Spiritual Warfare in Politics: A Letter to My Daughter

Dear Sarah:

I'm glad that God has given you such strong disgust for the political corruption of Christianity. That shows your heart is in tune with God's heart.

He's said the Church will be pure and spotless when Jesus comes for us. So it's certain that God will cleanse American Christianity of all the political filth it's wallowed in for the last 40 years.

Until then, we'll be dealing with more and more un-Christian beliefs and attitudes, from Christian friends. I spend a lot of time pondering how to handle that.

I know you find that infuriating. Me too. The deep moral stupidity of political Christianity is more than just lack of wisdom: it's evil. You and I have exactly the right reaction to it: Christians should hate evil.

And Christians should not be taking evil's side. When they do, it shows they've forgotten the most important fact of Christian life: that we're in a spiritual war against evil.

In that context, I don't think we can just blow it off when the enemy throws his lies in our face from the mouths of Christian friends. In spiritual warfare we're commanded to fight against the enemy's attacks, not ignore them.

But I think it's important to remember that when the enemy uses Christians in his attacks, it's because he’s made them his captives. It makes me angry to hear Christians spouting his lies: but I think he's the one we have to be angry at, for taking our unwise friends prisoner to his lies.

There's a sense in which deceived people let themselves be deceived. Everyone makes a choice what they will believe, and everyone's responsible for the choices they make. That's just reality.

But it's also true that Christians deceived by the enemy's lies are in a sense victims of his lies. Our spiritual warfare is against the enemy and his lies: not against his victims. The most important attitude, for those of us who hate evil, is to be merciful to the victims of evil.

Like when the U.S. bombed Japan and Germany in the war, we have to be careful that our attacks don't hit our own people who are prisoners, while we are attacking the enemy. We want to set our prisoners free, not destroy them.

My experience (after trying a lot of other ways) is that scripture is the only right weapon. Scripture is Truth, and that's the only thing that destroys lies. Jesus also said that knowing the Truth is what sets people free (John 8:32).

Scripture is also God's wisdom. Holding wisdom up against the moral stupidity of "political Christianity," any honest person can see the difference. Any righteous person will choose the good.

(That’s not to deny there are people captured by the enemy who end up joining his side. I doubt anyone who chooses to set their heart against God can hear anything He says, so we have to expect they will reject what scripture says.

But that doesn't necessarily mean everyone who rejects the rebuke of scripture has joined the enemy side. Some people need to hear it a different way, or at some other time God determines, or from another messenger. Either way, God's got it. He can tell deceived hearts from hardened hearts better than we can.)

Fighting political Christianity with scripture also ensures that anyone who claims to be a Christian (whether they are or not) has to listen, and take it seriously. Christians who spout evil political lies can't just blow it off when scripture says they're going wrong. And that is what they do when they think (or pretend to think) that we are contradicting them with opposite political lies.

Scripture is also the right weapon because it addresses the real spiritual issues that underlie everything else. That's an advantage in current politics, where the underlying issue is often only an idiot's choice whether we're "for" or "against" some individual politician.

(Which is not even real politics. No individual politician is more important in themselves (even when they think so) than their political philosophy, or policies, or attitudes. Scripture addresses all of those, as real spiritual issues: but that's another letter.)

Praying against Hilary shows a person is captive to idiot-political thinking. But it shows even more a failure of spiritual thinking, if someone believes a prayer like that pleases God. Those are the two main deceptions by which “political Christianity” enslaves its followers. We attack both kinds of evil thinking when we come against them with what scriptures says.

The first scriptures that came to mind when you told me about the prayer against Hilary were the ones which say our war is not against flesh and blood. (Ephesians 6:12, and II Corinthians 10:3).

Hilary is flesh and blood. Praying against her as if she were the enemy (like Trump calling her "the devil" in a recent debate) is contrary to scripture. The best way we can attack people's unscriptural thinking is to remind them what scripture says. And if they can hear it, the Truth of scripture will set them free.

Get scripture thoroughly in your own thinking. It will protect you from being deceived: and it's exactly the right weapon ("...the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6:17) against the unscriptural teachings of “political Christianity,” such as the "flesh and blood enemy" teaching by which politicians have deceived so many Christians.

