Pastor's Pen: How Do We Fight?

“For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” - Ephesians 6:12

We are human beings with differing perspectives, opinions, and desires. Inevitably, we will be brought into conflict with our neighbors. Fighting is part of the human situation. The question is not whether we will fight. Instead, we ask: How do we fight?

The Apostle Paul gives us some advice. He tells us that our struggle is actually against the spiritual forces. Misinterpreting this verse can lead us into some dark places. If we label everyone who disagrees with us as “satanic” or “evil,” there can be no reconciliation with darkness. However, Paul’s statement implies that we shouldn’t label our flesh and blood neighbors evil. Instead, following Jesus’ lead, we love our neighbors while we struggle with spiritual conflict that lies underneath the surface.

How do we fight these spiritual battles? Paul offers a helpful list: Truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God. This list isn’t a wimpy “let’s all just get along.” However, it does not allow us to treat others with hatred or contempt. Elsewhere, Paul argues that we should care for our enemies, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:20).

In an age of social media and screaming heads on cable news, there seem to be a lot of people who pay their bills by telling you that you are a “child of light,” and those people over there are “children of darkness.” In our effort to stand for what’s right, let us not tarnish our Christian witness. I was recently reminded of this quote from C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity:

“Suppose one reads a story of filthy atrocities in the paper. Then suppose that something turns up suggesting that the story might not be quite true, or not quite so bad as it was made out. Is one’s first feeling, ‘Thank God, even they aren’t quite so bad as that,’ or is it a feeling of disappointment, and even a determination to cling to the first story for the sheer pleasure of thinking your enemies as bad as possible?”

Our fight is a spiritual one. Let’s not make our neighbor collateral damage.