Seeing the Spiritual Battle

“And Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (2 Kings 6:17)

Have you ever felt that you were like this servant standing next to Elisha, unable to see the spiritual battle in the midst of life’s struggles? At times, we all lose sight of our spiritual lives and like the servant give way to fear. The fear piles up, causing our hearts to become hardened. We lose faith until we no longer consider the spiritual perspective at all.
Meanwhile there is emptiness in our lives. We feel lifeless and bored. We try to find excitement in many places but it doesn’t last long and the emptiness returns. These two things are linked together in the very fiber of our soul. We are meant to see the spiritual side of life and through seeing it, become full of excitement, full of life.

Part of that need for our spiritual side is the warrior inside all of us. God gave us the flight or flee response to avoid danger of all kinds. The adrenaline causes a physical response while deep within us it causes a spiritual response that awakens our soul. That burst of energy is part of our mortality, when we feel a rush of excitement it is accompanied by a connection with our own fate. The warrior in us is the controlling mechanism to that flee response, the warrior is the ‘fight’ response. Many mistakenly believe that warriors fight out of anger. This is incorrect. A true warrior, especially a Marine for God fights as a controlled response to danger. In short we do not run from fear we turn and stand our ground.

Many of us would rather avoid the spiritual implications of our inner warrior. Still we cannot escape the desire for challenge. We search out other venues for our warrior instincts. Sports, shopping (competitively finding the best deal), adventures, and success at work all seem to offer some sort of ethereal combat. The warrior is a spiritual part of us; hard-wired and irremovable. That inner warrior is only satisfied by fulfilling its true purpose. We are meant to fight. The problem is our perception of the fight. We have forgotten the answer to some basic questions: Where is the battle? Where is the battlefield? Who is my enemy? How do I fight?
Seeing the spiritual battle is seeing the world from a different perspective. Secular society does not believe in an enemy. From a secular point of view the forces of evil are something out of a Hollywood special effects shop. Therefore since there aren’t demons running rampant on the streets of town then there must not be an enemy nor a battle to fight. It is not that secular society is so drastically wrong, it is human nature to lose touch with the spiritual side. It is normal for us to become like the servant standing with Elisha, to lose hope and lose perspective.
The prophet Jeremiah dealt with a time in the history of Israel when the people had lost touch with the spiritual side of life. They wanted the spiritual leaders to pronounce that everything was “A-okay” which would allow them to remain spiritually uninvolved. God wrote to them through Jeremiah, “They (the priests) dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace.”(Jeremiah 6:14). Jesus also spoken on keeping the spiritual perspective. He said “O unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you?” (Matt 17:17, Mark 9:19, Luke 9:41).

Just because we are not fighting off the enemy with a sword in hand or blowing away evil aliens like some action video game doesn’t mean that the fight is not real and that we are not fighting every single moment of every single day. Too often we trivialize the day to day life. We walk around thinking that since our lives are routine that it should not be challenging. Are only firefighters and ultimate fighters faced with situations that push them to overcome? There is a lie in our brains that tells us that routine lives are not filled with challenge or excitement. This lie causes us to look elsewhere to fulfill that hard wired warrior instinct.

As a young man I watched lots of movies. I imagined myself as the hero. I dreamed that anyday soon I would be thrust into the situation where I would be called upon to save the day. Movie special effects make the dark forces of evil so easy to see. Demons and super-human terminators seem somehow much more tangible than Satan. The problem for me arose when I left the movie theater and simply saw the world around me at face value. I didn’t see a spiritual battle. There were only people working, playing, living and dying. It all seemed senseless, random and worthless. I consoled myself into believing that I really was a hero, it was just that there weren’t any demons to fight. I believed that if I ever saw the demons then somehow I would become that heroic character from the movie; ready to fight and prepared to conquer. I believed the lie that a routine life has no battle to fight; there is no need to act heroically.
Many people avoid seeing the evil of the world. If there isn’t a starving child on their doorstep then there must not be starvation in the world. If my friends are lonely they should call me. If my kids are in trouble they should tell me. We assume that we are good people with good intentions who seem to live in an area of the world that doesn’t need a hero.

The desire to become a hero ultimately lead to my enlistment in the Marines. Although there were a host of factors that prompted my decision, part of me just wanted to be a hero. I wanted to lay my life down for a cause. I felt that joining the Marines would fill that void in my heart that pulled me to be a part of something bigger than myself.

Unfortunately the Marines didn’t fully meet this need. I loved the camaraderie and the life lessons that I learned in the Marines but that same senseless and random feeling of life seemed to creep into my heart again. Life seemed routine again. In the safety of California I lost sight of how my daily activity of scraping rust off of a vehicle was heroically saving my country.
I have found the same feeling in my Christian life. I was once so motivated to read my bible and attend services. I felt inspired to be a hero. Slowly my motivation subsided to apathy. I became consumed by work and the physical needs of my family. My time with God grew shorter and my perspective on the spiritual world diminished.

This is why Jesus mentions the parable of the sower, (Matt 13, Mark 4, Luke 8). The fourth soil (the rocky path) represents the word of God that falls and is taken by, “the evil one.” (‘the devil’ in Luke and ‘Satan’ in Mark). Jesus was trying to help us to see the spiritual battle that rages around us. He wanted us to see that there is an evil force; Satan exists and Satan’s deception is not a frontal assault, it is more like terrorism. Satan sneaks in through the back door and deceives our minds into believing lies. The biggest and first lie that he needs us to fall for is that he does not exist and that there is no spiritual battle[1]. An ingenious plan since with no concept of battle, we will no longer be on our guard, practice discipline or train in righteousness when we feel that there is no battle. C.S. Lewis wrote an incredible account of the life of a demon in “The Screwtape Letters” In the book two demons exchange letters as they work to keep a man from becoming a Christian. The demons operate on stealth. They make every effort to remain hidden.
To be a Marine for God is to be an elite type of Christian. I called this site Marine for God because the United States has created a fighting force that is feared the world over. I asked myself, ‘Why does it seem that God lacks a group of Marine-like Christians, willing to strike fear in the demons of Satan’s armies?’ Why aren’t there more Chrisitians who like David, pursue enemies and overtake them until they cry for help (Psalm 18 paraphrased).

The Marines are sent into situations against tremendous odds and have often proven skeptics wrong. Battles in Chapultapec, Iwo Jima, Tarawa, the Inchon Landing, and Kuwait. Read more about them if you don’t understand the history of such battles, and the often unsurmountable odds that were overcome. The Marines have built the reputation for fierceness, courage and dependability in every place they have gone. The Marine’s Hymn, memorized by every Marine describes the attitude and pride of the Corps:

From the Halls of Montezuma to the Shores of Tripoli
We will fight our country’s battles in the air, on land and sea,
First to fight for right and freedom and to keep our honor clean,
We are proud to claim the title of United States Marine

Our flag’s unfurled to every breeze from dawn to setting sun.
We have fought in every climb and place where we could take a gun
From the snow of far off northern lands and in sunny tropic scenes
You will find us always on the job, The United States Marines

Here’s to health and to our Corps which we are proud to serve.
In many a strife we’ve fought for life and we’ve never lost our nerve.
If the Army and the Navy ever look on heaven’s scenes
They will find the streets are guarded by United States Marines

I love the imagery of this song. I am inspired every time I hear it. In fact it was the very last stanza that convinced me to seek out the truth about God. (If I wanted to guard the streets of heaven, I had better be sure that I am going to go to heaven!)

As a member of the Marines it is easy to keep the concept of combat at the forefront of your mind. Every waking moment there is awareness that in less than 24 hours you could be in the middle of a firefight. It is much easier to prepare for a fight if you clean a gun for work everyday. The Marines are called upon for missions all of the time; from rescuing American students in Grenada to leading a frontal assault in Kuwait. In fact the Marines are affectionately known as ‘the world’s 911 force.’ But what about us who desire to be known as spiritual Marines, Marines for God? Do you ever have a hard time seeing the spiritual battle that rages all around you? Do you believe that tomorrow you could very well be in a battle with Satan’s forces for your spiritual life or the lives of those you love? You have taken a stand against him by becoming a Christian. At all times and in all ways he is scheming to attack you. Peter puts it as, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour… (1 Peter 5:8)” Satan hates you and your decision to follow God.

In Ephesians 6:11, Paul encourages the church by use of the battlefield metaphor. He instructs them to “put on the full armor of God.” He then goes on to aptly describe the difference between the physical Marine and the Marine for God. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of the dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” We must understand that the principles of fighting a physical battle and a spiritual battle are similar but that the battlefield is different, the weapons are different and the tactics are different. Later chapters will describe our spiritual arsenal, training for war and effective strategy, for now let’s look more closely at the spiritual battle.

For too many people this life is only a waiting period; just a big line, passing time until we get into heaven. I have even heard some who claim to be Christians say that they don’t need to evangelize because the work of evangelism is done, everyone has the opportunity and now it is only a matter of waiting.

Compare this laxed attitude with Christ’s words, “No one knows about that day or hour…Be on guard! Be alert!... If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. ‘What I say to you I say to everyone: ‘Watch’’ (Mark 13:32-37).” He wasn’t joking about needing to be engaged in the spiritual mindset. We need to be ready, bring our ‘A’ game and get busy.
I often see a bumper sticker that I find witty but offensive and unfortunately true, “Jesus is coming…Look Busy”. Of course this sarcastic comment is meant to poke fun at us. Christians have an insatiable appetite for religious experience without the cost of commitment or real, lasting change. The secular world is not in awe of us. Collectively we are witless at best and hypocrites at our worst. Could you imagine a bumper sticker that poked fun and disrespected the Marine Corps? Why not? Why are the Marines respected and Christianity slandered?
Unfortunately the secular world is not wrong in its analysis.

