Equipped for Battle

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 ESV

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:11-12

Years ago, I was invited to a special meeting to learn about spiritual warfare. It was very strange – lots of shouting and anger. The most disturbing thing was the folks who came dressed in military style. Some of them marched around the room shouting at unseen enemies in the atmosphere. I appreciated their zeal for doing “battle in the heavenlies,” but I had the feeling they somehow missed the point.

The apostle Paul definitely used warfare and military service as a metaphor for believers. The church, I suppose, is a kind of army, and we certainly need to be ready to fight. We’re in the army now, and the battle is on. However, there have been a lot of strange practices in the name of spiritual warfare, so it’s with great fear and trembling that I approach this subject.

There are two things we need to know before we even begin to think about how to wield “the weapons of our warfare,” or to “put on the whole armor of God.”

1. Our weapons are spiritual. They are designed to open people’s eyes and change their minds. The goal in Corinth was to deal with false beliefs. The strongholds that were demolished were worldviews and false doctrines that had a strong hold on the people of the region, including the church. This kind of battle is still being fought, and most of the skirmishes are in our minds.
2. The enemy is not people. Please, I beg of you, remember this: No matter how goofy or even evil people may seem, our job is not to berate or destroy them. We are here to offer them another Way. Our weapons are useless against people, but they are mighty against the spiritual forces around us.

There are wicked spirits in the heavenlies, and demonic influences that drive and blind people. Our weapons can make an impact on them. We can and should set captives free, open the eyes of the blind, and resist the influence of darkness. Let’s just remember to love people while we do it.

The world is a mess. Glory to God, we are here to help. What a great time to gather with the saints and prepare for the battle. Let’s go to church expecting to be equipped. We’re in the army now!