Fighting the forces of Darkness

Freedom of Religion is under attack - The Equality Act

Explanation: The House has already passed the bill known as the Equality Act. While it has not been voted on by the Senate, the bill has ominous consequences to Religious Liberty. The Equality Act is an amendment to the 1964 Civil Rights Act which adds a protected status to those who identify as LBGTQ.

While Christians are called to treat all people with dignity and respect as fellow image-bearers, we are not called on to accept unbiblical and unhealthy lifestyles. The Equality Act goes far beyond making sure that homosexuals are not turned away at restaurants because of their sexual identity. This legislation is a move to silence and outlaw any Christian witness which would call this lifestyle sinful.

While many on the left are accusing Christians of over-reacting, there are several political leaders who are endorsing the passage of this legislation and they are declaring it will put an end to what they call “faith-based” discrimination.

In plain talk this means that Christian Schools and seminaries that hire only those who adhere to a Christian statement of faith would be targets of discrimination lawsuits. Some claim the passage of the legislation would end the tax free status of the Christian Churches.

Support for opposing the Equality Act:

As Andrew T. Walker wrote in an article for TGC, “The bill represents the most invasive threat to religious liberty ever proposed in America. Given that it touches areas of education, public accommodation, employment, and federal funding, were it to pass, its sweeping effects on religious liberty, free speech, and freedom of conscience would be both historic and also chilling.”

“Virtually no area of American life would emerge unscathed from the Equality Act’s reach,” Walker adds. “No less significant would be the long-term effects of how the law would shape the moral imagination of future generations.”

Twenty-four states have similar laws and the consequences for residents of those states have been disastrous, says Monica Burke, research assistant in the DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society at The Heritage Foundation. “These policies are not being used to promote equality,” Burke says. “Instead, they are being used as a blunt-force weapon to ban disagreement on marriage and sexuality by punishing dissenters.” (“The FAQs: What Christians Should Know About the Equality Act” by Joe Carter, April 27, 2019, thegospelcoalition.org, accessed on 10/16/19)

Christians are called to engage in spiritual warfare against the forces of darkness

Explanation: Believers are called to combat the forces of darkness. Our mandate is to be engaged in spiritual warfare. We are not called to sit on the sidelines hoping that Jesus is going to rapture us out before it gets to bad. We are not to hunker down in our holy huddles and simply moan about how bad things are in the world.

Paul calls each believer to “wage war” from an offensive, not defensive posture - we have been given “divine power to destroy strongholds.” This verse does speak to the individual Christian gaining victory in his or her life over specific points of weakness, but it also addresses the Church as a whole. This letter is addressed to the body of Christ, and is applicable in every generation as a call to arms to oppose the darkness.

This letter is addressed to the body of Christ, and is applicable in every generation.

Equally important is the method and manner in which this warfare is carried out. Paul is careful to state that we are not to “wage war according to the flesh.” This means that Believers are not to use the same tactics and strategies that the secular forces use. Instead, believers are called to prayer and to proclaim the Gospel.

This is not to say that believers are not to be engaged in the political process. Scripture calls us to be good stewards in the area of citizenship which includes voting and serving in the process.

As one commentator states, “ I do not say, lay all other means aside. Form societies, build schools, erect churches, circulate books—but remember still, all these will not damage materially one bulwark of Satan among us unless our one main object in them is to make known the gospel.”

Exell, J. S. (n.d.). The Biblical Illustrator:2 Corinthians (p. 421).

What does this look like? How does a believer fight with the Gospel? The statement even sounds contradictory! Being on the offensive with the Gospel means that we not only live it out unapologetically in the public square, we actually have Gospel conversations with others. We move out of our comfort zones and confront the culture one life at a time.

What does this look like? How does a believer fight with the Gospel? The statement even sounds contradictory! Being on the offensive with the Gospel means that we not only live it out unapologetically in the public square, we actually have Gospel conversations with others. We move out of our comfort zones and confront the culture one life at a time.

When the people around you

In the area of prayer it will look and sound biblical. Paul instructed believers that “supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions” (). This is an area that many of us are woefully lacking. We don’t pray for the conversion of our political leaders. We don’t lift up Christian legislators in prayer by name or with regularity.