The Other Side of Spiritual Warfare

Spiritual Warfare – what a topic. Rarely in my life have I ever seen something minimized and exagerated all at the same time. I’ve been in meetings where people were calling foul spirits forth to manifest themselves. For some reason, it’s imperative to know a demon’s name before you can cast it out - possibly for recounting the tale later to your friends? You might also want to make sure you yell very loudly since demons can’t hear very well. Oh yeah, and then there’s the new trend: spiritual mapping and prayer walking. I’ve been on a prayer walk in an inner city where the people were interested in what we had to say…but we were too busy – you guessed it – WALKING! That’s kind of like praise and worship songs that “call the nations” - there’s little actual evangelism occuring, just people singing about it. I’ve even recited warfare prayers and read Peretti’s This Present Darkness.

Though I seem like I’m making light of spiritual warfare, make no mistake: demons are real and a belief in them and their ability to affect this world order is absolutely biblical. There are plenty of earthy maladies that have the demonic at their root. People who dismiss demonic activity as part of a supersitious culture of days gone by do not take the Bible seriously. And I do – I have a high view of scripture. But I also think there is something to be said for giving the demonic too much authority. You can see this everywhere. On a popular level, we see it in anointing all the doorposts of a newly purchased home to ward off spirits or in attributing all mental illness to demonic possession. I see it most often when people come to me concerned about whether or not a Christian can be possessed by a demon. Invariably the next question is, “Do you think I have one?” Academically, “warfare theodicy” adherents answer an inordinate amount of questions about the existence of evil with the demonic – so much so that they occasionally will choose demonic activity when another explanation is just as feasible. There’s a whole lot I like about that theological viewpoint, but that’s not one of them.

Do I believe in the efficacy of spiritual warfare and intercessory prayer? You better believe it. But I think people miss the most important point when discussing the demonic. And that is the Christian’s present state of authority over demons. I heard Bible teacher Malcolm Smith put it this way one time and the illustration stuck with me. Once he came upon a group of elephants stampeding in the African bush. He dropped to the ground and hid under something praying that he would not be stepped on and crushed. He said it was one of the scariest moments of his life. He was visiting a zoo several months later and passed by the elephant exhibit, not the least bit intimidated by the elephants a few feet away from him. What was the difference? The authority of the elephant.

Most Christians I know treat demons like they have some unstoppable power that can render the best Christian helpless. I don’t think that’s an appropriate view. Check out Colossians 2. Demons aren’t runnning free destroying all in their way. They are like the animals at the zoo – confined and caged. Now, if you go stick your head in the lion’s cage, something’s bound to happen. But for the most part, demonic activity should not be the first explanation you think of. It’s always a good idea to look at the ministry of Jesus in determining how to deal with demons. He encountered demonic activity, but he didn’t go looking for it. Demonic manifestations usually occured while he was preaching or when he inadvertently came upon a demonized person. Then, and only then, did he rebuke the demons. And honestly, there wasn’t much fuss involved. Just a firm authoritative word and immediate results. In fact, he even told the demons to be quiet – not recite their past history. People who have authority over the demons don’t have to yell at them. That’s actually a sign of insecurity. Our attention and focus whould center upon Jesus Christ. People aware of the triumph of Christ over the demonic are more concerned with creating a deeper more intimate love walk with the Father. For those deeply invested in the “divine dance,” wrapped in the presence of the Holy Spirit, demonic activity is the last thing on their mind. When it is encountered it should be dealt with quickly and seen for what it is: merely a momentary obstacle to the advancement of the Kingdom of God.