The Spiritual War - How Do We Fight?
- Dave Ebert
- Jul 21, 2017
- 2 min read
"A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare."
Proverbs 15:1, NLT
I understand the heart and the desire to protest, to fight, to call attention to, and to stand against many of the issues in our legal system and in our legislative system. There are many things that are just plain wrong which are not only accepted, but encouraged.
From abortion to the marriage of homosexuals to the integration of trans-gendered, morally and ethically our society is sprinting away from God. With each company policy change, with each law amended, with each court case decided, we are seeing a growing swell of acceptance and encouragement of sin, immorality, and evil. The term love has been skewed in such a way, God is no longer love in the way American society defines it. We go headlong, swinging left and right, believing we are fighting the righteous fight, fueled by anger…anger which, when unchecked, becomes either the appearance of, if not in actuality, hate.
The enemy is so good at using our own momentum against us. What starts as righteous anger becomes hate. What is intended to defend God becomes something dishonoring of Him. What is intended to be a stance in faith quickly becomes the antithesis of faith in our loving God.
A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare. Proverbs 15:1, NLT
As men and women of God, we need to take this message to heart. We need to be “cunning as serpents” and “gentle as doves.”
This message is NOT to condemn, disparage, nor discourage those who are on the front lines in the legal and legislative battles in this country. I highly encourage any man, woman, or child of Faith to go out there, get involved in politics and in societal problems. It is far past time for men, women, and children of God to get involved and stand up for what is right in God’s eyes.
However, we must work in love, in wisdom, and seeking revelation from God in how to fight these battles. The real work is the fight to change hearts instead of laws. This effort must be done in and with love and grace.
We cannot hold the people of the world accountable to standards (the Bible) that they do not (yet) accept.
It is a war. Sometimes war is fought fiercely on a battle field with casualties strewn about. Sometimes, diplomacy and strength in principles win the day. The enemy, as well as the media and many in the non-believing world want us to continue to fight fiercely without concern for the casualties of war. The challenge is to find, through prayer, discernment, and wisdom, those opportunities to wage the war in diplomacy and strong principles.
Never sacrifice truth. Never sacrifice love. Stay strong. Rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit in this Spiritual War.
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