"In other words we don’t take on the men, women, boys and girls armed to the teeth bating for our blood; we recognize they are tools of the enemy; so we set our sight on the enemy, which is a spirit and can only be fought in the spirit."In concluding my five-part serial, “2011 – Year of the Church”, last week, I stated that, a consensus seemed to be building around the need for Christians to rise up and defend themselves against attacks by enemies of their faith. Borne out of frustration with the seeming inability or unwillingness or both, of governments at all levels to protect these citizens, such leaders as Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) president, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor; Reverend Yuguda Midurvwa, who chairs the Borno State Chapter of the umbrella body, and renowned evangelist, Uma Ukpai were reported in the media to have lent their influential voices to the call for self-defence.
I then stated my position in these words: “It is a consensus that I subscribe to; but the question is how? By taking up AK 47s and fighting back or even making violent preemptive strikes? No, a thousand times, No! The Bible is so clear about this when it says: “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled” (2 Corinthians 10:3-6). In other words, the Word is our weapon. Like every weapon we need to learn to use it and practice with it till be become proficient in it…”
Since that piece went out, I just couldn’t get away from the feeling that the need to dwell a bit more on the weapon of the Christian’s warfare and its place in the situation we have in northern Nigeria and many parts of the world is an imperative. This is much more so because, adherents to faith in Jesus Christ have been directly or indirectly labeled as legitimate targets not just of attacks but of annihilation in many parts of the world. And it is becoming as if, like the enemies, our recourse has either be to raw, physical force, as in setting up militias or be ready to lovingly embrace martyrdom. It’s an amazing misreading and misunderstanding of Scripture. And that’s why I have said that the Church has to rise up and begin to teach the people about the power of the word not just in changing and improving their spiritual, financial and material well being, but also in defending themselves against physical attacks. In other words, we need to begin to propagate the kingdom perspective to warfare.
The very first point to note here is that a victor-God, styled as Jehovah Sabaoth (the Lord of hosts), 257 times in the Bible, cannot give birth to victim-children. Therefore, if Christians have become perennial victims, it is either we are not children of God or something has tragically gone wrong. I think it’s the latter and what’s gone wrong, is that we either do not know that the weapon exists or we do not know how to use it.
The second point is to note is that the same Jehovah Sabaoth is also Jehovah Shalom (God of peace). It is in pursuit of His peace agenda that He gave us His only begotten son that those who believe in Him may be restored. This is important because, the lie has taken root in the church that love is our one and only weapon. A powerful verse of scripture used to back this position is in the book of Mathew: “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you (5:44). It came straight out of the mouth of the Lord Jesus Himself. So, it cannot be treated with levity. But a proper understanding of scriptural principles will reveal the truth.
As already quoted above, the Holy Spirit speaking through Apostle Paul, told the Corinthians that though we are flesh and blood, we do not “war after the flesh”. In other words we know better than to depend on physical arms and ammunition. That is why the apostle went on to add that “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds”
For a clear understanding of this truth, let’s listen to the apostle in his letter to the Ephesian church. His words: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:10-17).
These verses of scriptures offer great insight into the Kingdom concept of warfare. Verse 12 is very fundamental: “…we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” or as one translation puts it, “We are not fighting against humans. We are fighting against forces and authorities and against rulers of darkness and powers in the spiritual world (CEV). In other words we don’t take on the men, women, boys and girls armed to the teeth bating for our blood; we recognize they are tools of the enemy; so we set our sight on the enemy, which is a spirit and can only be fought in the spirit (CONTINUES).
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