And I myself, Paul,
called on you through the meekness
and gentleness of Christ -- I, who indeed to
look upon
am lowly among you,
but being absent am bold toward you;
but I ask, not being present, that I may be
bold with the
confidence which I think to be daring against
some,
those having thought of us as walking
according to the flesh, for walking about in flesh, we do not war
according to flesh; for the weapons of our warfare are not
fleshly, but powerful to God in order to pull down strongholds;
pulling down imaginations and every high thing lifting up
its self
against the knowledge of God, and bringing
into captivity
every thought and to the obedience of Christ;
and having
readiness to avenge all disobedience,
whenever
your obedience is fulfilled.
2 Corinthians 10: 1 -- 6
It seems to be very apparent, that
when one stands for the truth, often the opposers are not those who claim to be
atheistic. Those with no feeling toward
God; rather, often, it is those who claim to be Christian. Paul had to face the opposers of his day,
those Christians who attempted to find fault not only with Paul and with what
he taught but attempted to defame him as not being a true Christian. Paul now has to speak for
himself, against those false apostles that had level their reproaches against
him. In the midst of these reproaches
and denunciations against him, Paul remained humble and mild. This is a great example for us, for when we
are also reproach for standing firm for the truth, those temptations that would
lead us away from the truth, we should be found to stand firm for the truth and
to help us to do this we can think about this example of Paul, and this by being humble and mild. Of course, as Christians, as one who holds
the love of God in our hearts, we will examine everything that is being taught
to us no matter whether it be Paul or any other church leader. This is our responsibility and we should
never avoid that responsibility.
Unfortunately, there are those calling themselves Christian and yet are
walking according to the flesh. I do
not mean here to say that they are doing such sins as adultery, or
homosexuality, or other such moral sins.
No, I'm speaking about those who are teaching false teaching and this
often for personal gain rather than for Jesus Christ our Savior. Paul tells about himself and again, for us
for he said that he does not war according to the flesh. We are not to war according to the
flesh. But before I move on I must
discuss this word "war" for especially in this day when the news is
filled with "war" we often think of military action but the Greek
word here does not necessarily should not be translated military action. The Greek word to use for war is:
στρατευόμεθα, and does speak to perform military duty work to serve as a
soldier but this is not how it is being used in this case or in other cases for
it also speaks of a spiritual warfare, to be spiritually militant and this can
be found in these verses: 1 Timothy 1:18; 2 Timothy 2:4; James 4: 1; 1 Peter 2:
11. There is no warrant in Scripture
for Christians to take active military action against those who would persecute
us for our battle is spiritual and not as the Islamic Muslim religion teaches
to kill infidels who are those who will not believe in their
religious/political system. Paul is
teaching us that we are not to take aggressive competition just to achieve a
particular goal for our battle is not fleshly it is spiritual. Am I saying that we are to be pacifist? No!
There is a need for Christians to uphold the justice of God and at times
when an enemy becomes aggressive towards us as citizens of the United States or
in other countries to overthrow our country our government then we have the
right to uphold the justice of God and defend our country we must even by military action defend this country. We do not do this just in the name of God
as do other religious organizations such as the Muslims, no we are as citizens of this nation, a free people and not one governed by the government telling us what religion we should be. And I speak, first, and foremost, for our
nation as this would stand also for other nations, to defend our Constitution
that was built upon men who believed in God and in justice. First and foremost, as Authentic Christians,
those who hold firm to the truth of the Bible and not to other men’s opinions
or speculations in regard to what the Bible says, we teach the Bible to defend
against those who would infect the church with fleshly ideologies and
philosophies and a worldview that is not of God. Our weapons, those weapons of our warfare are not fleshly. They are powerful and Paul ensures us that
this powerfulness is to God and this in order to pull down imaginations and
everything that holds itself above God's Word, those things that are against
the knowledge of God and the end of our warfare is to bring into captivity
every thought to be obedient to Jesus Christ.
These strongholds that Paul speaks of is being used metaphorically for
those things that men by mere human thinking and confidence is attempting to
impose upon others, especially Authentic Christians. We are to be ready to avenge those who opposes by harm, no, we
are to hold firm to the Word of God and teach the Word of God and allow
the Holy Spirit to call His children, or, to denounce those who are not His
children. Are you preparing for this
warfare by studying God's Word, by being in prayer, intercessory prayer, and
doing all you can for other brothers and sisters who are in need? Or are you just tacitly sitting by and by
doing so are in actuality a quasi-atheist?
Talk is cheap! Action is
needed! The call of God is for us to
take the gospel to the uttermost part of the world: Acts 2:8. That may mean for you your neighbors, your
family, and even your workers. What is
more important to you; to be successful in this life or to be successful as a
child of God? Only you can answer that
question.
O Jehovah, how my
adversaries have multiplied!
Many are the ones who rise against
me.
Many are saying of
my, soul, there is no salvation
for him and God. But You, O Jehovah,
all are a shield
around me; my glory and He
who lives up to my head. I cried to Jehovah
with my voice, and
He heard me out of His holy mountain.
Psalm 3: 1 -- 3
Leave behind all
apathy: live for God!
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