“Armed and Dangerous”
Ephesians 6:10-20
Kung Fu Clergy. Martial Arts Ministry. If you think these are cute oxymorons, think again. More karate clergy are cinching their black belts than ever, chopping for Christ, kicking, blocking, flipping and punching their way into churches everywhere. Many of them, now in their 40s, watched the early 1970s television series, Kung Fu, about a half-American Sholin priest, hiding out in the American Wild West, righting wrongs by defending the weak – only after showing considerable self-restraint.
At tiny Emmanuel Baptist Church in Montana, the Rev. Kent Haralson, who started teaching karate kicks on the lawn two years ago, has since baptized 24 of his karate students, and attendance at Sunday services has doubled to 130. Some people just take clergy more seriously if we aren’t in the “Jesus meek and Jesus mild” category. No more sniveling, pantywaist, milquetoast, momma’s-boy clergyguys who get sand kicked up into their faces. We’re talking martial –arts – MINISTRY!
((PUNCTUATE THE WORD “MINISTRY” WITH A FURIOUS KARATE CHOP TO THREE OR FOUR BOARDS SET ON CINDER BLOCKS. DON’T WORRY – THEY’LL BE SAWN IN TWO AND THEN GLUED TOGETHER!))
Is that what the apostle Paul had in mind when he listed the weapons at a Christian’s disposal in today’s text? Probably not. Paul was writing when the Roman military industrial complex was at the peak of its glory and to a people who understood the technological superiority of the tools and training of the Roman soldiers. He used examples of Roman war weapons because these military tools were familiar the world over, and because such imagery carried real power.
His point is clear: Christians are in a war, but it’s not a war against a flesh and blood enemy; therefore, the weapons of choice are not material but spiritual. Figurative swords, helmets, shields and the like are needed in order to stand firm.
Here’s the difficulty for today: we don’t live in first-century Rome. The political culture today is not receptive to military images as appropriate for Christian slogans and evangelism. That’s why it’s so easy for us to miss the apostle’s central message, which is so important for us: The Christian life is all about staying alert, standing firm and proclaiming the gospel of peace.
In attempt to de-emphasize what seems to be inappropriate language with which we are uncomfortable many Christians ignore the battle-like imagery of this passage. We’re uncomfortable with war and we would rather leave this passage alone. We wish Paul had used a different metaphor, perhaps drawn upon the agrarian culture of his day: “Pick up the hoe of the Spirit, don the straw hat of salvation, hold up your trousers with the suspenders of truth, and pull on the barn coat of righteousness.” But he didn’t.
Paul chose to suggest for us an imagery of weapons; tools at our disposal allowing us to not only stand firm but to spread the gospel of peace. And here’s the truth, whether we want to recognize it or not: we’re in a battle. When we choose Jesus Christ, we’re not choosing the easy path in life. Our foes are worse than any of those in human battles: we’re battling “spiritual forces of evil”. Our foe is strong. But here’s the encouraging thing: there is no greater protection in this conflict than “the whole armor of God” that Paul speaks about.
Before we go any further I want to caution you of two extremes - First of all let me say this: don’t give the enemy too much credit. Many churches have a tendency to glorify the enemy, and give him more credit than he deserves. There’s an old fashioned phrase which I used to hear growing up which is fairly simplistic and yet pretty powerful. It goes like this: I’ve read the back of the book and Christ wins! When Jesus Christ rose from the dead he won the victory for us. And while we’re constantly fighting a battle we have the promise of a power at our disposal that is greater than that of our enemies.
But let me also say, be careful that you don’t give the enemy enough credit. The Devil is a powerful force to be reckoned with. And sometimes we fail to recognize that power.
There are two paths that a person who becomes a Christian can take: the easy way and the difficult way; the artificial and the genuine; the lie or the truth. And the battle that Paul talks about here in this text is the battle which goes on in the lives of those who have chosen the difficult path. The genuine path. The truth.
If you choose to search for holiness, to truly follow Christ, to live a Christ-like life you will become a dangerous opponent of the devil. On the other hand, if you simply go through the motions, come to church, pay your tithe, and give your nod-to-God then the enemy will be perfectly comfortable with who you are. Why? Because you’re not a threat. Christians who are not diligently following Christ present no risk to the enemy. They won’t do any harm, and so why bother them? Let them feel comfortable with themselves, they’re better off to the enemy staying like that. The enemy doesn’t want you to grow. He doesn’t want you to take up your cross and follow Christ, because if you do you’re going to cause him trouble.
First of all, ask yourself what kind of Christian are you? Are you comfortable and without difficulty? Are you free from attack? Then chances are you’re not doing much for Christ. You’re not threatening the enemy.
But if you’re out there on the frontlines of the battlefield fighting against the evils of our culture, against the violence committed by our children. Against the abuse that is suffered in families, against the lack of moral values – then you’re going to be attacked. The enemy will work overtime to find your weakness and attack you time and time again.
I want to ask you five questions and give you the opportunity to examine your heart and determine whether or not you’re acting as a soldier for Christ.
1) Do you really want to fight the enemy at all? Are you sincere about this spiritual warfare? You’ve got to be honest. Truthfulness is the basic quality which is needed in a soldier. That’s why Paul first of all instructs us to fasten the belt of truth around our waist. In physical warfare, the belt was fastened around the short tunic worn by the soldier and his limbs were then braced for action. The belt was essential. It was basic. Before you can even think about going to battle you must have a sincere mind and heart. Do you remember in the book of Judges when Gideon said to the army “Whoever is fearful and trembling go home.” More than two-thirds of the army went home! There is no room in this spiritual battle of which we are a part for those who are pretending. Sincerity is a mighty weapon.
2) Are you living the kind of life that enables you to engage in this conflict? In Paul’s words, have you put on the “breastplate of righteousness?” In physical warfare the breastplate covered the body from neck to thighs. We must put on righteousness that covers our lives. We have been called to live holy lives. When our lives are holy this righteousness can serve both as a means of defense from Satan’s accusations and a means of offense, for the testimony of our lips will be powerful because it will be consistent with the testimony of our actions.
3) Are you prepared to fight? Paul instructs us to put on whatever shoes will make us ready to proclaim the gospel. We must be mobile. Roman soldiers wore shoes studded with sharp nails which allowed them to walk over all kinds of roads and to stand firm even when attacked. Proper foot wear spells readiness. Are you ready?
4) Are you able to defend yourself against Satan’s attack? Two of the most important weapons of defense are the shield which protects the heart, lungs, and other vital organs and the helmet which protects the head. The shield that Paul refers to measured four feet in length by two and one-half feet in breadth and was oblong in shape and covered with leather. It protected the solider from enemy-arrows that were set on fire before being launched. When these arrows would collide with the shield their points would be blunted and their flames extinguished. The shield of faith that Paul speaks of will allow us to extinguish any fiery arrow that the enemy sends our direction. We must have faith. Do you remember Jesus’ words to several of those he healed? “Your faith has made you well.” We must have faith above all else. When life presents us with struggles and we are attacked by the evil one, our faith in God can shield us from those attacks.
But our protection also comes from our helmet, which in Paul’s words refers to salvation. We must accept this gift in order to go into battle. Without it we will easily loose the fight.
5) The last question I want you to ask yourself is this: Have you learned the art of offensive warfare? Most of the weapons that Paul speaks of are seemingly defensive in nature. But we’re in a battle, and not only are we to defend ourselves but we must be on the offense as well. Paul says to take “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Do you remember the weapon Jesus used against Satan when he was tempted in the wilderness? It was the Word of God. He answered every word of the Devil by an appeal to the written Word of God!
We as Christians are to hide that word in our hearts because the book of Hebrews tells us that it is “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” God is alive and speaks through this Word. Are you in that word daily and are you living by it? It will be your most important weapon in the battles you encounter in life.
I know that you encounter battles on a daily basis, because I do as well. The question is, are you having victory? Maybe you’re not prepared for battle. Maybe it’s time you spend some time in prayer before God and ask for the Holy Spirit to fill your life and begin to transform you from the inside out. Ask God to clothe you in the armor which will enable you to fight your battles.
And once you begin fighting your personal battles then it’s time as a church to stand up and join together in battle against the things in our culture which we know are wrong. We must unite and do more than passively stand “firm”. It’s not enough for us to just be holy. We have to present to the world a living, three-dimensional vision of Christ! They must see Christ-in-you!
It’s time to get a kick out of Jesus! ((CONCLUDE WITH ANOTHER BLOW ANT THE BOARDS USING YOUR FOREHEAD AND BOW AND SAY “AMEN”.))
