The Battle

 August 9, 2023

Sometimes when I hear Christians speak of spiritual warfare or of being spiritual warriors, I cringe at the enthusiasm they exhibit. Soldiers train for combat, but no one in his right mind enjoys it. It is grueling, ugly, often ghastly nightmare-inducing business where living human beings suffer and die in sometimes unimaginable ways. So when I hear a Christian who revels in “spiritual warfare,” I tend to back away slowly.

And yet, it is a reality we must face. This world is not our home, is not our friend. James said it well: “To be friends with the world is to be an enemy of God” (4:4). Paul told Timothy that we must think like soldiers, and no soldier wants to go into battle un- or ill-equipped. In Ephesians, Paul lays out the equipment we have been given by God for the spiritual battles we inevitably encounter in life. 

In Ephesians 6:14-17, he lists the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, shoes of  the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit (the word of God), as the only weapons we need. Any others are in fact, the weapons of our Opponent, and using them compromises our struggle.

If in Ephesians 6, Paul identifies our weapons, in 2 Corinthians 10:4-6, he tells us of their effectiveness:

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”

They are mighty, even when they seem weak and powerless. These weapons in Ephesians 6 can do the impossible:

They pull down strongholds.

They cast down arguments and all that exalts against the knowledge of God.

They bring every thought captive to Christ.

They punish disobedience.

We like the first three, but this last one stops us in our tracks. Punishment is not a word we often hear in church, and conjures up all sorts of images of scarlet letters, excommunication, and witch-burning. I don’t think that’s what Paul means.

Jesus said, and Paul reiterated that we Christians will someday judge the nations and even angels (1 Corinthians  6:2-3), but not yet. We are repeatedly and explicitly warned against judging others in this lifetime. I think rather than giving Christians Carte Blanche to judge others, he is telling us that these spiritual weapons we embrace include the spiritual insight and readiness that will enable us to fulfill our destiny when Jesus returns as Righteous Judge. Only when our own “obedience is fulfilled” will the full effectiveness of our spiritual weapons be seen.

Until that day, we pull down evil strongholds, counter ungodly arguments, and bring every thought captive to Christ. And the battlefield is not mainly “out there;” my biggest battle is within my own heart. If I can pull down my inner strongholds, counter my ungodly arguments, and bring my every thought captive to Christ, I will have won a great victory.