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Fight the Good Fight
108 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1956
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 23, 2024
Fight the Good Fight is a short book of anecdotes and spiritual insights, written by Robert Gibson Rayburn, an American pastor and college president who served as a chaplain in the U. S. Army, in both World War II and the Korean War. These particular anecdotes are stories from his time in the Korean War, and he uses each tale as a chance to provide some commentary and insight into the spiritual warfare that Christians wage and the weapons and strategies we should employ in the fight.
I read this volume while editing the audiobook version for Canon Press, narrated by the illustrious Joffre Swait, and quite enjoyed the read. It was just the right mix of memoir and devotional, and didn’t try to overstay its welcome. I would recommend it to anyone who needs some practical theology on spiritual warfare, particularly if you’ve enjoyed similar offerings from men like Jim Wilson in the past. Conversely, if you’ve read Fight the Good Fight, you should pick up Wilson’s books on spiritual warfare, which greatly expand on the ideas laid out in this volume.
Each chapter presents one or more stories from Rayburn’s time as a chaplain in the Korean War, from his deployment through to the end of the conflict, in an engaging yet down-to-earth manner, and then provides invaluable spiritual commentary based on the events he experienced. An evangelical through and through, Rayburn presents the many chances he had to give the gospel to the soldiers under his care, and the many answered prayers he received throughout his time in the Far East. Some of those incidents leaned a bit hard into Rayburn “hearing a word from the Lord” in direct response to a request of his, though I would hesitate to call any of the accounts into question—Rayburn seems to have been an incredibly godly and virtuous man, and undoubtedly had a far greater understanding and reliance on prayer than I currently do, something that this book convicted me on at many points.
I found it fascinating to get a window into a time in the history of the United States where there was such an unabashed love and devotion for one’s country, while also being able to see, even in Rayburn’s own narration of his experiences and feelings about the war, the betrayal of the American people that had already occurred. And sadly, the communists did, in fact, win, though not in the way Rayburn and his contemporaries would have expected.
A few of my favorite passages:
"It is ours to claim God's promises. Those about us should benefit continually from that which the Lord does for us. It is our faith which lays hold of the blessings which God willingly showers upon us, but the blessings when they come are not limited to us alone. How sad that so often we fail to receive what the Lord is eager to give. Yes, and we fail to bring blessing to others as well.
In Moses’ day the Lord said, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” It is not the ungodly and the sinners who bear the responsibility for the revival blessings which we so much need in our land today. It is to His own people that God calls. If they will but believe His Word and be obedient unto His call, the whole populace will feel the might of the moving of His Spirit." (pg. 75-76)
"The devil has made tragic inroads on the Christian Church today because he has found so many believers who seem to be willing to place peace above victory, who are more concerned with preserving a state of quiet and restfulness in their lives than they are with being strictly obedient to the Lord’s commands." (pg. 107-108)
May we all strive to obey the Lord, and fight the good fight.
I read this volume while editing the audiobook version for Canon Press, narrated by the illustrious Joffre Swait, and quite enjoyed the read. It was just the right mix of memoir and devotional, and didn’t try to overstay its welcome. I would recommend it to anyone who needs some practical theology on spiritual warfare, particularly if you’ve enjoyed similar offerings from men like Jim Wilson in the past. Conversely, if you’ve read Fight the Good Fight, you should pick up Wilson’s books on spiritual warfare, which greatly expand on the ideas laid out in this volume.
Each chapter presents one or more stories from Rayburn’s time as a chaplain in the Korean War, from his deployment through to the end of the conflict, in an engaging yet down-to-earth manner, and then provides invaluable spiritual commentary based on the events he experienced. An evangelical through and through, Rayburn presents the many chances he had to give the gospel to the soldiers under his care, and the many answered prayers he received throughout his time in the Far East. Some of those incidents leaned a bit hard into Rayburn “hearing a word from the Lord” in direct response to a request of his, though I would hesitate to call any of the accounts into question—Rayburn seems to have been an incredibly godly and virtuous man, and undoubtedly had a far greater understanding and reliance on prayer than I currently do, something that this book convicted me on at many points.
I found it fascinating to get a window into a time in the history of the United States where there was such an unabashed love and devotion for one’s country, while also being able to see, even in Rayburn’s own narration of his experiences and feelings about the war, the betrayal of the American people that had already occurred. And sadly, the communists did, in fact, win, though not in the way Rayburn and his contemporaries would have expected.
A few of my favorite passages:
"It is ours to claim God's promises. Those about us should benefit continually from that which the Lord does for us. It is our faith which lays hold of the blessings which God willingly showers upon us, but the blessings when they come are not limited to us alone. How sad that so often we fail to receive what the Lord is eager to give. Yes, and we fail to bring blessing to others as well.
In Moses’ day the Lord said, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” It is not the ungodly and the sinners who bear the responsibility for the revival blessings which we so much need in our land today. It is to His own people that God calls. If they will but believe His Word and be obedient unto His call, the whole populace will feel the might of the moving of His Spirit." (pg. 75-76)
"The devil has made tragic inroads on the Christian Church today because he has found so many believers who seem to be willing to place peace above victory, who are more concerned with preserving a state of quiet and restfulness in their lives than they are with being strictly obedient to the Lord’s commands." (pg. 107-108)
May we all strive to obey the Lord, and fight the good fight.
December 13, 2024
I wish this book was in print!!! It was so good!! The type of book you can listen too will maxing out at the gym. Wish I could get it in the hands of many men. The author, a PCA chaplain during the Korean War details his experiences and applies them to the Christian life.
December 14, 2024
So good! I would rate this book as one of the top 5-10 books I’ve ever read. Very convicting as well as encouraging, as well as entertaining and attention grabbing. Was not expecting this when I started it. Highly recommend.
September 10, 2024
Great book if you can find it.
July 21, 2025
Quick read and very practical analogies between war and spiritual warfare.
December 13, 2025
Insightful lessons from Korea for our Christian battle against Satan.
June 1, 2025
(Audiobook) Practical and helpful
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews