For Christians today, navigating the various interpretations of scripture can be a challenging task. One idea that’s gained momentum lately is the notion of “spiritual warfare” as a rallying cry for engaging in a culture war. The thought is that we must battle against those with whom we disagree on cultural and political matters. However, it’s crucial to scrutinize this interpretation in light of the teachings of the Apostle Paul. Paul never urged us to fight against people, even those we believe have power. Instead, we must understand that our actual struggle is against the evil and demonic forces that try to sidetrack us from caring for the most vulnerable members of society.
War! What is it Good For
As Christians, we must clearly understand what “spiritual warfare” means. Essentially, it refers to the battle between good and evil in the spiritual realm, which can manifest in various ways in the physical world. However, some Christians mistakenly view this as a battle against their cultural and political “enemies,” which goes against the teachings of Jesus.
This interpretation of spiritual warfare is problematic because it equates the fight against evil with a fight against people who have different opinions. This leads to a self-righteous attitude that is contrary to the teachings of Jesus. Instead, the Apostle Paul urges us to struggle against the evil forces that tempt us to ignore the needs of society’s most vulnerable members.
Paul recognized that the battle against evil is not a physical one but a spiritual one. As he says in Ephesians 6:12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
In other words, our battle is not against other people but against the spiritual forces that seek to distract us from our mission to care for others. This mission is at the heart of Jesus’s teachings. He frequently emphasized the importance of caring for the poor, the sick, and the marginalized. So let us focus our efforts on battling against the spiritual forces of evil and fulfilling our mission to care for others, just as Jesus taught us to do.
I’m on a Mission from God
As Christians, we must remember that our mission is to follow in Jesus’s footsteps, not engage in a culture war against other people. When we focus on fighting others, we become self-centered and self-righteous, losing sight of the love-driven service that Jesus taught. Jesus emphasizes in Mark 10:43-45 that to be great, we must serve all in the same way that He came to serve.
When we engage in a culture war, we put our will before the needs of others, which is the opposite of true Christianity. The reality is that we are committing a form of spiritual violence that is antithetical to the teachings of Jesus.
Instead, we must resist the temptation to engage in a culture war and direct our energy toward the battle against evil. We must recognize that our struggle is not against other people but against the spiritual forces of evil that distract us from caring for society’s most vulnerable members. We must resist self-centeredness and self-righteousness and strive to follow in Jesus’s footsteps by serving others with love.
Looking Like Jesus
If we genuinely desire to follow Jesus, it is essential to remember that interpreting “spiritual warfare” as a call to engage in a culture war against those who disagree with us is, at a minimum, misguided. Our real battle is against the forces of evil that distract us from caring for those whom Jesus identifies with. By resisting engagement in a culture war and focusing on loving and serving others, we come closer to resembling Jesus and honoring God.
Paul challenges us to fight the good fight of faith and finish the race set before us with our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2). As Christians, our ultimate goal is not to win an earthly battle but to see God’s will done on earth as it is in Heaven, as Jesus invited us to do.
