The Real Problem

Sometimes we get angry at what is happening around us. Bad things happen all the time. Always there are people involved. Sometimes they are nameless and faceless, but human hands are so often responsible for the evil goings on around us. People say things. People do things. We look on, sometimes helpless and often livid at the injustices that we see.

It is a horrible historical fact that Christians have gotten angry. Many times, as a result of misplaced anger, Christians have become part of the problem. Whether its Catholics and Protestants hurting and killing each other in Ireland, or the bloody Crusades, or a bitter feud in a small church community in a remote country town, often righteous anger gives way to injustice and unrighteousness acts. It’s okay to be angry, but the question is what we should do with the holy rage that rightly grips us at times.

The key is to look beyond the physical manifestations of evil, and see what is happening in the spiritual realm.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:12

The evil in our world, in our communities, in our families, and in our churches and workplaces is a spiritual problem with a spiritual source. We battle against the cause and not the symptoms of this planet’s disease. We battle not against John and Harry and Sally and Kurt, even though they appear to be the problem. No we don’t battle against flesh and blood. We have no fight, anytime, anywhere with any person. We need to stop right now and sheath our tongue, our fists, our ballot paper, and our pen; if we are using them to fight a fight against flesh and blood.

For two long we have wasted our energy in a futile fight against people. The invisible enemies smirk at us as we lash out against our brothers, sisters, friends and neighbours. When we do that we are doing their work for them and they are let off the hook. Satan is the Destroyer. We look at the destruction around us and we respond emotionally. Satan is also the Accuser. He tempts people and uses them to hurt and destroy. And then he steps back and points the finger at them. He accuses them and we buy it. We blame the flesh and blood people that Satan accuses and we strike out. We want justice, but we punish the accomplice, and not the mastermind behind it all.

Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer.

2 Corinthians 5:16

We have been used. That makes me angry too! We are vulnerable because there is a whole lot going on spiritually and it’s not tangible. We can’t see it, hear it or touch it with our hands. We need faith to see the invisible. We need to learn to fight against spiritual foes. In Christ we are empowered to fight the real enemy and by his authority and in his name we will conquer. Our victory is sure. We will not be driven by hate. We will be compelled by love. We are not part of the World. We are part of the kingdom of light. The battle against flesh and blood is futile. The injustice will continue and we contribute to the problem. Through spiritual means we can make a real difference…

for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.

2 Corinthians 10:4

We are well equipped for victory. Let’s face the real enemy, and have mercy on their miserable pawns; broken people, oppressed and hurting. Heaven knows what kind of a revolution is possible if we will take up those spiritual weapons and strike out against the real problem.