Some of you will remember that irreverent British situation comedy, Fawlty Towers, written by and starring, John Cleese and Connie Booth. Who can forget the hapless waiter Manuel! It was a very funny series with a mixture of stand up and slapstick comedy that aired from 1975 to 1979. It ran for just 12 episodes, much to the disappointment of many. It was often quite “in your face” comedy which, by today’s standards, was often politically incorrect. Some episodes would be cringeworthy viewing today. How sensitivities have changed – and that’s not an entirely bad thing, in my view.
Cleese’s character, Basil Fawlty, gave us many memorable one-liners, some of which have entered the vernacular in not only Britain but Australia, as well. One of these from Episode 6 is, “Don’t mention the war”. German guests had arrived at the hotel and were trying to order their meals. Fawlty warns the staff, “They’re Germans; don’t mention the war!” But Fawlty has suffered a concussion the day before, and, as he waits on his guests, he is oblivious to the offence he is causing by his many Freudian slips – about the war. He constantly mocks his guest making all manner of rude comments about World War 2, Hitler and so on. He succeeds in humiliating his guests, reducing one to tears. Finally, he performs his exaggerated goose-stepping routine in and out of the dining room.
The line, “Don’t mention the war” became an idiom in Britain and Australia which is code for “Don’t speak about things that could cause an argument or tension”.
There is another war that Christians rarely mention or, if they do, it is often in hushed tones and with some degree of uncertainty; or, when it is discussed it is often mischaracterised or misunderstood. I was speaking with another pastor just this week who mentioned that one of his leaders was under significant spiritual attack and had been for some months. I listened intently to what was happening to this person and asked the question: “How do you know that this is spiritual attack, or spiritual warfare?” The pastor paused to think. “I don’t know. I just assumed it was.” We got discussing the nature of spiritual warfare and what was happening in this particular situation, and it soon became clear that this was not really a case of spiritual attack, at all. This person concerned had made some unwise choices that had moved himself out from under God’s grace and protection. He had chosen a sinful course of action, which exposed themselves and their marriage to curse. Now, yes, that invites spiritual attack, or demonic exploitation, or course. But it was definitely not a considered spiritual attack on this person for no apparent reason.
There is always cause and effect in the spiritual realm, just as physics in the natural realm is based on cause and effect, and Satan is the perennial opportunist.
Because we believers don’t talk much about the spiritual war that is raging 24/7 – we tend to ignore or avoid sensible discussion about it – and we can end up concluding that every bad thing that ever happens to us, is the result of some unwarranted spiritual attack. This is not necessarily true, and is often an exercise in self-deception. Yes, our enemy is always trying to attack believers because, in our baptism, we have identified ourselves with Christ and have chosen a side. Satan has therefore declared war on us – and although a state of war has been declared, that does not mean everything bad that happens to us is spiritual attack. Sometimes, with no help from anyone else, we do dumb things that invite attack from the enemy. We make ourselves vulnerable and exploitable because of sinful choices. What was it the apostle Peter warned about?
1 Peter 5:8 (NIV) “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
The enemy is looking for opportunities. In other words, don’t expose yourself to attack. The apostle Paul said a similar kind of thing:
Ephesians 4:27 (NIV) “… and do not give the devil a foothold.”
There are, of course, occasions where we do come under targeted spiritual attack from the enemy when we have not given him any foothold – we are just engaged in the work of Jesus, and the enemy is resisting or counterattacking. That’s the Church taking the battle to the enemy. Sometimes that resistance is offensive in nature rather than defensive, as the enemy tries to derail or distract the Church in its mission. So, two basic categories of the everyday spiritual war:
(1) When we invite attack by how we live, and
(2) When the enemy does attack offensively to stop the work of God at many different levels.
These distinctions are important. Many Christians are quick to attribute their difficult situation to spiritual attack when this is just not true (and sometimes we are actually undergoing a test of our faith). In doing so, we avoid taking responsibility for our behaviours and choices. Satan cannot willy-nilly assault a Christian and overpower them. But Christians often lead with their chin, to use boxing parlance, and then wonder why the get thumped.
So, let’s talk about the war.
It is real, yes, but we have to have a sober take on it all. The apostle Paul described the nature of the war graphically in his letter to the Ephesian church and then provided some wisdom so that we can engage in the war – and win.
Ephesians 6:10-13 (NIV)
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. 11 Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”
Paul goes on to explain the pieces of armour by which we prepare for the warfare, and having clad ourselves properly with them, we take our stand confidently, knowing that our victory is a forgone conclusion. So, when Christians moan and groan that they’re under spiritual attack and they’re having a rotten time and that it’s all terrible, and there’s nothing they can do about it- that is complete nonsense. The war is real. We need to properly understand it, prepare for it, and fight it – defensively and offensively. We are assured that we will prevail every single time.
We were never meant to lose a battle in this war!
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NIV)
“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.
4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
This describes the nature of how we fight in this war. The battleground is our mind. Each battle is won and lost right there. So, let’s talk sensibly about the war and not mischaracterise it so that we deceive ourselves, and in doing so, lose each time. Let’s own our own stuff, deal with it, suit up with the armour of God, and confidently take our stand. Don’t do dumb stuff that invites the enemy to clobber you – and then moan about it. That’s not warfare; that’s irresponsible. And pathetic.
Sorry for the rant.
Ps. Milton