 Spiritual weapons for the spiritual war  The Layman – Volume 36, Number 5 – Posted September 12, 2003
Jay enlisted in the army when she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord. And so did all of us who put our faith in him. We do not get to choose our battles – we are to fight where God has put us. So those of us in America who are members of the PCUSA have different frontline assignments from our brothers and sisters in the Sudan or Egypt or China. But each position is important to the health of the body of Christ. The conflict in the PCUSA continues to center on the interpretation and authority of Scripture, especially with respect to sexual behavior. We soldiers need to be clear about our battle orders; we find them in God’s Word to the Ephesians. After being reminded of the nature of the war, God tells us to: fight in the strength of the Lord; put on the full armor of God and use the sword of the Spirit; pray always and for all the saints. It is easy for us Presbyterians to think that we are just in a struggle against church bureaucrats in Louisville or presbytery offices or against various groups attacking provisions of our constitution. Paul calls us to lift our eyes above the conflict that immediately surrounds us and look at the spiritual battle that has been raging everywhere east of Eden and at all times since the fall. We cannot cobble mere political strategies that will effectively address spiritual problems. Overtures and judicial cases just overlay the real combat and can distract us from our primary concern. That concern is the commission that Christ gave us – to make disciples, baptizing and teaching them. That is why Paul tells us what our one weapon is to be – the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. The Word keeps us focused on the person of Christ, his mission, and his methods. The Word also alerts us to Satan’s favorite strategy – lies. In two major appearances in the Bible, Satan uses deceit to wage his campaign against the Lord and his creation. In the Garden of Eden, Satan asks: “Did God really say ...?” Eve and Adam doubt God’s Word; they fall, and all of the world with them. In the Judean wilderness Satan challenges the identity of Jesus as God’s Son, casting doubt on the Father’s proclamation at Christ’s baptism. Satan asks: “If you are really the Son of God ...” Jesus shows us how to stand against such cunning – he wielded the sword of the Spirit; three times Christ parried the evil one’s thrusts with Scripture – “It is written ...” The devil’s methods have not changed. Within the PCUSA and other denominations, he still challenges the Word of God: “Does the Bible really say sexual relations outside of heterosexual marriage are sinful?” At stake in our frontline struggle are the integrity of God’s Scripture and the eternal souls of those who, if we fail, would not be confronted by the whole truth of God’s law to point them to their need of Christ and his transforming power. If we fail at our battle positions, these people will be the first casualties and the Lord will hold us accountable. In this spiritual warfare, Paul tells us not only to be fully armed and use the sword, he warns us that we will not be able to stand if we are not continually strengthened in our relationship with God through prayer. Paul cautions us to constantly keep in touch with God, asking on behalf of ourselves as we engage in battle, and for all the saints. Our steadfastness in prayer will determine our standfastness in the fighting. Talk to any soldier who has the shells and bullets flying about him about the need for praying always, and we will remember our need to rely on God. The actions of the Episcopal Church in America and Canada blessing a homosexual bishop and same-sex unions underscore Paul’s words – we Presbyterians are not just part of a denomination, we are part of the body of Christ. We are called to pray for each Christian’s faithfulness and renewed strength, so that they, too, may stand in whatever battle they are fighting – the sex battles of Western culture or the combat zones where Christians bleed as martyrs. Pray always and for all the saints. Let us do it. Peggy Hedden, a ruling elder in Columbus, Ohio, is the chairman of the board of directors of the Presbyterian Lay Committee. |
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