Week 2 – Who’s the real enemy?

Is it just me or does anyone else feel like our supposedly grown-up culture is just Middle-School-on-repeat these days? From the I-know-you-are-but-what-am-I hyper defensive mode of the people supposedly in charge, to the schoolyard nicknames thrown around in the news, we’ve become a people that feels entitled to judge, bully and cancel anyone we choose. This should make us all tremble in our boots for our own sakes because, I don’t know about you, but I’m as guilty as the people I judge. I’ve left a trail of mistakes behind me – Hansel and Gretel breadcrumbs of ugly words, rude actions and incriminating thoughts (oh, the thoughts…). And my personal trail of mistakes is not pretty. 

Now that’s not to say that there aren’t some downright gross things out in the world that deserve a good Jesus-inspired table flipping these days. And as followers of Jesus, we are absolutely called to throw open the doors to dark rooms and shine the big flashlight of God on evil things.

Ephesians 5:11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

But I feel like we’re missing the point most times. I think we got the names wrong. See, we have forgotten who’s behind all that scummy, crusty behavior we call out and so, instead of fighting the true author of evil – Satan and his spiritual cronies, we’ve decided to make people our enemies. But, as our scripture says, our struggle is not against flesh and blood, it’s against the spiritual forces of evil. Let me reiterate: The spiritual forces of evil. That’s who we should be fighting. 

People are not the real enemy, they’re just Satan wearing a combover and a tie. Satan wants us to think that it’s our fellow people, though. And every time we say we hate someone, every time we use divisive words, he’s there – in the corner of the room, rubbing his greasy little hands together, cackling his victory cackle. Satan loves it when we dole out shame, blame and hate for our fellow humans. After all, it takes our eyes off the real problem (him) and makes us sinful to boot. It’s a win-win for the Enemy.

But let’s get real, those people that we assume to be our enemies have simply fallen prey to the Evil One’s schemes. They have become his instruments. So the real question is, how do you fight evil in this world, then?  For that, we should do what should always do – go straight to the source of all truth and knowledge, God’s Word.

James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Submit yourselves to God….come near to God…  It almost sounds too easy, doesn’t it?  Shouldn’t we organize a march? Erect one of those big “God says…” billboards on the side of the interstate? Defriend someone? 

It may be that God asks us to do one of those things. But we won’t know if we don’t draw near to him, first.  After all, if we are his representatives in this world, we better make sure we really get him, and that we spend lots and lots of time with him. I sure wouldn’t want someone representing me who didn’t even bother getting to know me.

Here’s the thing. When we are living right square in the middle of that shimmery pool of God’s light, the world looks pretty different. His warm hand in ours urges us to love those who persecute us, to forgive those who have wronged us, to fight evil spiritual forces and love people. It melts our hateful resolve, our stabby thoughts and our bitter hearts like a pool of wax around a flickering wick. The Bible instructs us to love each other over and over and over. And it only instructs us to hate other people… zero times.

Matthew 5:44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Yes, absolutely God calls us to action and sometimes that action is dramatic and includes a megaphone. But first things first. Draw near to God. Rely on him to call the shots. Really heed and listen to his whispers, but be sure to lean in first or you’re going to miss every word.

Exodus 14:14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.