That teaching is a particularly powerful deception. It's always worked very well for politicians, so it’s certain they will continue to use it. Even after Hilary (or any other transitory politician) is off the scene, political manipulators will be using it to scare and mislead people (about Muslims, illegal immigrants, Communists, or some other "flesh and blood enemy"). You'll need those scriptures against it all your life, for spiritual warfare.

Those scriptures also keep our thinking in line with God's thinking: which is the point. II Corinthians 10:5 says the goal of spiritual warfare is "to take every thoughtt captive to the obedience of Christ" (my emphasis). That includes our own thoughts, as well as those by which the world (and many unwise Christians) are deceived.

The scripture in Ephesians 6 also tells us who the real enemy is: "...world-forces of ...darkness...spiritual forces of wickedness..." (v. 12). The simple way to recognize those is to measure every thought and attitude by the Spirit of Jesus. Jesus was humble: pride is the enemy. Jesus was obedient: rebelliousness is the enemy. Jesus is the Prince of Peace: violence is the enemy. Jesus is Love in Person: hatred is the enemy. Jesus said He IS "the Truth" (John 14:6). "The father of lies" (John 8:44) is the enemy.

That highlights another reason scripture is the strongest weapon that exists. Like Jesus Himself, scripture is Truth (John 17:17). Using scripture in spiritual warfare, we have Jesus' Own Spirit as our Protector, destroying the enemy.

It's a two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). We have to be truthful how we use Truth. If scripture says prayers against (flesh and blood) Hilary are wrong, it's just as unscriptural to pray against (flesh and blood) Trump. "God is no respecter of persons" (Acts 10:34), and shows no partiality (Romans 2:11).

But we should pray against those God says are the real enemies. Prayers that agree with scripture please God, because they agree with His Own Heart. We should pray that He will destroy pride, lies, violence, and hatred.

Flesh and blood people (including Christians) who choose to live by those evil thoughts and attitudes need to re-think (which is what "repent" means) their choice; they are standing with God's enemies, whom He will destroy. They are in danger. That's why we need to remind them what scripture says.

In the politicized "Christianity" that has corrupted the American Church, it's probable some who hear a prayer against pride, or lies, or violence and hatred, will take it as a political prayer. In the personalized deception politics has become, they might even consider it a prayer against their favorite candidate, and be angry.

But if we pray honestly (against the enemy forces of evil, and not against an individual), their anger doesn't matter.

People who think "pride," "lies," "hatred" and "violence" describes their candidate show that they know in their hearts that is their candidate's spirit. It's a good place to urge them to listen to what their own heart is telling them.

If they get mad that we call out pride, lies, etc., as the enemy in our prayers, good. The Spirit says in scripture that those are the enemy: if people can hear that, it shows they are still able to hear the Spirit. If they can still hear the Spirit, there is still hope they could repent of those evils.

It's made me very glad to see that God gave you a strong hatred for evil. You're right in step with His heart. These observations are my understanding of how we can best take part in God's destruction of His enemies.

Bless you !

love, Dad

This Is a Hopeful Time

As much as possible, I've stood back from this election. No one has time enough...nor is it fruitful...to be involved with the daily outrages against Truth, good manners, commonsense, and righteousness.

But it's impossible not to hear some of it anyway. And I hear that the Trump campaign seems to be self-destructing.

I hope it's so. A Trump presidency would be disastrous for our country. But if God has set His heart against America, it could be that He will yet make Trump President.

The American Church has certainly given God reason to set His heart against America. Most especially, prostituting itself to politicians.

But if, as it now appears, God has allowed that evil liaison to disintegrate, I can only be hopeful in the mercy He is extending to us. Hopeful that the people who are called by His name will re-examine themselves, and their beliefs.

The rise of Trump has made many (and not Christians only) question the democratic mechanism. I've certainly heard many people question how we ended up with him, indeed with two Presidential candidates, whom no one wants.

Perhaps Christians will also question the operative belief that their participation in our nation's politics makes politics better, more moral. It obviously has not.

Perhaps Christians will also re-think the false belief (vouchsafed to us by politicians for the last 40 years) that Christians are "conservatives."

