Spiritual warfare

       Spiritual warfare does NOT deal with super-Christians running around telling devils what to do. Such antics gain you attention in word of faith cults, but have no place in the church. I’ll never forget wandering into a chapel one night in Bagram, Afghanistan on my way home on leave, and listening to a young man (and woman) teach a how-to class on becoming a spiritual warrior. I endured for the sake of the witnessing encounters that would arise afterward. She ranted on about chasing down the devil, and “Taking the fight to his front door.” What they meant by this in no way resembled the good fight of faith. It was un-biblical and dangerous.  

       Our fight against the principalities can only be won by employing the right weapons in the right way. If you’ve ever preached the gospel, you’ve been involved in spiritual warfare. In 2 Corinthians, we have Paul’s most excellent words regarding this fight. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 reads: “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”

       The Greek word translated here by the NKJV as the “arguments” that we’re instructed to “cast down” is the word logismos, and does not refer to demonic beings. Blue Letter Bible (a fantastic online reference tool) defines this word as: "1) a reckoning, computation, 2) a reasoning: such as is hostile to the Christian faith, and 3) a judgment, decision: such as conscience passes." This is the same Greek word translated in Romans 2:15 as the “thoughts” of the pagans. It is falsity in all its forms that we fight. It is the worldly wisdom inspired by the carnal mind which itself is only inspired by Satan. We fight such things with the proclamation of the truth. This is spiritual warfare. The fights we face as a consequence in our lives, though a reality, are the side effects.  

       Proclaiming truth is what we’re to be after. This is the fight. Don’t ever think you’ll enjoy a better response than God and the first messengers, John 15:18-21. It’s not a matter of smarts. People just hate the gospel. The Bible says it’s foolishness to those who are perishing, 1 Corinthians 1:18. We’re to point people to Jesus. In doing this we will wage our warfare against ideologies, false religions and every brand of humanistic philosophy which is all nothing but the ever erroneous wisdom of man (Colossians 2:8). In our warfare, we will fight Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Muslims, Catholics and others whose views fall into the category of worldly wisdom. Their arguments seek to exalt themselves against the knowledge of Christ. Our weapons cast them down. The gospel casts them down. Learn to proclaim it, and draw near to Christ. He’ll take care of the demons.