The Dawn Treader blog recently asked readers what the term “spiritual warfare” meant to them, and he’s posted some reflections on the answers he received. A lot of good insights, but I especially like this observation:
...the most insidious type of spiritual warfare is not the spooky demonic type in my opinion. It manifests itself more in the Uncle Screwtape and nephew Wormwood type of warfare. Temptation is spiritual warfare. So is gossip. So is bitterness. So is lack of forgiveness. “Ordinary” kinds of sin, like a sinful thought life, need to be considered as spiritual warfare. Whether the besetting source of the temptation or gossip is a demon or our own sinful nature matters not. In either case, our response is to cry out in prayer for help.
He also notes the danger of blaming sinful behavior on demons or evil spirits, and thus downplaying our own role in our sometimes sinful decisions and actions.
As with Mr. Dawntreader, my own ideas about spiritual warfare have evolved over time. When I was younger and reading a lot of Frank Peretti novels, the term “spiritual warfare” conjured up images of invisible angels (with cool swords) and demons (with scary bat wings) battling it out for my soul as I made my way through the day. I don’t doubt that there are demons out there causing mischief, but the type of spiritual warfare that seems most relevant to my everyday life is the struggle against my own sinful nature. Each little moral decision I face as I go through the day—whether to be kind or rude, generous or selfish, honest or dishonest—is like a small shot fired in that spiritual conflict.
What about you? When you think of spiritual warfare, do you see an actual struggle involving angels, demons, and praying saints? Or is it more abstract? Has your understanding changed over time or due to experiences you’ve had?
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December 7, 2006 at 17:17
For me spiritual warfare is that internal struggle of knowing what to do, wanting to do it, and then going on about my normal life. I often get thoughts of “I really would like to help the poor in my city. Maybe I should be a big brother. Maybe I should go and visit the elderly and lonely.” Then I get wrapped up in my own daily business of getting the kids off to school, going to work, coming home and then starting all over the next day.
Oh sure, I am involved in my church and try to give regularly, but I always think “there has to be more. why don’t I send money to feed a starving kid?”
I believe that there is a spiritual realm all around us. I belive the battle has already been won so to speak, but I just struggle with getting out of myself.
December 7, 2006 at 18:00
I’ve always had a slightly uneasy feeling about a style of spiritual warfare that majors on railing against evil powers and claiming victories in the heavenlies, sometimes called ‘strategic level’ spiritual warfare. I don’t see it adequately supported in scripture.
But I do read of people advancing the kingdom by proclaiming the good news, standing up for the gospel when it’s tough and occasionally dealing with the demonic when it manifests itself.
I believe that any personal acts of purposeful discipleship serve to advance God’s Kingdom and hence do damage to the work of Satan in the world. Our focus should be on the King, not the imposter.
December 8, 2006 at 02:44
In me, spiritual warfare is something that me and the Lord are always involved. He is the one that plans the strategy and I execute the orders.
Here is how it happens everyday of my life. I go to work, be with my officemates, work, work, go home. Each minute there are opportunities that make me choose on doing good or bad. Yes sure and this is the battle against good and bad decisions, to obey God or disobey, angel or devil inside. But for me, these small battles are irrelevant because it focuses on myself only, quite a selfish battle because I am the only one involved and God would seem like only being a choice for me. But He is not a choice because there is no choice for me but to obey God, we would not want to battle with Him right (the “who’s side you choose” thing)? Instead the warfare is with the people around me.
God has plans for me and that is to minister other people. He is revealing His plans to me through His word in the Bible. Then He briefs me every morning on what to do and who to evangelize. Then I will carry that plan in my everyday tasks and try to share His greatness outside of my life, which is other people’s lives. Sometimes they debate, argue and persecute me. When they overrun me with their philosophical junk, I can say that I was defeated in this battle, and maybe because it is my lack of trust and faith in Him sometimes (forgive me o Lord). But the next day I would execute the plan again and if God’s word would be the last Word, I am proud that I have made God’s mark on them. I could say I won the battle.
There are lots of days like these in my life, and me not thinking of the battle inside of me because I am too preoccupied carrying out His plan. The battle is outside of my life, not inside of me. Through trusting Him and faith in Him I allow His ways to work in me, and because of that it does two things, one is carrying out His will (which is what God wants) and at the same time being a good person doing His works (which is following Christ).
December 8, 2006 at 03:23
Er, so how do you know when the good guys are winning?
Sounds like more crazy-talk, to me.
December 8, 2006 at 11:02
Frank Peretti books frighten me because they are all too real for me. Before I was a Christian, I was heavily into the occult, so I feel I have a good idea of what spiritual warfare is.
Still, spiritual warfare is conducted on many levels. It can describe the temptations and choices we make in everyday life, to occult forces attacking Christians. (My husband’s family had an awful experience with this aspect. But, the Lord prevailed.)
War is fought in many different ways, and the same goes for spiritual warfare. There are many different battles we may face, but we have God to trust. And the bottom line is, the battle belongs to the Lord.
