The Armor of God...

The past week or two, I have been talking with Josh and Joel about the armor of God. I've also thought a lot about the verse that precedes it. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood..." what a crazy thought. As I was reading through it, I came to recognize a thing or two about the way these verses are put together.

I'll begin first with the wrestling. Say you have a crappy day. Someone is antagonizing you, you lash out, you think a certain thought, say a wrong word or two or ten, these are just the peripherals of the actual struggle occurring. There are forces unseen at work in and around you, that you may not see or even sense. Yet, I think we can all relate to that feeling we get when you feel torn in two opposing directions and confusion may set in. Look deeper and realize there are two sides vying for your attention.

Once you realize this, you move on to the passage concerning the armor. We all remember the Sunday School lessons with the props. The Belt of Truth, The Sword of the Spirit (which is the Word of God), the Breastplate of Righteousness, The Helmet of Salvation, feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace, the Shield of Faith (to quench the enemy's fiery arrows). It was brought up by a good friend and former Theology professor of mine, Dan Armstrong, that all these weapons and armor are designed for a frontal assault, not a defense as you turn to run. God never meant for us to back down to attack. I am reminded of the commander of David's guards who fought until his hand froze onto his sword. What tremendous effort and refusal to run it must have taken to accomplish this. You may take some cuts, you may stumble and fall, but you never back down.

Look at the uses that were explained to us in Sunday School and you may realize that they were so much more profound than you could possibly understand at that young age.

1. "Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth..." - Joel explained that this phrase actually has significance when you look at the battle armor that was worn by the Israelites. You may remember in Easter plays when you see the guards with the skirts of leather straps. The Romans wore these but the Israelites also had similar garb. They protected your legs in close range combat, but when needing to cover ground, these would wrap these straps around their legs and groin, in order to keep from tripping in maneuvers. Truth, as given by the Word, keeps you from tripping and falling and allows you mobility during attack. It gives you flexibility when something unexpected catches you unaware.

2. "...and having on the Breastplate of Righteousness." - Not righteousness from us, but that provided by God through the atonement of our sins. It protects our hearts as would a real breastplate. It allows us to have heart and stand strong in the promise of forgiveness and grace and mercy.

3. "...and your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace." - A lot of people don't know what to attribute the importance of this verse to. In contemplating a return to ministry, this verse has gained a special place for me. The Gospel of Peace is what Jesus did for us. Many of us walk a long, hard, lonely road in our pursuit of God, especially those with a call to follow Christ in ministry. The Gospel prepares us for a long, trying journey and reminds us of why we have chosen to walk, thus it becomes a guard for our feet for the journey.

4. "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the enemy." - What is more important than faith? Jesus said to believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that He is Lord and you will be saved. James made an even more poignant point when he says in verses 1:6-8, "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man [is] unstable in all his ways." If we have not faith, we are indecisive. Indecisive men die in battle. If you're being battered by doubt or fear, put up that shield. Let it protect you and put out the fires that rage just on the other side. Faith gives a clear mind and a clear purpose, and allows us to act without hesitation when action is called for.

5. "And take the helmet of salvation..." - A helmet is obviously to protect your head. Thoughts are often the means of attack the enemy uses to drag us down. Thoughts of failure, unworthiness, self-hatred, doubt. Jesus gave His life for us so that grace might cover our minds from such thoughts, thus the helmet. Even should we fail, and we do and we will at points, salvation has granted us reprieve.

6. "and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." - Again, the Word is used as an active device. It equips us with a means of attack, as it says, "resist the devil and he will flee from you." It is active and alive and meant to be used to protect and defend, but most of all, to go on the offensive. Memorize, quote, read, meditate on, and use it. It's the only fool-proof weapon I've ever used in my life.

I don't think it's by accident that these teachings were given to us in addition to what Jesus taught. He laid the ground work and allowed His disciples that followed to hone the practices. They were flawed men, Paul a murderer, Peter a denier, Thomas a doubter, etc. We know these men almost as much for their failings as we do for their successes. Paul often talked of how he rarely did what he wanted to or knew he should do. But even imperfect people can war against their nature. I take comfort in the Word more lately than ever before because I know a long road has been set before me, and unlike so many idealistic people who have walked it before me, I see what this path can do to people. That is why I need the Word, to remind myself that my calling is to, as Paul said just after these verses, "to make known the mystery of the Gospel." That is what I have decided to give my life to.

We'll see how it goes.