“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those
who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of
the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory
of Christ, Who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves but Christ
Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. For God,
Who said [in Genesis 1:3], ‘Light shall shine out of darkness,’ is the
One Who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory
of God in the face of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:3-6).
I think we repeatedly forget the spiritual element to the
conflict the world has with Christ (their conflict with His Church is
secondary, John 15:18,19). Paul wasn’t exaggerating when he said, “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). I’m sure
Bible-believing Christians (the only kind of true Christian) believe Paul, but
there seems to be a disconnect between confessing belief in Ephesians 6:12 and
our discussions and emotional reactions to world events.
Opponents to the Church – her enemies – are blind slaves.
Their only hope is not our vitriol or sarcasm (no one’s ever been saved by
being told they were an idiot), but the Gospel and the Gospel alone. We must
become a praying people who rely on prayer as our primary armory. I’ve been
thinking of Daniel. I preached on Daniel in 2012 to remind our people of the
parallel reality between earthly conflicts and spiritual conflicts, and that
the Lord God is King and Sovereign over all. After hearing a discussion last
night about politics and national events, I wonder if it’s not time to revisit
the lessons of Daniel again. The conflicts between Babylon, the Persians and
Medes, and eventually the Greeks and Romans are all described in Daniel’s
visions, but also the parallel spiritual conflicts engaged by beings described
as “princes” (10:13,20,21; 12:1). Daniel’s response is an impressive devotion
to prayer (6:10; 9:3) and the Word (9:2). We could all use a little
soul-humbling fasting in this generation.
The conflict is a spiritual one, and therefore we are the
only humans with the knowledge and ability to engage in it. How? Before the 2
Corinthians 4:3-6 passage I quoted at the top, the apostle Paul gives us a
help: “Therefore, since we have this ministry [την διακονιαν, “service”],
as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, but we have renounced the things
hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of
God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience
in the sight of God” (2 Corinthians 4:1,2). Let me underline this point: we
are the only humans equipped with the knowledge and power to counter this
blindness. If we ignore it and attempt to engage in a baptized version of
worldly battle tactics (I speak metaphorically), the only effective means of
wrestling will be abandoned. Sitting in a prison cell awaiting execution many
decades later, we find that Paul hasn’t changed his mind on this topic: “...refuse
foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. The
Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach,
patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition,
if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,
and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil,
having been held captive by him to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:23-26).
I hear a lot of frustration from my fellow believers. I
understand it, but there is a creeping toward “losing heart” in their anger and
fear. Paul battles this tendency with a meditation on the service and great
mercy God has entrusted to believers. Then he purposes to not fall into the
techniques of the world (and worldly false churches): “...we have renounced
the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating
the word of God.” The sinful motivations of humanity (no different than the
desire to be God we inherited from our first parents in Genesis 3:5,6) are at
the root of all efforts to redefine, “free” (an illusion), etc. We must be
intentional in turning from this foundational sin motivating all human
“heart-following” and decision-making. We will not play their games on their
terms. We will consider what God has given us and walk in His character (as
revealed in the Scriptures alone) by the power of the Holy Spirit given to
those who believe in Jesus Christ. We submit to the Scriptures and do not twist
them to our agenda. God is observing us as we conduct ourselves in this arena.
After 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 (again, quoted at the top), where
Paul reveals the spiritual battle and spiritual blindness of our opponents, he
gives a key to remaining encouraged: “But we have this treasure in earthen
vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not
from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but
not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always
carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also
may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered
over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested
in our mortal flesh” (2 Corinthians 4:7-11). It’s not just Paul’s preaching
that is cross-centered (1 Corinthians 2:2), but his attitude – dare I say, his
feelings. He embraced opposition because he saw it as embracing the very cross
of Jesus Christ.
On the other side of the cross is the resurrection: “Therefore
we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man
is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for
us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at
the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things
which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal”
(2 Corinthians 4:16-18).
Meditate on the Gospel. I’ve said many times before that we
need to preach it to ourselves every day (every hour!) to fight tendencies to
self-righteousness and Pharisaism, but we also need the Gospel to know how to
react to opposition from the world. For the joy set before you, endure the
cross, despise the shame, for there is a place beyond all this futile game-play
where the true King reigns uncontested (Hebrews 12:2 – go on to read the rest
of the chapter for some great application!).
Besides, preaching the Gospel to yourself on a regular basis
will make it easier to preach to others. It is your greatest weapon (far
greater than legislation, polemical blog-writing, political rant-sessions, or
pic-posting on Facebook!). Proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.
“But having the same spirit of faith, according to what
is written [in Psalm 116:10a], ‘I believed, therefore I spoke,’ we also
believe, therefore we also speak, knowing that He Who raised the Lord Jesus
will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you. For all things are
for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people
may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God” (2
Corinthians 4:13-15).
The battle is spiritual. If we are to stand, we need God’s
armor (Ephesians 6:13-20), which culminates in the Bible and prayer (for God’s
help in proclaiming that Bible). Please, Church, don’t forget this, but get
deeper into it and show by your actions that you take this biblical truth
seriously! The goal is “the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.”
If our focus is on anything less than this, then we’ve lost the battle, no
matter what laws we might overturn or elections we might win. Windows open
toward Jerusalem
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