If I said we are in the midst of Spiritual Warfare you would agree with me; “Yes, we are.” If I said we wrestle with Powers and Principalities, again you would agree with me; “Yes we do.” If I said people get hurt in war; they bleed, they die, you would say, “Ah yes I guess, I ah I would ah imagine so…ah yes, people do get hurt in a real war.”
So, are you ready? Are you mentally, emotionally, and spiritually ready to fight the enemies of our faith? Are you ready to fight the enemy on the spiritual plain and are you ready to defend your faith on the physical plain? Think about those questions before you answer, but realize that we ARE in a real war.
We live in a fallen world. And there are people who not only support the abortion of unborn children, there are people who go further and support the infanticide of just born children! This is not futuristic hyperbole; this is real LEGISLATION that is occurring around us…just next door for example. You might think, I would not allow that in my back yard (nimby), but what are you doing to prevent it from happening in your state? Eighty years ago people did not stand up to counter the “legislation” which brought about the atrocities promulgated upon the Jewish people and other minorities in Europe. Spiritual Warfare can be insidious because you do not see it, it is subtlety dangerous. Realistically, we turn a blind eye to what is happening around us, or we stick our head in the sand because we do not want to face reality. But lying in bed with the covers over your head does not hide you and it does not make the monsters go away.
Christians need to be active in this world; both the physical one and the spiritual one. You see, we have legislators not just promoting third-term-and-beyond abortions, but also socialism and anti-Semitism as well as unchecked illegal immigration. All of these behaviors, actively or passively permitted, are detrimental to our society and our country. Like a boiling pot of water, the dangers grow slowly and subtlety until you have a serious problem on your hands.
We cannot just be vigilant, that is not sufficient. We have to actively combat the enemy’s efforts through voter registration and active participation in our legislative processes. We can start by filling the Choices of the Heart baby bottles and supporting their outreach when possible. We can start by attending school conferences and challenging school curriculums when necessary. We need to teach our children the truth when the school systems do not or will not. We need to exercise our right to have our children participate in alternative classes or workshops to avoid progressive brainwashing. You and I, and our children, are being conditioned everyday by news media and commercials. However, our children are being impacted the most, because they do not know that they are actively being conditioned, and they do not know the truth which combats the lies that they hear. That is where ACTIVE parenting comes in. Suggestion: take your children to historical museums while they still exist.
Pray, study, evangelize. There used to be a phrase – the silent majority – that was spoken of decades ago. I believe the Silent Majority still exists. I believe it represents many of you reading this message. What I am saying is that you cannot be silent anymore. You cannot be passive and watch the world go downhill either. You have to become active and vocal.
For example: Many people think that the Muslim’s Allah is just another name for our Father. That is not true. We believe in a Triune God which includes Jesus, our Lord and our God. Muslims do not believe that Jesus is God. Their Koran says that Jesus was born of Virgin Mary and that he will come again; but he is just another prophet and not God. And the Koran adds that we are just infidels, subject to extermination, because we believe Jesus is God. What does your faith tell you?
Now I am not promoting active religious warfare. But we do need to know what we believe and we have to be able to support our beliefs through the Scriptures. We need to be careful of, if not just actively avoid, ecumenical councils and activities. It may seem nice to go along so we get along, but that is the insidious activity in Spiritual Warfare. We cannot support what is not true. If you are not careful, ecumenism will be thrown back into your face. So you have to think these encounters and “opportunities” through. And you need to stand up for truth whenever possible.
If you do not want to fight and get bloodied do not attend a demonstration; especially a rally or gathering where there will possibly be violent rhetoric and protestation. As a kid in Brooklyn I never went to a gang fight thinking I might engage in uplifting dialog. However, you always have to be prepared for a dialog when called; and you need to attend legislative meetings and participate in legislative activities and always vote to express your opinions.
“Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed, and do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account of the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence” (1 Peter 3:13-15).
Amen?
– Carlos