Maybe some Christians will also re-examine their love of Reaganism's rebelliousness ("government is the problem"), arrogant nationalism, and "de-regulation" (of guns, environmental preservation, Wall Street's lawlessness, et al). Reaganism is hard-core ungodliness, and has had disastrous repercussions for our country.

It seems God has put the American Church in a dire situation which will force honest people will re-think ("repent") before Him all their beliefs that led them astray. It's another cause He has given us for renewed hope.

God is greatly merciful in offering the American Church this chance to repent. I have to believe...since He is no respecter of persons...that He gave the German Church a similar chance to repent their arrogance, disbelief, and nationalism after the disaster of World War I. I'm hopeful American Christians will be wise enough to learn from Germany's fate the wrath that follows from arrogant unrepentance.

Macro and Micro: Luke 6:41-45

I've been pleased lately to hear brothers and sisters speaking against, and praying against, the spirit of lawlessness in our country.

If God has shown me the deepest, most utterly grievous, sin He finds in America: and I'm certain He has: it is lawlessness. It is the spirit and attitude and idea and walk that we make our own choices, follow our own ways, and will violently resist any who tell us otherwise.

Lawlessness is itself the essential nature of sin itself, against which Jesus has conquered:

"All of us like sheep have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all
To fall on Him." (Isaiah 53:6)

I am pleased that other believers are also hearing God call out the spirit of lawlessness, and lead us in speaking and praying against it in His greatest power.

But my pleasure that the Church is hearing this most important word of God is dampened by the realization that our prayers against "lawlessness" are often only against street-riots. Dampened even more by realizing that many who pray against street lawlessness are themselves followers of the spiritual lawlessness of poltical deceivers, that "government is the problem."

Jesus' contrast of the moral "speck" and the moral "log" comes to mind. Perhaps the Church sees others' soulish street violence as greater sin than its own deep spirit of rebellion towards authority.

Jesus directed His moral aim against the greater sin, the determinative spirit in which we think and act. The "evil treasure" we store up in our hearts, from which we bring forth evil. The "bad" nature of the tree, which determinines what fruit it will produce.

God, forgive us our self-deception ! God, give us ears to hear. Give Your people spiritual eyes in which there are no logs, to see !

Amen

Election Predictions Absolutely Certain

There are a few predictions about this year's election (or any election) that we can make with absolute certainty.

There can be no question about the outcome of the election:

An unworthy and fallible person will become president. This is 100% certain.

The person who is elected will make some decisions harmful to America...and a few good decisions. That's been true of every president of every party in every election in American history. The best presidents have done the country some harm, and the worst have done some good (if only for self-serving reasons).

We can also be 100% certain about the election-process:

American citizens will vote for the candidate they "like."

The person God chooses will becomes president. This is absolutely certain.

God will give us a president in accordance with His heart toward America.

God will be gracious to those who love Him. God will be harsh toward those whose hearts rebel against Him. 100% certain.

Every American citizen will show where his heart is toward God when he votes, by who he "likes."

God will act toward America accordingly. 100% certain.

More About Truth

I'm fully convinced I know "the Truth." When Jesus said He IS "the Truth", I was fully convinced, once and for all.

But "unpacking" (as the current phrase is) what it means that Jesus IS the Truth has taken me 30-some years, and I'm nowhere near done yet.

One thing I think He meant by His identification is that "truth" is absolute and exclusive...as He is Himself.

An interesting passing comment in a book I was reading this week about the English language suddenly connected to Jesus' statement. In a section on the inconsistencies of our language, the author noted that we say "a lie," but "the truth."

It seems that even by the way we speak our language, we acknowledge that untruth manifests in multiple forms: but truth, only One.

Christians and Politics

For almost a Biblical generation of 40 years, Christians have been urged to participate in human political methods and purposes, on the premise that our involvement will effect moral change in the world’s evil system. We've been told that America can be made a "Christian" nation (the manipulators usually add "again") if Christians elect Christian leaders.

The hypocrisy of that idea was manifest from the start. The "Moral Majority," founded in 1979, used it the next year to make Christians' a political force instrumental in turning Jimmy Carter out of office.

