The Warfare Over Spiritual Warfare

Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay

There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. — C.S. Lewis, Preface, The Screwtape Letters

Hear, hear, C.S. Lewis!

Equal and opposite. Both in error.

Why do I believe the two are such hindrances to the body of Christ?

The first results in an intense struggle to change oneself, leading to physical and mental exhaustion without producing any lasting change.

The second? Excess energy expended shouting at demons at the cost of personal responsibility.

Both result in the enemy’s desire: no advance in the Kingdom of God.

For centuries, the Western world was most comfortable with all things logical. Anything supernatural was tied to the dark arts. Reaching into the spirit realm was considered evil, and anyone drawn toward the supernatural was rejected by society.

In recent decades, however, the supernatural has become fascinating and fashionable to the world, yet it is still rejected by much of the church.

The larger sector of the Western church, the more established in the realm of religion, may admit that “God is mysterious,” yet tries to explain how He works and why He does what He does. The unexplained is set aside.

Strange scriptures are stumbled over or ignored, and the Christian’s highest calling is considered to be a life of righteousness. The work of the Holy Spirit is thought to manifest solely in Jesus.

Another, the smaller yet more infamous sector, easily accepts the supernatural. They pray, “God, come down,” commanding angels to battle evil forces in the heavenlies to make way for change on the earth.

How I wish there were a meeting of the two!

I’m guessing most of you who study the Scriptures can quote this verse with me: “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds…” — 2 Corinthians 10:4, NKJV

Weapons? Warfare? What are we fighting?

What is spiritual warfare?

I looked it up on Wikipedia.

You laugh?

Wikipedia is an important source of information, not because it is scholarly or reliable, but because it is one of the ten most visited websites in the world. It could be the world’s greatest influencer.

It is the place people go when they are curious but don’t care to learn. In this instance, Wikipedia can shape what those outside the church believe about what goes on inside the church, and may even serve as a source of answers for those too busy to study their Bibles.

But Wikipedia does have its strong points. It is a composite of information, written in a neutral tone, and peer-reviewed by volunteers on both sides of the issue. Frankly, you have a better chance of getting the full picture of a thing than by asking advocates on either side.

Wikipedia’s article on spiritual warfare begins:

“Spiritual warfare is the Christian concept of fighting against the work of preternatural evil forces. It is based on the belief in evil spirits, or demons, that are said to intervene in human affairs in various ways.[1]”(Wikipedia contributors. “Spiritual warfare.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 23 Oct. 2024. Web. 30 Jan. 2025.)

Much of the rest of the article describes what “spiritual warfare” is considered to be in the minds of neo-charismatics, and what it is not in the minds of most others in the Western church.

First, Wikipedia mentions the common practice of prayer as spiritual warfare and lists practices of exorcism and deliverance, the laying on of hands, fasting with prayer, praise and worship, and anointing with oil.

It uses space covering in the spotlight or under the microscope: spiritual mapping and prayer walking in the battle against territorial spirits.

According to information gathered by Wikipedia volunteers, within the realm of traditional Protestantism, warfare against the demonic realm is largely rejected, considered to be in opposition to the spirit of the gospel.

Adherents to the doctrines developed between the 16th to the 19th centuries believe that Paul’s reference to warfare is not about a battle, or even a stand, against the demonic, but rather a metaphor for the Christian’s struggle against self in the affairs of this life, and that the strategies advocated and employed by neo-charismatics are eccentric and even dangerous, having no Scriptural or historical basis.

Neo-charismatics contend that these practices were demonstrated by Jesus and His disciples and addressed in the teachings of Paul.

So which is it?

Have the neo-charismatics gone too far? Does traditional Protestant doctrine dismiss some practices of the first-century church?

“I have noticed over the years that the topic of spiritual warfare is itself the subject of spiritual warfare. It is as though certain hidden forces would much rather we didn’t talk about it or that we swept it under the carpet.” (N.T. Wright, Paul for Everyone: The Prison Letters, Louisville: WJK, 2004, pp 72–73)

Near the end of Wikipedia’s article was a quote from Paul Hiebert, a graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary and considered a leading missiological anthropologist.

I wish I were a Wikipedia volunteer. I would put it in bolder, larger type.

“Hiebert speaks of the flaw of the excluded middle in the thinking of some evangelicals who have a cosmology of God in Heaven and humans on earth, but have ignored the “middle” realm of the angelic and demonic.” (Wikipedia contributors. “Spiritual warfare.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 23 Oct. 2024. Web. 30 Jan. 2025.)

The “excluded middle.”

God in heaven and humans on earth — but what is in between?

Who can ignore the angels we sing of on Christmas Eve? Were they here to teach us Christmas carols?

When Jesus and His disciples cast out demons, where did they go?

Wikipedia is a good source of general information, but what does the Bible say? How does the “His Kingdom come” and “His will be done”? Is it all Him? All us? Is Heaven rescuing Earth or are humans establishing the Kingdom?

Are you curious, but not satisfied with Wikipedia?

This volunteer’s advice?

To the neo-charismatics: study the Scriptures a little more, read those sensational books a little less.

To the traditionalists: stop skipping over those verses that seem a little weird, but ask the Holy Spirit for understanding.

I’m quite certain it’s all right there.

“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come.” (Jesus to His disciples, John 16:13, NIV)