December 8, 2006 at 11:18
I grew up in a family/tradition that didn’t do too much “spiritual warfare” talk, and consequently I’ve never really thought about it, aside from acknowledging that it illicits a vague discomfort within me.
My most recent interaction with this language was from a customer of mine, in the context of a discussion about pacifism. He stated that all pacifists have it wrong, and cited spiritual warfare as the reason.
I could tell we were talking past each other (me, the pacifist, talking about physical violence, he, the spiritual warrior, talking about spiritual violence), and so quickly brought the conversation to a close – feeling more than my usual “vague discomfort” at the spiritual warfare talk.
But I’ve gotta say that Andy’s discussion of it above is something that I could agree with. I think the discomfort I’ve felt has stemmed from the lack of personal responsibility that seems to go with such talk, and no matter how my views of what Jesus wants of his follwers changes, personal responsibility to God and to the rest of humanity is something that never varies.
December 9, 2006 at 01:03
My whole “spiritual warfare” paradigm has changed so much over the years. I used to live in Latin America, in an area with a lot of witchcraft and occult, so I was exposed to some pretty “spooky” stuff, and the typical Christian response in that culture was lots of loud praying and authority-taking and so forth. Get out your annointing oil! And you know, it seemed to bring results. I read all the books on spiritual warfare, all the theories about the mechanics of how it all works (territorial spirits, strong men, deliverance ministries, etc.)
Basically, I’ve had to let go of a lot of that stuff—not so much reject it outright, but recognize that so much is speculative. The Bible drops a few hints, but not enough to form some kind of “spiritual warfare doctrine” that many Christians seem to hold fiercely to, just as I did at one time.
I finally came around to the Book of Job. Job for me has some profound lessons on spiritual warfare. Bascially it’s a case of God letting Satan smack Job around—and quite severely. And what the book teaches me is that: 1. God allows it. 2. He offers no tidy explanation. 3. He draws the lines. 4. And He is in complete control, all the time.
I really appreciated the quote posted at the top of the blog. I recently read “The Screwtape Letters” for the first time, and in some ways I think it’s the best book on spiritual warfare I’ve ever read. I’ve always been a fan of Lewis, but this was brilliant. I winced with sour recognition with every chapter, as I recognized that the real battle is rarely the dramatic and spectacular horror-fest portrayed in books like Peretti’s…rather, it’s the day-to-day battle for who is in control of our hearts and minds.
December 9, 2006 at 14:17
i couldn’t agree with some of you more. the true spritural battle is in us. it’s in listing to that small voice inside that seems to always be there the moment we start to do or say something that we know is wrong. i call them god prompts, we the holy sprit speaks to us and tells us these thing are wrong the instant we think them. so for me it’s always wwjd. listing first, a quick payer,then try to make the choice.
December 9, 2006 at 14:29
I think we Westerners have a difficult time believing there is another realm that exsists. Satan, demons, and angels didn’t fade away, like we’d like to think sometimes. I think for some of us the exsistence of such beings is a scary thought.
While some tend to become obsessed with these beings, I think it is foolish for us Christians to put our heads in the sand and pretend they’re equivalent to comic book characters. When James said to “Resist the devil and he will flee from you…” in James 4:7 I do believe he was talking about a literal, real devil – not just the temptations of the flesh. We don’t need to fear satan and demons because of the work of the cross but we do need to be aware that such beings do exsist and sometimes their actions really do affect things that happen on this planet.
December 9, 2006 at 22:38
I agree with you when you say that spirital warfare is not the spooky demonic type of warfare. I think the warfare starts all in your mind with your thoughts. In fact I am dealing with such right now. The hardest thing to do as a christian is to change your thought process. In the world we live in today it is hard to keep our mind continuously on Christ. I think that if one wants to be victorious in spiritual warfare he must first neglect his carnal thoughts as hard as it may be. He/she must stay in the word at all times even when you don’t feel like it. Last one must pray more, more,and more. Constant conversations with the master is always helpful in spiritual warfare.
December 12, 2006 at 09:38
Perhaps a Bible passage for this topic ;-):
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” – Ephesians 6:10-13 (NIV)
The Apostle Paul continued with the components of the Armour of God, namely:
1) Belt of truth: We have and know the Truth. So like 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says,
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work”
We are equipped with the Truth to do what Paul says,
“Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.” (2 Timothy 2:24-25)
2) Breastplate of righteousness: We became righteous because Jesus Christ, our Lord who saved us, is righteous
3) your feet fitted with the readiness coming from the Gospel of peace: Be all ready to speak up in truth using the Word.
4) Shield of faith: Trust in Him faithfully that He is in complete control.
5) Helmet of salvation: We have Salvation in Jesus Christ our Saviour
6) Sword of the Spirit: Which is the word of God
7) Prayers: Pray, pray and pray.
So, spiritual warfare is much more dangerous than physical warfare, to me, because it is a battle against the Evil one and it is a psychological battle. Hence, we must be:
1) Well equipped (with the knowledge of the Word and the faith in Jesus Christ, to “suffer for the Gospel”)
2) Constantly pray
3) Continue to win the souls of God’s lost people: everyone who are not saved yet.
God bless.