The underlying premise too seems flawed, contrary to Christ’s warning against patching old fabrics with new, and His call to put new wine into new wineskins. (Matthew 9, Mark 2). Contrary as well to scripture’s teaching we not be “unequally yoked” with unbelievers, righteousness with unrighteousness, light with darkness (II Corinthians 6:14).

Do we witness righteousness when we ally ourselves with deceivers ? What contrast does the darkened world see in us, when our methods and purposes are those of its own evil system ? If the world sees no contrast, it sees no witness.

When we play the world’s game by the world’s rules, under the aegis of a worldly political faction, is the world wrong to see the Church as merely a sub-demographic voting-bloc of that faction…as the world does see us in America ?

Honest Journalism is "pro-truth"

I often listen to American Public Media's evening "Marketplace." I'm the last person who understands anything about the economy, it's ups, its downs, its quirks and dangers. That's why I listen. Host Kai Ryssdal is intelligent, straightforward, concise...after listening to Marketplace' stories, I feel like I've gained some insight into what "the market" does, and is doing, and why.

Kai gave a short commentary tonight. It's the best example of journalistic courage and integrity I've heard in years.

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A word about the unemployment rate and this election.

This weekend on CNN's Sunday show State of the Union, an interview between Jake Tapper and Donald Trump Jr. turned to the unemployment rate, about which Trump said: "These are artificial numbers, these are massaged to make the existing economy look good, to make this administration look good, when in fact, it's a total disaster."

To use as straightforward a word as possible, that's a lie.

Reasonable people can and do disagree about the health of the economy, and how to measure the labor market, but the idea that the Bureau of Labor Statistics manipulates the monthly unemployment report is without any basis in fact.

It's at best a fabrication and at worst, and most damaging, a malicious conspiracy theory.

Same thing goes, by the way, for the Republican nominee's claim that unemployment in this country is at 42 percent.

This isn't, to quote Jake Tapper, an anti-Trump position or a pro-Clinton position.

It is a pro-truth position.

Defending Trump

The head of Kentucky's Republican delegation, interviewed on NPR this morning about Donald Trump's acceptance speech, defended his candidate's outrageous assertions by saying, "I'm not convinced he actually believes all the things he says."

Yeah, Trump's defender sums him up pretty well.

Conservatives' murder hypocrisy

The faction that currently controls my state has made political theater of their contempt for national government. They've thumbed their nose at federal authority at every opportunity: environmental regulation, healthcare law, voter's rights, guns...especially guns. They extol guns as citizens' only protection from the "over-reach" of illegitimate governmental authority.

Opposing that authority ("Washington," as they call it) has been their faction's national pose as well. Opposing Washington has worked well for them, even when, as in the previous administration, they themselves held the power of the presidency, the House, and the Supreme Court in their control simultaneously.

I'm trying to think of the word that applies here. What do you call politicians who hate authority, and LOVE guns as defence against government, when they profess shock and grief at the murder of law-officers...murder by someone who thinks exactly as they do ?

Are they "oblivious" to the consequences of their political rhetoric...?

are they "disingenuous" in their principles...?

or is it just their hypocrisy showing again ?

Kudos to Ted Cruz

I've made no secret in previous posts of the fact I despise Ted Cruz.

Even in the sewer of Republican politics, there's probably no one sleazier, more blindly doctrinaire, more unctuous, more openly motivated by absolute personal ambition...and more hypocritically "Christian" in service of his ambitions.

But I'll give Ted Cruz kudos for his courage last night with his non-endorsement of Donald Trump, telling Republicans to "vote your conscience."

(Interesting that the delegates booing him, booed even while he closed with "God bless the United States of America:" surreal Republicans !)

Probably his appeal to "conscience" is wasted. Conscience is the first thing partisans abandon in order to follow their politics; followed closely by their honesty and their commonsense.

But Ted Cruz deserves credit for appealing, even if merely in service of his own personal ambition, to the moral sense of Republicans, calling them to consider if it's good...if not for America, then at least for their party's interests...that Donald Trump become President ?

What's amazing is that so many of America's "Evangelicals"...supposed moral leaders...fear speaking against the American Church' political correctness even as far as Ted Cruz does.