The War at our Door

²And the Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”

Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.” (Job 1)

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5)

We are at war. A spiritual war; a war not fought according to the laws and policies of governments and man.

³For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. ⁴The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. ⁵We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God. –2 Corinthians 10

¹²For 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. ¹³Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.   –Ephesians 6

The sooner Christians fully grasp that, and stop shying away from the “war language” so often used in the Bible, the sooner they face the fact that “turning the other cheek” is not a catch-all resolution for resolving all conflict, the better prepared they become to face Evil in whatever form it appears.

Edmund Burke said “All it takes for Evil to succeed is that good [people] do nothing.”

Christians need to stop being “tolerant” of sin and start speaking out against it. Speaking the truth in love means offending some people – it can’t be helped. However, there may come a time when it takes more than just speaking out. Sometimes it means taking action.

In other words, in some situations – like in war – there is no chance of turning the other cheek. At some point we must throw away the “perverted” sense of “tolerance” and “inclusiveness” and replace it with the truth that sin is never tolerated by God, nor should Christians tolerate it or in any way condone it or excuse it.

We do not have to accept sinful people into our lives just because they say so. We do not have to agree with, tolerate, condone, or allow sinful people into our lives or the lives of our families because it might look “intolerant” or “racist” or “privileged.”

³ But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; ⁴ neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. ⁵ For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. ⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. ⁷ Therefore do not be partakers with them.

⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light ⁹ (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), ¹⁰ finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. ¹¹ And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. -Ephesians 5

¹⁹Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, ²⁰idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, ²¹envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. –Galatians 5

And be warned: When we expose sin in people’s lives, they react with remorse or retaliation. If the Holy Spirit is at work in their lives, someone standing up to their sinfulness can be used of the Spirit to bring about confession and repentance.

But we should always confront sin and sinful actions. If ever that were true, it’s true today.

And yes, we should always share the Good News of Jesus Christ, crucified and resurrected, the fulfillment of the necessary sacrifice for the forgiveness of Sin, and the only Way of justification and reconciliation to God.

But we must also give warning: The day of the Lord is at hand; the only sin He cannot forgive is rejection of Him as Savior and Redeemer.

“…whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. ¹⁹This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. ²⁰Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. ²¹But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. –John 3

Prepare for battle. Fight the good fight. The War has come to our door.

Even so, come Lord Jesus!