Many Christians today appear clueless about how to respond to spiritual warfare …

I’ve often said we Christians have an enemy as committed to our destruction as God is to our salvation.

Even though we know Christ is victor and King of kings and Lord of lords, and we are more than conquerors in and through Him, the fact remains that the spiritual warfare that began with Satan’s rebellion against God will continue to rage until Jesus Christ returns. Yet the average Christian seems to be nearly oblivious to the fact every day we are in spiritual warfare:

“A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places,” Ephesians 6:10-12.

“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour,” 1 Peter 5:8.

In spite of the spiritual war that rages even today, most professing Christians go through life as if nothing of such significance is happening. Could it be that because congregations of believers so often hear from pulpits encouragements to go chase their dreams and very little about the realities of spiritual life that they remain ignorant about, and unequipped for, spiritual warfare?

IT AIN’T LIKE IT USED TO BE
War is horrible. Ask anyone who has ever fought in battle, and they’ll tell you war is to be avoided at all costs. Yet, we’ve also seen war bring out the very best in some people.

Take, for example, how Americans rallied together in response to World War II. As a people, Americans engaged in the war effort, either by volunteering to go into battle, or to support those who did, as explained in this report by the Jackson Sun:

WWII began in 1939; but the United States did not enter the war until Japan attacked the U.S. naval fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on Sunday morning, Dec. 7, 1941.

This attack began the largest combined effort of teamwork throughout the history of the United States. This teamwork led to the end of the war.

Victory was possible with U.S. military personnel and citizens of all ages on the homefront joining forces to battle the enemy. Men, women, and children worked for the war effort on the homefront. As men went to war, women entered the work force. Children helped with scrap metal drives and victory gardens where vegetables were grown and shared by the community. Recycling was important since there were shortages of everyday items as well as major appliances because factories changed regular production to wartime efforts. Ration coupons were needed to buy gasoline, sugar, coffee, meat, canned food, clothes, and shoes.

During the war, “V” for victory was seen on a variety of items such as jewelry, buttons, milk bottles, advertisements, etc. …

Everyone knew the nation was at war, and most did something to contribute to victory against the enemy.

THE CHURCH USED TO BE THAT WAY
Like Americans being engaged in the war effort during WWII, the church used to be fully engaged in the spiritual warfare it battles against. From enduring severe persecution to spread the Gospel throughout the world so that the lost would not perish in the spiritual war, to sacrificially taking care of one another, the early church was serious about its mission. Just look at how the early church rallied together:

“All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity — all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved,” Acts 2:42-47.

“All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need. For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means ‘Son of Encouragement’). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus. He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles,” Acts 2:34-37.

It takes only a cursory glance at the church today to see we’re very different from the example of the early church. Twenty-first century America is marked by rampant individualism, a concept foreign to biblical Christianity that has seeped into and permeated the church. Instead of engaging wisely, whole-heartedly, and sacrificially in the spiritual war effort, we either chase dreams or wile away our days with Netflix marathons and useless social media battles.

How about you?

What’s your personal awareness about the realities of spiritual warfare? How are you engaged to help your church accomplish its mission in this spiritual war? What are you doing to keep people from perishing in this spiritual fight, and to support others in this struggle?

Scotty