How Different Our Weapons!

     I have been pondering much lately about why believers so often get drawn into using the enemy's weapons instead of those of the Kingdom of love. The sad result of this is seen in the world's perception of us. The average unbelieving person in America is more likely to think that the phrase "loving Christian" is a paradox whereas "angry Christian" is perfectly accurate. How on earth did that happen? And how is it that Jesus' desire that believers be known for their love is still waiting for fulfillment? I believe it's because we choose so often to use the wrong weapons when things or people come against us. So beginning today I want to start a series describing how to use God's weapons (love, kindness, joy, peace, etc.) rather than the world's (anger, force, coercion, shame, etc.). It will have to be a series, I think, because so many seem to be so confused about this area. And I am no expert, but I have learned a few things about kindness, peace, joy, etc., as weapons that I think I am to share with you.
     Maybe I should start this by sharing a deep conviction I have about how to do battle. I believe that any "weapon" I use that looks like the enemy's weapons or a mere human weapon is inadequate and actually counterproductive. For example, if I choose to "meet force with force" or allow anger to be what motivates me, I step into the enemy's territory, and I ensure my defeat because the enemy knows far more than I do about how to use things like anger, coercion, shame, etc. Furthermore, we are told clearly that anger never accomplishes righteousness (James 1:19-20). This is, of course, why Jesus told us to bless our enemies and to do good to those who persecute us: we confuse and conquer our enemy the devil only when we do the opposite of what he would expect! (And I love to confuse the adversary, as I am sure you do!).
     But wasn't Jesus angry? Yes, but He was angry for or on behalf of people, not at them! It is hugely important for us to get this! Far too often we read our own unloving attitudes into Jesus' actions when we read the Gospels. For example, have you ever really looked at Mark 3:5 and noticed that Jesus was angry not at the Pharisees but angry at the hardened conditions of their hearts that kept them from being who God called them to be? Do we really think that the One who said, "anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment" (Matthew 5:22) would violate His own teaching? My conviction is that even in reproaching the cities and Pharisees in the "woes sections" (Matthew 11:20-24, 23:13-39), Jesus did so not with fire in His eyes but with tears.
     What this means for me personally is two things: first, I try to live constantly in a place of deep peace (by living loved, trusting, listening, saturated and surrendered!) so that things won't anger me in the first place, and second, when I do get angry (which I do) I ask God to help me wait until He redirects my anger, transforming it from anger at someone to anger for someone. Yes, I could write a lot more about this--maybe later I will. For now, I need to go on to the first weapon in this series: Kindness.
      I have chosen "kindness" as the first one to discuss (and the only one for today) because kindness appears to be God's preferred method for bring change to people. Romans 2:4 says "the kindness of God leads you to repentance." (NASV). Kindness is such a rare and unusual experience for most people in today's world and so totally opposite the kingdom of darkness, that it's one of my favorite weapons (as it is for God). This is confirmed by the Apostle Paul as well, as he writes at the end of his life to his favorite son, Timothy: "And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will." (2 Timothy 2:24-26 NIV) Isn't this an amazing passage? I wonder what this would look like in our nation if we took this to heart? Perhaps the words "loving Christian" would replace the more typical thought of "angry Christian"!
     More next week. I close with once again underscoring the importance of living in peace in order to live this out. If you are not at peace within yourself, living with inner stillness (remembering that peace is a fruit of the Spirit), you will not only react more than you respond, you will also miss hearing God's strategy for the use of His weapons. Okay, enough for now!


Choosing different weapons...


Tom, one of Abba's little children