If you are a Christian, you should be pro-war. Jesus was pro-war, Paul was pro-war, and the Bible is very pro-war. For the record, I’m not talking about politics here. I’m talking about the true reality that often goes unregarded, things pertaining to our eternal destiny. Here’s why we should be “pro-war”:
1. Because you’re already involved in one; you can’t afford to be indifferent.
I Peter 2:11
Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.
The Bible is very clear that sin and sinful desires are still active forces that are vehemently opposing Christians. Paul says that there is a war between our flesh and God’s spirit and between our desires to sin and our desire to follow God. All this is going on in our lives everyday.
Galatians 5
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
Romans 7
21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.
Instead of passively ignoring sin and sinful desires, Paul tells us to go on the offensive; take them out!
Colossians 3
5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming.
2. Because your enemy will not be pacified.
Sometimes it is possible to avoid war by making concessions thereby appeasing our enemies and making peace. The problem with this, for the Christian that is, is that our only REAL enemies will not be pacified.
I Peter 5
8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
Ephesians 6
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For 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. 13 Therefore 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.
Our enemies are NOT people. People might be used by our enemies (1 John 5:19), but the devil and his demons are the ones who are our real enemies. The devil knows his time is short (Revelation 12:12), therefore he is seeking whom he may devour. He is relentless and will not be pacified. He must be crushed (Romans 16:20). That is the only answer.
3. The outcome of this war is a matter of life and death.
Do not misunderstand what I’m about to say. I fully believe the Bible teaches that we are saved (from sin’s penalty and power and brought into relationship with God) by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. BUT…there are some who will not wage war and will be devoured, who will go AWOL (so to speak) and will not be among God’s people on the day of judgment.
I Timothy 1
18 This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, 20 among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.
This verse can be confusing for a number of reasons, but this much is clear: Paul instructs Timothy to wage war/fight the good fight of faith because some of rejected the faith and are living as under Satan’s control (not foaming at the mouth, head-spinning and convulsing, but not living for God). There’s many reasons behind this type of thing, but perhaps the greatest reason, which is often the most subtle, is a confusion about our role.
II Timothy 2
1 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.
We are not a part of the kingdom of this world. We are part of the kingdom of God. We are not civilians. We are soldiers in the army of the Lord. We are not our own. We are bought at a price (the blood of Jesus Christ). THEREFORE, we must not live as though we are sight-seeing while here on earth. We are at war and should be fully aware of it.
