On Spiritual Warfare (II)

I gave a presentation today on the necessity of dependence on God and deciding truth based on the word of God, not through independent logic, science or other processes. (This post will use language common in discussions of presuppositionalism, a method of apologetics; for more information, go to my post here.) My feeling is that my words largely fell on deaf ears; it was given to a group of people who had largely written off the Bible as errant, flawed and full of contradictions, who were committed to reading the Bible critically. After hearing a thirty minute response on why the Bible should be read critically, I was pretty discouraged. It wasn't that I had expected the message to be received well; I knew the students at large would have aversion to what I had to say. I had comfort from the Bible's statement in Luke that some people could see a person rise from the dead yet still not believe in God, and in John which says the unregenerate man has an aversion to truth. My sickness wasn't so much shock as discouragement.

Encouragement later that day came from many places, however. Sitting down after lunch, I listened to a recorded sermon from Dr. Gaines, who pointed out that the beginning of liberal theology was in Genesis 3 (in which Eve decided to test God's promises by listening to the serpent instead; this is essentially what liberals do, by setting themselves up as independent judges of truth, disregarding the word of God). Also, near the end of the day I was able to sit down with someone and have a very productive conversation regarding evolution and Calvinism (using the same methods I had presented that morning). God brought considerable peace to my heart about what I had presented that day and what I continued to hold true.

And just as I prepared to go to sleep (obviously I wasn't very successful, as I'm not asleep yet), I opened my Bible to 2 Corinthians 10, which talks about taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. But really the chapter is about much more than that; it's about spiritual warfare:

1I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ--I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!-- 2I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. 3For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

7Look at what is before your eyes. If anyone is confident that he is Christ's, let him remind himself that just as he is Christ's, so also are we. 8For even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be ashamed. 9I do not want to appear to be frightening you with my letters. 10For they say, "His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account." 11Let such a person understand that what we say by letter when absent, we do when present. 12Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.

I have done a couple things with this passage. First, I have italicized parts in the passage which I believe give us considerable insight into Paul's character. In my blog below, I discussed the fact that a remembrance of spiritual warfare affects the way we treat unbelievers or even believers who sin. I won't recap everything again, but basically, we're dealing with evil spiritual forces who are waging for the hearts of men.

Secondly, though, I have bolded parts in the passage which deal specifically with spiritual warfare. Verse 5 is probably what is most familiar to everyone in this passage. When we study the Bible, and judge our thinking in light of the Bible, we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. When we challenge those who don't believe the Bible as we do, we are challenging them to also take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ - for how can one have so much faith in his own ability to reason apart from God? Indeed, this verse is familiar to many apologists.

But what many people do not always remember is that taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ is a part of spiritual warfare. I don't know about you, but verse 4 brings shivers down my spine every time I read it -- the weapons of our warfare have divine power to destroy strongholds! These weapons at every Christian's disposal are prayer and the proclamation of the gospel, God's word. The spiritual strongholds are demonic opposition to the gospel.

This passage greatly humbles us, and reminds us of God's grace. Often apologetics is treated as some sort of game, a competition to see who is most eloquent and reasonable, etc. But instead we're engaging in spiritual warfare -- a serious matter indeed. We are reminded that there is no power in ourselves to convince others of the Bible and the gospel. Demonic strongholds are viciously opposing the gospel, and only the Holy Spirit, in using God's word, which is living and active, like a two edged sword, can change human hearts. But yet we are greatly humbled that God would both use us to present God's word and allow us to use the weapons of spiritual warfare. The passage also reminds us, again, to treat everyone with humility and respect, as everyone is created in the image of God, and we are dealing with much more than flesh and blood in presenting the gospel.

Thus, in view of God's commission to believers to preach the gospel and take our every thought to his obedience, I pray Psalm 139:

"Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!"