of His Grace maintains the work already begun in the heart: By the means of which, notwithstanding what the Devil can do, the souls of His people prove gracious still. And in that you saw, that the Man stood behind the wall to maintain the Fire; this is to teach you, that it is hard for the Tempted to see how this Work of Grace is maintained in the soul.’“

~~~~~

~~~~~

From a personal perspective I note, that, in spite of the enemy’s many attempts to put out what God started, the fire still burns in me – on occasion it’s been as low as a smouldering wick, and has often needed desperately that fresh ‘anointing of oil’ referred to in the Psalm referenced above – yet it still burns, thanks to the faithful work of Christ, in providing constant encouragement and motivation through the many means of grace – not least the Scriptures, and His Body – the Church.

Especially have I needed His gracious ‘work’ over the past 12 months as I have faced critical moments and serious pressures and temptations due to the global pandemic; as I have been seriously limited in normal church connections; and as my mental well-being has come under threat from so many angles – most notably requiring a heart pacemaker in December 2020.

I know that my readers will identify with these challenges and countless others not mentioned here, and so it is my sincere prayer that each of you will find, in these trying circumstances, that ‘His grace is sufficient’; that His ‘strength is made perfect in weakness’; and that you will come into ‘a place of abundance’ – indeed, ‘seeing the goodness of God in the land of the living.’ Meanwhile if it would help to chat you will always find me available – initially through this site.

God bless and keep you