Eric Demski - Living by the Sword: Knighthood for the Modern Man

Copyright 2014 Eric Demski .
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Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

Scripture quotations marked RSV are taken from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1946, 1952, 1971 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission.

ISBN: 978-1-4907-3607-5 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-4907-3608-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014908819

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CONTENTS

This book is dedicated to GOD, as well as my mother and father, who first placed my feet on the honorable path to Chivalry.

Some say that the Age of Chivalry is past, that the spirit of Romance is dead. The Age of Chivalry is never past, so long as there is a wrong left un-redressed on earth.

Charles Kingsley, His Letters and Memoirs of His Life , vol. II, ch.28

Your first task is to be dissatisfied with yourself, fight sin, and transform yourself into something better. Your second task is to put up with the trials and temptations of this world that will be brought on by the change in your life and to persevere to the very end in the midst of these things.

Saint Augustine, Commentary on Psalm , 5

The Christian and the hero are inseparable.

Samuel Johnson, Rambler # 44

For protection of the good, and for the destruction of evil-doers, to make a firm footing for the right, I come into being, age after age.

Bhagavad-Gita , 4, 8

Five Paradoxes of Chivalry

True Strength from Humility

True Courage from Fear of GOD

Everything worthwhile from true Sacrifice

True Faith from doubt of the World

True Obedience from rebellion to the World and the flesh

Over 25 years ago, surrounded by a circle of older, wiser men, I stood my ground. I had just graduated from high school, and these men confronted me with the inevitable question. What was I going to do with my life?

It was some crowded event, probably a congratulatory dinner after graduation, but to be honest, I dont remember. All I recall are the older men, some bearded, some not, some Christian, some Jewish, some agnostic, but all intent upon my answer. I was very young, around 18, and didnt quite have all the right phrases to express my exact thoughts; but even then I was filled with the vision of quests for GODs greater glory. There are warriors out there for GOD. I told these men. I would like to be one, I think.

What do you mean? They asked.

I would like to be a man who goes on missions for GOD, like a knight in shining armoryou know, going around saving people and saving souls, doing good things, GODs work.

One man, more cynical and bitter than the rest, snapped with a quick retort: Knights in shining armor? Like a knight errant? None of them I ever read about fought for anyone but themselves.

Taken aback by his irritated response, I mentioned Galahad. Ha! He laughed. If youre going to talk about him, why not bring up Moses?

Moses and Galahad? My mind filled with images of daring sword battles and talks with raging flames on tops of mountains. These two great heroes seemed vastly different at first, but didnt they both engage in battles for GOD, and didnt they both fight for the common good, and for Truth? Of course, Moses is considered a historical figure, while Galahad is a literary creation, probably a composite of several knightly examples. Still, these were good men, honorable heroes, who had walked with GOD.

I realized that we were discussing a topic poorly defined. What was a good man? What really makes a good person? How does one recognize such people? How does one embark on a life of honorable action? What is an honorable action? Can such things exist?

In my heart, I knew that history overflowed with examples. How could this man not understand that such things existed? But so surprised was I by this mans nonchalant denial of goodness, I could not articulate any exemplar of true selflessness. I wanted to really amaze him with some glowing story of heroism and GODly glory, but nothing witty or helpful came from my vocal chords.

All I could say was How can you not believe in powerful knights fighting for GOD?

Later that night, after all the men had gone, it occurred to me that we never discussed an even more important question: How does one become like Moses, or Galahad? How does one become any good, honorable man? How does one become a hero? How does one become the type of person, like a knight, who would roam the world tirelessly, doing the work of GOD?

As I grew older, I saw that other people seemed plagued by the same questions. They wanted to be good and decent people, but even more than that. The men especially, although sometimes trying to hide it, wished to be honorable, courageous, epic, valiant. Not satisfied with just being a responsible citizen or a good worker, they desperately aspired to be heroic and powerful. They wanted to have the strength to do great things, great adventures, not just for glory, but for a greater cause, an honorable vision. They, like me, wished to be heroes for GOD and truth.

But they, like me, were confused, stunned, and dismayed by the constant distractions, false impressions, and deceptions of the world. They, like me, were constantly inundated by selfish emotions and yearnings that drove in the opposite direction of anything honorable. Their hearts nearly burst with wrath, lust, and ambitions which screamed to be satisfied. They were told again and again by the secular world that to be a real man they had to surrender to these desires, and use their strengths to subjugate those around them for selfish pride. So said the materialistic captains of money and position, crime and political power.

Then came the modern progressives, who shouted down the masculine desires of the flesh, but also taught that manly drives like ambition and responsibility were foolish and archaic. They told men to become more feminine, and any concern about morality and battle, honor and virtue were out-moded ways of thought which would be swallowed up by a new age of androgynous peace. A visit to their political rallies will convince anyone that they are nothing new and certainly have no peace within themselves. Many of these preached forms of Communism, viewed though an impossible lens that denied human nature and GOD, but promised a quasi-religious, blind fanaticism.