The Battle is Here

There is a great war being waged in the world today. It is not a conflict between nations, tribes, or government leaders. It is not a rebellion or coup. It is an important invisible battle taking place in the spirit world. The Bible states that God's people are destroyed because of lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). The early Church viewed their spiritual experience in terms of warfare. Military terminology is used throughout the New Testament. Protection was seen in the armor of God. The Word of God was compared to a sword. Satan's attacks were called fiery darts. Faith was the "good fight" and believers were told to "war a good warfare." The early Church knew they were engaged in an intense spiritual struggle.

This week I have been reading a YouVersion devotion called Warrior by Tony Evans. This devotion came earlier in my 2020, but it didn't feel like the right to complete it so I sat it aside. On Sunday afternoon, I was looking for a devotional that just spoke to me, that would help me through the next few weeks of my life. 

In my last post, I wrote about being attacked and taking refuge in Christ Jesus. Growing up in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) I wasn't taught very much about the spiritual realm. In fact, it was mostly what I read (I read everything I could growing up). Even now, in the United Methodist Church (UMC) we don't speak much about the fact that there is a spiritual realm. This is probably because in 1985 Stanley Hauerwas and Bishop William Willimon accused "mainline" Protestants churches and theologies of conducting business as if God does not exist. This has flowed over to conducting business as if the supernatural and the spiritual realms don't exist. In his article Embarrassed by the Supernatural Roger E. Olsen states that our disbelief has less to do with intellect than it does with not wanting to look like a fanatic or a our religion being respectable.

However, all of this being said, I do believe in the spiritual realm and I believe what our world is going through is because the spiritual realm is manifesting itself in our physical realm. An enemy that we can see is easier to fight than one that we can only feel and can't see. 

So much of what is going on in our country isn’t so much racial oppression and being fed up; it’s the spiritual realm manifesting itself in what we can see...however, we don’t have enough strong, godly “soldiers” willing to go to war. They are willing to pray, of course, but have yet to step foot onto the battlefield. Christians, our time is now! Through the civil unrest God is calling us to something greater, flood doors are opening and people are needing to see Christians, not as uppity, perfect people, but as real, authentic, willing to be in relationship with the least of these.

I have been mocked, called a traitor, had people threaten me, call me a leftist, liar, hypocritical, bi***, for walking over to the monument protestors in Statesville and talking to them. All the protestors at the monument know where I stand on the issue at hand and they treat me with respect; as I treat them with the same respect. If I am driving in town, I stop, say hello, and ask if they need anything. Then I converse with them; and I always end with, “I am praying for you all.” The battle isn’t with the protestors, and it’s certainly not over a monument. It’s very literally for the souls of men, women and children.

William Abraham stated in an article on Juicy Ecumenism "Evil is not just an absence of good,” but also “a real turn to evil,” in which we can know very well that something is wrong and still “consciously choose it, and then celebrate it.” 

John 10:10a tells us that the "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy." (ESV) Later in his letter to the Ephesians, Paul reminds us to 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.(Eph. 6:11-12 ESV)

The church needs to teach more about Spiritual Warfare! Christians are soldiers, but we are highly untrained, much like the Continental Army when the revolution was declared; but like those soldiers we don't have to stay untrained. The best way to train for this battle is to be aware, be aware that everything that happens is first to God's plan, but not everything is from God; next stay engaged with your Bible, delve into the Scripture and stay engaged in prayer; staying connected to God leaves no room for the enemy to attack you. Once you are built up, then you are able to go out and fight a good fight for the kingdom of God. 

The battle is here, how ready are you to suit up in your armor? 

What do you value?

Batter up!

I don't usually write about people I know or rather people who are currently a part of my life and very rarely do I promote other's blogs. This isn't because I am selfish or want readership all to myself, I just rarely think about sharing others blog links. However, tonight I want to change that; I want to tell you all about one of the bravest, amazing young women I know. My friend, and Sunday school student Carly, has been going through a lot this year--it's her senior year of high school--and that brings a ton of pressure with it. So when Carly asked me to come to Senior night at North Iredell High School, I knew I had to be there. Not because I didn't "have a senior night" but because I wanted to watch Carly play a home game, and I see a lot of myself in what she's going through. Since I wasn't able to get off work early to make it to the game--I hauled backside to make it to the middle of the game. I know for a fact, that I pulled in to North Iredell's parking lot during the last inning; then I heard it--the familiar crack of the bat, then the sound of a ball bouncing off my car. Now I didn't get mad, but I will tell you I caught the ball as it rolled off my car and threw it back to the pitcher's mound--yet those details aren't important.

When I realized that the game was over (I saw the girls walking back to the parking lot) I drove home. I got a message from Carly, and she told me they had lost, but that it was okay I wasn't there because I was cheering on my Lady Raiders from a distance. Yet that didn't help, I still felt like I let Carly down. I told her about my car getting hit and I got a text back "Oh my gosh, I am so sorry." Since I see a lot of myself in Carly, I had a feeling that she may have the impression that "if she hadn't of asked me to come, then my car wouldn't have been hit and dented." So I made 100% sure that our Carly knew that that wasn't the case--first I told her "I showed them "old softball players still have it" and "Just so you know, my car getting damaged wasn't your fault--I was at NIHS tonight because I wanted to be." And if I know my friend, this made a lot of difference in how she felt and probably was thinking about things.

I really tell this to say one thing--we go through life putting value on things that don't matter. Yes, I was miffed my car got hit; but my car is of infinite less value than making a difference in someone's life. What I have now is a memory that will last--well as long as my car does...

You can follow Carly and her journey at Finding my Path trust me, you won't regret reading what this young woman has to say--she will encourage and inspire you!

I'm proud of ya, kiddo!