Spiritual Warfare…

Who is telling the truth in the arguement about spiritual warfare? It is pretty straight forward in the bible. It exists and we should be prepared. I don’t doubt that in any context but the thing I do doubt is how we are supposed to act.

It varies from denomination to denomination and even from church to church inside of those denominations. I grow tired of trying to figure it out and most often I end up dismissing everyone’s idea of what spiritual warfare is.

Often Ephesians 6:10-20 is quoted as the “Exhortations for Spiritual Warfare”, the go to guide on what it looks like. How do we get so many different interpretations from this scripture? The thing that stands out to me most in that set of scriptures is that it seems we are being encourage to pick up the sword and armor to protect ourselves. Not to rush headlong into the fray.

Honestly, who has run across a demon possessed man and a herd of pigs nearby that you can cast the demon into? Yet we often hear that story used in an example of how much power we have in the name of Christ. Jeez people did you not also read the story of how some Christians were beaten and stripped naked because they failed to cast a demon out? I will pass, I only want to be naked in my house.

At church the other day I heard a man giving testimony of driving demons out of his son. I was fascinated for several reasons and I will only give one here. He used the statement “And we cast the demon of Pharmacia out of him”. I am assuming this was a drug addiction problem he was speaking of but when did we start naming demons and giving them a category or job title? It made my stomach knot because it reminded me of my early days in a Pentacostal church. I often worry that I am being ignorant but I just can’t buy into special names or jobs for demons.

Truthfully I think ignoring the presence of spiritual warfare is worse than misnaming it but I still struggle with recognizing the middle ground. I do believe if you are getting stomped on everyday by your circumstances and you are a Christian then you might want to open your eyes and look into scripture and pray about it.

Which leads me to my opinion albeit a short one. Ephesians 6:10-20 simply tells me to put on my armor, pick up my sword and shield and defend myself. It seems the word “stand” is used quite a bit in those verses and most often that is where I am at, barely standing. I prefere to talk to God more often than to Satan and his demons so I will ask God to take care of the attacking part. In my heart I know I will find my way because I am seeking His guidance, but people sure know how to talk us into doing stupid things.

So don’t ask me to stand in front of the church and pray a demon out of someone. I don’t want to be left standing in front of the church naked and you don’t want to see it.