Heaven, We Have a Problem

Is the western Church in trouble? Consider the momentum of this spiritual war.

Throughout the Bible the Author makes it clear our primary battle is not against physical opponents. Perhaps most apparent is Ephesians 6:12 (AMPC)

For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.

Humanity has spent countless resources and human lives in physical warfare, yet the Bible tells us that is not our primary battle. How well do we understand, much less effectively engage in, our primary battle? Narrowing it down, how effective is the Church?

Military Battles

In the military we have, among many others, two methods to measure a unit’s effectiveness:

Measures of performance (MOP): How well a group of Soldiers performs the task assigned to them.

Measures of effectiveness (MOE): How effective the assigned task is at accomplishing the objective.

Example: Seven Soldiers are assigned to take a hill occupied by an enemy’s defense. The Soldiers plan a flanking attack. Three Soldiers will flank along the east side of the hill, attempting to distract and occupy the defenders. The remaining four soldiers will attack up the south side once the enemy is distracted.

MOP: 1) Did the 3 flanking soldiers reach their intended position at the planned time? 2) Did the four attacking soldiers exploit the opportunity created by the flanking team?

MOE: 1) Did the flanking maneuver successfully distract the enemy? 2) Did the attack defeat the enemy with no more than two friendly casualties?

Church Application

We’ll now use these measures to examine the church.

2,000 years ago, the world was under the control of darkness, Rome dominating much of the known parts with their associated pagan worship. Outside of Rome nations also practiced various forms of false worship. Save for the Hebrew Nation, darkness was seemingly everywhere.

Enter Jesus. He chose 12. Discipled 12. Betrayed by one. After Jesus defeated death and ascended into Heaven, His disciples remained in prayer awaiting the coming of the promised helper. Ten days later, the Holy Spirit descended upon them.

The emboldened disciples immediately went out into a world, dominated with pagan temples on every street corner of Rome, and declared the Gospel. Committed to the point of death, the early church continued demolishing the strongholds of darkness. Despite heavy persecution, the church rapidly expanded.

The Dragon (Devil), after losing so much terrain and now desperate to keep the gospel from going forth to every nation (Matthew 24:14), devised a new tactic...

Has the Dragon's Plan Succeeded?

Contrast the early church with the present. Today, there is a church on every street corner of America- perhaps the greatest Christian stronghold yet seen in the world. Why, then, is America losing ground to the spiritual forces of darkness? Has she fallen prey to the tactics of the Dragon?

To understand this, one must recover the Cosmic view of the Bible. Our first topic: Who were the first created sons of God?

Please take a moment to arrive at your answer before continuing

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” -Sun Tzu