The problem breaks down into two categories:

Those who claim that they are Chrisitans but do little more than attend a church once a week or less depending on the television sports schedule, weather or level of exhaustion.

The second group are those that are committed to a church and attend 2-3 times per week, are involved in activities and church functions but remain purely selfish about the idea of worship, their experience is for themselves and if the church was ever to do anything that upset them they would immediately remove their commitment and find a new church, or they remain in a church to which they are not wholeheartedly committed simply because they fear the social implications of leaving that church (“what would other people think of me”).

Neither of these is what Jesus wanted. The first he addresses with his condemnation of the church in Laodicea in the book of Revelations. The lukewarmness, the lack of commitment are worse than cursing God to his face. The second type of person allows the world to overwhelm them. They become like the first since they lose the fire in their spiritual life. Jesus said in Matt 11:12, “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.” Being a Marine for God is all about forcefully advancing God’s kingdom. God needs an army of committed disciples who will push the churches to change.

Are you not convinced? Consider the facts. 224 million or 85% of Americans consider themselves Christians. Now consider the moral problems of this country and their solutions.

*If every man that claims to be a Christian were to stop buying or viewing pornography, the pornography industry would collapse

*A person is more likely to get a divorce if they attend church despite the fact that they will maintain a pure relationship before marriage

*Would abortion clinics stay in business?

*Would the number one cause of death still be alcohol related automobile accidents?

* What about adultery, domestic violence or corporate scandal?

*Not to mention our social responsibilities like hunger, poverty, and elderly care?

This is not the body that Christ intended! This is the hypocrisy that he so adamantly fought against. We, like him must see this as the spiritual battle ground. When we see ourselves as ‘church attendees’, we are coddled by Satan to believing that our actions will not be judged at the last day. Meanwhile so many more people are disgusted by our hypocrisy that they will never become Christians.

This was why Jesus warns the church in Laodicea in Revelations 3, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were one or the other! So because you are lukewarm-neither hot or cold- I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.” But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked…” Lukewarmness is a plague that infects the saved with the deadly disease of hypocrisy. How can the above assessment of churches in America be any more accurate than to describe them as lukewarm! We are all condemned by this. Do you disagree with me?

Realize one thing, the hot and cold persons (those who are committed to God and those who are opposed to God) both realize that they are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. The only person that doesn’t realize it is the one who is lukewarm. Ask yourself if you are offended by the idea of being wretched? Get a grip, we are all sinners, no one deserves the gift of life that God has offered to us. That should motivate you since you have been graciously given the gift of life. Christians make mistakes and we sin but there shouldn’t be billion dollar pornography businesses built on our sin, nor should we face a lack of commitment in our marriages. An abortion clinic in nearly every town is not a result of secular immorality; it is a failure of Christians to uphold the values that they claim to believe.

You are called and there is no backing out now. Throughout the Bible there are calls to arms from God. He chooses individuals to step up and stand out. Are you freightened? You are not alone.

Consider Moses who said, “O, Lord, please send someone else to do it (Exodus 4:13). Gideon said, “But Lord.. How can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least of my family.(Judeges 6:15)” Jeremiah told God, “I do not know how to speak, I am only a child.(Jeremiah 1:6)” Ezekiel is called by God and spends 7 days in shock, “overwhelmed (Ezekiel 2:15)". One of the more famous cowardly moments of the Bible, “But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish…(Jonah 1:3)". Surely you are aware that this list doesn’t even scratch the surface of a list of Biblical examples of people who were called by God and were afraid. Fear is not a disqualifying characteristic for God to work through you! Nor does it give you excuse not to do the “good you ought to do (James 4:17).”

There is a problem in Christianity and obviously there are problems with the secular world as well. Jesus was correct, the people are harassed and helpless, we are like sheep without a Shepard (Matt 9:36). We need guidance and something that we can wholeheartedly get behind. We need something with the power to change our minds, hearts and lives. We need God and his word! Furthermore we need to realize that we are in the midst of spiritual battle, this battle needs people who can fight, who are trained in the art of handling spiritual weaponry. The harvest is plentiful and the workers are few (Matt 9:37). God, like the Marines is looking for a few good men!

[1] I blatantly steal this concept from C.S. Lewis. Both ‘Mere Christianity’ and ‘The Screwtape Letters’ describe the most deadly lie regarding the existence of Satan