Who Do We Fight?

Do you believe in political involvement? Do you believe in social action? Do you believe in taking responsibility for our nation, even the world? Do you believe in rolling up our sleeves and getting involved and being agents of positive change? Do you also believe that our greatest battle is a spiritual battle – not a political battle or even a social battle and we do our country a disservice when we neglect the spiritual battle at hand? Do you believe as I, all the above?

Did not the Apostle Paul explain to the believers in Ephesus that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places?” What? Organized cosmic powers of darkness? Demonic forces arrayed in heavenly places? Joking aside, are we, in all seriousness supposed to accept this? We ignore the spiritual realm to the peril of our own souls. That’s why Paul exhorted his readers to “take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” Are we not in a spiritual war?

In no way am I downplaying earthly realities one iota. I am not saying that we’re not fully responsible for our actions. We are, and we can no longer say, “The devil made me do it.” I am not saying that some Democratic policies are not categorically vile or that some Republicans are not suspect or that some of our government’s decisions are Au fait or well informed. And, I am absolutely not saying that instead of voting and petitioning and speaking up and taking stands we should just stay home and pray. I  am saying that we have focused way too much on natural things and not nearly enough on spiritual things. I am saying that we, Christian conservatives have put too much trust in Party politics. Our hope is in God's hands, and only He can bring about changes America and the West so desperately needs.