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? 

Open Response to Richard Lowell Bryant--Yes, Liberty students should be camp counselors...

My pastor sent me a link to an article written by a UMC minister about camp counselors coming from Liberty to teach at a UMC Summer Camp and the pastor, of course, is angry because of Jerry Falwell's stance on Homosexuality and other things. This same pastor (not mine) states that in another post he's a traditionalist and should keep the language of the Book of Discipline as it is where it pertains to marriage and the ordination of homosexuals. The more I thought about that article the angrier I got. I'll be honest when I read it this morning, I told my pastor, I don't know if I should pray for him, or write him a letter. (I really just wanted to go through the screen and give him a piece of my mind).

So in true Liberty University "Trained Champion for Christ" fashion, I wrote him a comment and spoke about Liberty. I mean after all, as a graduate of Liberty and as a candidate for ministry, I think I can speak to the mindset of some graduates of Liberty. So I formed the following response. Since comments on the original post are moderated, we'll have to see later if it shows up, but in the mean time for your pleasure, my response!

Sir,

There are far worse things than hiring Camp Counselors from Liberty University. Maybe you missed the article put out by one of the many gay students from LU who found love and acceptance at Liberty University. Matter of fact, his professors begged him not to quit school, but he chose to quit attending LU and then came back to the school and graduated from Liberty.

What you may not know is that LU has one of the largest LGBTQA+ communities of any college, not because they want to shake up the school, but because they are accepted as they are, where they are in their walk with Christ.  Even I attended LU as a practicing member of a Jewish Synagogue and found acceptance for my beliefs. Yes, Jerry Falwell, Jr. is outspoken on BIBLICAL standards, which supercede the BOOK OF DISCIPLINE (believe it or not). Deal with it. Embrace students from Liberty, actually get to know them, find out what their exact beliefs are. Oh, and maybe read these two articles. https://www.theatlantic.com/sexes/archive/2013/04/being-gay-at-jerry-falwells-university/274578/ and http://wset.com/archive/coming-out-at-liberty-university-the-story-of-one-gay-lu-grad 

Then maybe, just maybe you can judge Liberty University, the staff and those counselors you refuse to get to know or give a chance to. I find it funny that just in May of 2017 you said "You were a traditionalist." in a post here, and today, you are a progressive. .Do forgive me, Reverend, but can you really have it both ways? Can you really throw away our traditional teachings and embrace hatred? I wonder, often what John Wesley would think if he saw the current standing of our church and I wonder, sir, if he would not give those students/counselors from LU a chance to continue to grow.

For the rest of you who, like this gentleman, who have no understanding of what LU actually teaches, I will tell you it is FAR from Jerry Falwell, Jr.'s current standing. As a matter of fact, I came out of LU (twice) with more parched with thirst for the God I now serve, believe it or not with more understanding of amy homosexual friends, and more acceptance towards their choices. I know you may all think that this crazy that they use counselors from LU, but honestly, you won't find what you think you will--closed-minded people.

The centrist movement in the UMC wants to cry out for tolerance, yet you won't even allow for students from Liberty to come and grow in their faith. Everyone wants to be a liberal or centrist until their feet are stepped on.