“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world” (I Pet. 5: 8, 9).

“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Eph. 6:11-13).

With all the recent controversies surrounding our two churches, I wanted to write my thoughts on the matter. People who are new to our church may get shaken up a bit, wondering why all the ruckus, why all the smoke when they don’t see the fire, since it is all pretty vague and coming from the outside. The best way I have found to explain it to them is that, as Christians, we are in a war. And the enemy fights back when you puncture into his territory.

Csaba and I could see this plainly happening on the mission field where God’s people puncture into enemy territory held for as long as anyone remembers, bringing light to it. But, the enemy doesn’t take it lightly when you punch into his territory. He fights back. If the normal means don’t work to stop the advance of light (frontal attack through sickness, trials, unrest, etc.), then there are other means that can work where the first failed.

If the enemy can’t stop the advance by attacking on the front lines, then sneaking around the back where the warriors aren’t facing to do battle can prove rather effective. Why? Because when you are facing out, you are not expecting an attack from behind. Attacks from behind are more sneaky and are done through the stirring up of discord and strife that are sown internally within the advancing group. If you get the warriors bickering with each other, and end up tearing each other down, they are not only weakened but distracted from doing battle outwardly. If this doesn’t stop the advance it will at least slow things down.

There is one more highly effective tactic that could knock out warriors from the advance and that is to trip up the most vulnerable amongst the group. If the warriors are so intent on facing outward to do battle that they neglect the internal more vulnerable center, then if this is attacked, the warriors have no other option than to pull out. Who are the most vulnerable members? The children. If they are tempted and fall away, this usually means that the parents must leave the mission field, which is to leave the present battle. To do battle is to do it on all fronts and that means to guard the front, the rear, and the center.

So, in view of the recent controversies that arose around our churches, with all the subsequent internet attacks, we began to recognize the war again, and the enemy’s tactics. Think about it for a moment. Where there is a highly effective ministry puncturing into enemy territory, it doesn’t take long before the enemy really fights back. If the enemy can’t find any dirt on our leaders, or if he can’t cow them into retreating by direct internet assaults, then the next tactic is to come around from behind and sow discord from within where we aren’t expecting to find it. If the enemy can get us to tear each other down, we will not be strong for the advance. If we don’t guard our children, then that will pull us out as well.

But, if we recognize what is going on, we won’t be so surprised when it happens, and we will guard all fronts and encourage each other to keep marching on for Christ, for the Lord will have the victory. We need to guard our hearts, and when the temptation to sin against our neighbor presents itself, or the occasion to be disgruntled with our church or leaders, let us recognize what is going on and get it right with God. Don’t be the reason why an advance is slowed down. We need to provide an environment that supports our champions fighting on the front lines by providing a haven within that is godly and filled with peace and love that can give them strength to fight on. And if something really needs changing from within, that can happen in the appropriate ways done in peace, grace and love, with the Holy Spirit causing growth and a deeper unity so that the whole body is built up in Christ to be strong to fight. Beware of the enemy’s tactics and see what is really going on.