Christian Warriors – Battle Ready Christianity

The Christian Warrior

As Christian Warriors we are fighting a life and death battle, and the stakes are as big as eternity itself. But an army that cannot identify its true enemy is an army that is not ready for battle. And just as important as knowing who the enemy is, is knowing who the enemy is not. Much of Christianity today has failed on both points.

Know Your Enemy

Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

The above text makes it clear that people, no matter who they are or what they have done, are not the enemy. We do not wrestle against flesh and blood. This means that:

• LGBT’s are not the enemy.
• Muslims are not the enemy.
• Atheists are not the enemy.
• Human Secularists are not the enemy.
• The people who belong to that other political party are not the enemy.
• Those strange people who belong to that other Christian denomination are not the enemy.

In other words, people, however you wish to classify them, are not the enemy.

The enemy is the devil (Satan) and all the agencies through which he works. The spiritual hosts of wickedness.

Christian Warriors Treat their Enemies Like Friends

It is true that people, deceived, deluded, brainwashed and enslaved by Satan, may treat you as if you are their enemy. But Jesus makes it plain that you,  are not to treat them as enemies. How are you to treat them?  You are to treat them as if they were the best of friends.

Matthew 5:44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.

Romans 12:14, 17-18, 20-21 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. … Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. … Therefore, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. … Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

People however badly they may treat you are not the real enemy. Christian warriors are soldiers on a rescue mission, to seek and to save the lost. Their mission is to bring them out of the camp of the enemy where they have been held captive.

Warriors Must Know their Weapons

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 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.

Just as important as knowing who the enemy is and is not is knowing what weapons of warfare are and are not to be used. Here again is an area where much of Christianity have failed. As Christian Warriors we cannot use carnal, that is, humanly devised weapons. The only offensive weapon a Christian is authorized by the Bible to use is the sword of the Spirit.

Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Christians Warriors cannot use the weapons of the world.

• We cannot use physical force.
• We cannot use lawsuits.
• We cannot use mass protests.
• We cannot use political action or any other worldly means in our fight against the devil and the agencies he works through.

We can only use that sharp two-edged sword, the Word of God, in the might and power of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus has made it quite clear that He has not given His church a political kingdom here on this earth. However, in spite of that, there has been no shortage of Christians all too willing to create a political kingdom for God on earth. A move that has always, without exception, resulted in disaster for the church. Wolves in Sheep Clothing

Christian Warriors must be Bold in Meekness and Love

Matthew 10:16 Behold, I [Jesus] send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

Wolves have nothing to fear from sheep. Likewise warriors for Christ must be both wise and harmless, and yet at the same time both bold and relentless in presenting the gospel of Jesus Christ to a fallen world.

Let the world rage, let them be offended if that is the case. True Christianity can never be politically correct, and it will offend and enrage the wicked. But never cease to preach Christ Crucified. Never cease to warn those who are perishing in their sins of the danger they are in.

The Christian Warrior must Love Unconditionally

If you cannot genuinely love those you are seeking to warn, then you are not battle ready. What is Love?

Moses loved the wayward, rebellious Children of Israel so much that he would rather have his own name blotted out of God’s book of life than see them destroyed. (Exodus 32:32). The apostle Paul likewise could wish that he himself might be accursed if that, by any means, might work to the salvation of his fellow Jews. (Romans 9:3). The very Jews who were so relentlessly hounding his ever step and persecuting him. The Christian Martyr, Part 2

That is what real love, agape love, looks like. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends [or enemies]” (John 15:13). Those who do so are following in the footsteps of Jesus who died for us while we were yet sinners, even enemies of God. The Christian Martyr, Part 1

Romans 5:8, 10 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. … For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

As Christian Warriors we are God’s Watchmen

We are God’s Watchmen. As we see the enemy (the real enemy) advance we are to give clear and forceful warning to all who are in danger. This is God’s commission to us. Warn the World

Ezekiel 33:7-9 So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me. When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.