If I'm a Soldier, Where's the War?

Much popular 21^st century Christian preaching focuses on the blessings of God. Turn on your Christian television networks today and you’ll find an overwhelming abundance of smiling preachers promoting a Christianity that is safe, soft, easy and comfortable.

Their messages are of how to be blessed and the admonition to their listeners is to be “standing under the spout where the blessings come out!”

While they may use a Bible verse or a Bible story, their teaching is not what I would call biblical teaching. They aren’t teaching the Bible, they are using portions, ideas and topics found in the Bible and they leave false impressions in those who listen.

The goal of their Christianity is not to live a good life in the eyes of God, but to live the good life in the eyes of man. Hardship, trials, difficulties, persecution and martyrdom if ever mentioned are only in the lives of “others”. The focus on this teaching is on the listeners, not on God, the Kingdom of Christ, the body of Christ elsewhere or on the vast spiritual warfare in the spiritual realms around us that are impacting, influencing and altering our lives in this world.

Listeners and adherents to this kind of Christianity are only shown a one-sided faith, one that is self-centered and self-seeking. This is what Bob Sjogren and I call “cat theology” (see our previous book and/or seminar Cat and Dog Theology: Rethinking Our Relationship with Our Master). “Dog theology”, from that same book, carries a balanced outlook—it shows both sides of the coin, heads and tails, blessings and responsibility, safety and insecurity, ease and struggle, the physical world and the spiritual one.

In short, Cat and Dog Theology can be summed up with a joke about cats and dogs that helps us understand how we might relate to God. A dog might look at his master and say, “You feed me; you pet me; you shelter me; you love me. Hmmm, you must be god!” But a cat might look at his master and say, “You feed me; you pet me; you shelter me; you love me. Hmmm, I must be god!”

It has also been jokingly surmised, “Dogs have masters. Cats have staff.” And too many Christians say that God is their master, but they use Him more like staff—that is, their prayers are often little more than a “to-do” list for God.

Dogs, on the other hand, live for their master. Cats live for themselves. Dogs are focused on their master. Cats are focused on themselves. 

In “cat theology” spiritual warfare, if it is mentioned at all, is usually limited to personal occurrences or events, which limited or hindered their blessedness.

What is needed is an eye-opening understanding that the biblical view of the Christian life will involve real spiritual warfare. It’s more than a poetic title to describe difficult times in life; it’s more than something that happens to other people, to godly men and women of old; it’s more than something that only happens “over there” somewhere else in the world.

This article is written to lead you, the reader, to a whole view of what the Bible has to say about spiritual warfare in the times and places we live—in your life, where you live. It’s not make-believe; it’s not imaginary; it’s not poetic imagery—it’s as real as real can be. Jesus spoke about it, taught about it, and dealt with it. So did the apostles, the prophets, the kings, the Judges, the patriarchs, Moses and more—all the way back to Adam and Eve. Just because we don’t “see” it doesn’t mean it isn’t there. Just because we’ve had a gospel of prosperity doesn’t mean spiritual warfare isn’t surrounding us and involving us.  In fact, learning of how it works, how it affects us and how it involves us will answer a lot of questions for those who have encountered strife, tragedy and difficultly when they were expecting only safe, soft, easy and comfortable lifestyles.

So, let’s answer first questions first: If I’m a Soldier, Where’s the War?

It is amazing to me how many times we refer to “Christian soldiers”, not only in the Scriptures, but in our songs. For instance: “Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labor, and fellow soldier…” (Phil. 2:25), and,

“Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus, going on before!
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
Forward into battle, see His banner go!
Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus, going on before.”

Yet, typically, these references are not given much more credence by our minds than a mere poetic thought. However, this is not what the Scripture pictures for us. Rather, the Bible uses specific language that describes a REAL battle of mind, will and spirit.

Two important sections of Scripture will draw our attention, specifically, Ephesians 6 and 1 Peter 5, so let’s look at them now to see what conclusions we can draw from them.

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the ruler of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore, take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Eph. 6:10-11).

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion walks about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet. 5:8).

From these two short portions of Scripture we can draw four conclusions: 1) There is a battle going on. 2) You will either be strong or weak in that battle. 3) If you are to be strong, then you must be strong in the Lord. 4) There is a definite enemy—Satan.

However, important questions arise from such conclusions and must be dealt with in a credible way. Those questions come about like this: “If there is a God (and there is), and if He can do anything (and He can), then why does He allow Satan to pester, frustrate and tempt His people? Why doesn’t God just call ‘Time Out’ on the field and expel Satan?”

Over the next few issues, we’ll address these questions, beginning with “Discovering Purpose: Ours and Satan’s.”

Gerald Robison is co-founder of UnveilinGLORY a seminar and resource ministry dedicated to unveiling the glory of God in all areas of life and taking it to all peoples of the world.   UnveilinGLORY is best known for the book and seminar entitled, Cat and Dog Theology.  Gerald has pastored churches in the US, Australia, and Netherlands, and he continues lead national seminars for “Walk Thru the Bible” Ministries.