A Spiritual War
Build & Fight, Part 3
He trained my hands
According to Christ, part of following Him, part of discipleship, involves building a spiritual home, a strong local church, and He has given us the tools to do just that. The other part of the Christian life is fighting, engaging in war, and battling in our Lord’s army against our enemies.
Even though we are not ourselves King David, and our war is not against the national enemies of Israel, we still find the Psalmist’s words to be both inspiring and applicable. Consider the following words (and imagine, if you will, dramatic music from Braveheart or the Lord of the Rings playing in the background):
“For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God? - the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless. He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great. You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip. I pursued my enemies and overtook them, and did not turn back till they were consumed. I thrust them through, so that they were not able to rise; they fell under my feet. For you equipped me with strength for the battle; you made those who rise against me sink under me. You made my enemies turn their backs to me, and those who hated me I destroyed.” - Psalm 18:31-40
The reason that stirs our hearts is because we are, in fact, engaging in a war, but not a physical war against a physical nation. No, our war as Christ’s soldiers is a different kind of war with a different kind of enemy. This is how the Apostle Paul describes our warfare:
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 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 6:10-12
Not a war in the clouds
There is a tendency among many Christians, especially those of a more charismatic theological stripe, to hyper-spiritualize this war. They will say that Christians should be regularly engaged in casting out demons, keenly aware that believers themselves could be possessed by demonic powers. They will say that every evil, every sickness, and every bit of suffering is a result of Satan’s influence and direct involvement.
While Satan is clearly active in our world, especially through unbelievers whose eyes have been blinded and whose lives are enslaved to the devil (2 Corinthians 4:4; John 8:33, 44), this kind of enemy and this kind of war are not what Paul had in mind. We know this, first of all, because of what follows in Ephesians regarding the warfare (we’ll get into more detail on that in the nest post). We also know this, second of all, because of how Paul clearly outlines the battle elsewhere in his letters. He writes:
“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, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.” – 2 Corinthians 10:4-6
A spiritual war in physical reality
Spiritual warfare is fought upon the battleground of the mind. The war is waged upon the hills of truth. The battle terrain is the land where lies and accusations are launched against the reality of God and His rule. Therefore, despite the emphasis by some of feelings and deep emotions being central to spiritual warfare, in reality, it is our minds that are utilized primarily.
This war is fought, as many wars are, upon a few different fronts. First of all, it is fought in the individual mind of the individual believer. There is a regular barrage, both from within (our own sinful nature) and from without (lies, temptations, and accusations from Satan and his demons). This is why the Scriptures exhort us to guard our hearts, the very centre of our beings, and to be wise in hearing and obeying the Word of God (Proverbs 4:20-23). This front, while primary, is not isolated, and as with many wars, giving up ground here results in a larger fallout.
The second front upon which this war is fought are among individuals in the two institutions God has given for the growth and discipleship of believers, and they are the family and the local church. The way dads lead their families, and the way elders lead their churches, can either give up ground in this spiritual war, or mount an offence as the gates of hell are stormed daily. This is why elders, who happen to be husbands and fathers, are commanded in the Scriptures to be alert, be on guard, and stand firm against the schemes of the devil (1 Peter 5:8-9).
The last front upon which the war rages is how the culture and society is affected more broadly, and the degree to which the church and believers had had a meaningful impact upon said culture. Christians are the salt of the earth, preserving the good and pushing back against evil and spiritual decay (Matthew 5:13). Christians are the light of the world, both proclaiming the Gospel AND being heralds for what is good, beautiful, and true (Matthew 5:4-16). If the State is to govern according to God’s Law, then it is the church that must “disciple” the nations, to that end (Romans 13:3-4).
We are at war, and we must fight; but we must know against whom and what we battle.