Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Formal Declaration of War; Call to Arms

I've had enough. Enough failed marriages, enough unwed pregnancies, enough depression, enough apathy. I'm declaring war—or, rather, I'm taking up arms in the war that has been raging around me for my whole life.

This war is not about America vs. Whoever Else. It isn't about democracy vs. tyranny. This war is the first, the last, the only real war. This is the war between the forces of darkness and the forces of light. The minions of Satan and the children of God.

No longer will I buy into the lies of the affluent modern society, the lies that cite failed marriages as statistics, unwed pregnancies as not that big of a deal, depression as solely a chemical imbalance, apathy as a lack of proper entertainment. I have looked the demons in the eyes, I have seen them smirking at my weakness, I stand firm on the promises and the grace of God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you—the latter is a promise, the former the only condition. I choose to resist.

I fight to win the hearts, souls, and minds of this world for the next world, for the God Who knows this world and the next as intimately as He knows each person in them.

I fight as one crucified with Christ, so that it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me (Galatians 2:20), and as Christ lives in me I am not weak, but strong, strong in His strength, by His power, for His glory.

Be strong and courageous, brothers and sisters, for the victory belongs to Christ and the gates of the enemy cannot hold against our onslaught. Do not hold back from the battle—we'll hit the trenches on our knees and we won't rest until we hear the trumpet that calls us out of the battle or, more to be longed for, the trumpet that heralds the return of He for whose glory we fight.

The outcome of this war was determined long ago. We need not be dismayed by what setbacks we see here—just beyond our meager vision are chariots of fire.


"The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."
– James 5:16b

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints."
– Ephesians 6:10-18

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