Spiritual Warfare - Bethesda Bedok Tampines Church

 

 

 

We are not fighting against humans. We are fighting against forces and authorities and against rulers of darkness and powers in the spiritual world.

Ephesians 6:12

Almost to a person in this escalating spiritual war each person in America, each person in the world is engaged in quickly making sure folks they engage are aware that what is taking place is a war of political ideologies. Leftist ideologies, Marxism, conservative ideologies, and this political phrasing and that one are shouted, cried out, spoken, and whispered without taking a breath.

All the while it is only about, all about the spiritual war that has intensified over the past 50, 60 years or so and is now at a white-hot bloody pace as evil knows the end is drawing close and it must, they must destroy as much as possible before it/he/they are eternally destroyed.

Because your fight has not been with flesh and blood, but with Principalities and The Rulers and The Powers of this dark world and with wicked spirits which are under Heaven.

Ephesians 6:12

Clearly, plainly translated what is taking place in America, a place created, founded by Almighty God and there can be, there is no other explanation for America coming to be as the greatly outnumbered, disorganized, scattered, and divided folks here at the time defeated the mightiest, greatest, largest military and Empirical physical force on earth at the time. Accomplished not by political or physical ability and prowess, no, but by what took place within the spiritual realm and what God wanted, God’s plan was for this nation, America, to come into existence and it was founded upon the bedrock of Biblical, Christian values and principles.

This is what the ministers and minions of Satan are now frothing at the mouth about and attempting to make the most important spiritual war we all are engaged in a political battle, to distract, continue to confuse, and draw view away from what is really at work here.

This is not a wrestling match against a human opponent. We are wrestling with rulers, authorities, the powers who govern this world of darkness, and spiritual forces that control evil in the heavenly world.

Ephesians 6:12

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

Isaiah 5:20

Soldiers of Christ do not allow the force of evil that we are at constant war with have the ability to deter, deflect, diminish the importance of the war we are all engaged in by making it merely, only political and falling into their pit.

Understand from the onset, be keenly aware and prepared that this is not only or just about America, American politics, and election outcomes. This is about standing boldly, firmly in the faith, and standing firmly, boldly bravely truthfully for Christ, for God, for everything that is written in the inerrant infallible unchanging Word of God.

The forces of evil, the wicked, purely utterly totally wicked forces of evil that are our true Enemy is only feverishly working on a human, political level to destroy and take as many as possible to the eternal bottomless pit of hell with him [Satan, that old seductive cunning appearing as an angel of light Serpent] Everything taking place must be seen and understood to be a spiritual battle, not a worldly political battle.

We all need to be keen to see and know this truth.

Also knowing that no matter what may happen that God is in control and His plan is unfolding accordingly to plan as God is outside of our very limited realm. All of Bible prophecy is being fulfilled. So swiftly.

We cannot, we must not remain idle or silent. We also must not allow the Enemy to convince us our war is about who wins the next election, and if only this physical, worldly thing went our way, hallelujah!

No.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Ephesians 6:12

And until and unless we know this, believe this, and install this truth in our hearts and minds at every turn, in everything the Enemy will have the upper hand over any individual who only thinks and lives on a worldly, American, political physical level.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Ephesians 6:10-20

Not political. All spiritual. And do not permit the constant, increasing in volume drum beaters only pounding out their beat, “It’s political, it’s political, it’s political, it’s political, it’s all political and there is no need to go further than your local polling place, it’s all political, it’s all political…”

Continue pounding out their indoctrinating mantra to deflect and deter from the reality of what this is really all about and why.

Be keen to know these things otherwise, we are ill-equipped for what is and what is to come…

And this is war. All out to the eternal death, or eternal life war. The greatest and most important war ever waged.

Know clearly which side you are truly on and then get out of the foxhole and moving forward for Christ, for God, with the Holy Spirit, with the Word of God which must be ingested, contemplated daily for our nourishment and survival.

This is not something for the lax, for wimps. For make believers more tied to this world than the eternal heavenly spiritual realm.

Ken Pullen, Monday, March 4th, 2024

 

 

‘Christian nationalism’ panic must be called out for exactly what it is

 

Monday, March 4, 2024

By Billy Hallowell

Reprinted from The Washington Times

 

A sinister boogeyman is threatening the very fabric of our nation — an evil force overtaking hordes of hearts and minds, twisting them into a zombielike force bent on the total and utter destruction of the American ethic.

This is the warning from some modern-day, self-ascribed Paul Reveres who are increasingly waving around their smartphones as they text, post and shriek, “The Christian nationalists are coming! The Christian nationalists are coming!”

Fears over this purported “Christian nationalist” takeover are almost everpresent these days, but the real menace is something far more fiendish: at best, a total disregard for First Amendment freedom and, at worst, a strategic effort to obliterate ideological opponents.

We’ve all seen the headlines warning about the perils of Christian nationalism, with some calling it the “single biggest threat” to religious liberty, among other panics. Here’s the primary problem though: most people can’t even adequately define Christian nationalism.

Furthermore, most Americans don’t seem to know anyone who would fit the gremlinlike descriptions to which adherents are said to conform.

“Christian nationalism is an exacerbated term,” Pastor Samuel Rodriguez told me during a recent interview. “Is there such a thing as Christian nationalism? Probably in a church in South Carolina, somewhere, hidden in the backwoods. Is it a national issue? No.”

Perhaps Mr. Rodriguez is on to something. Don’t misunderstand me; I’m not claiming Christian nationalism doesn’t exist at all, nor am I stating no one fits the bill. I’m simply offering up the obvious: this problem is nowhere near as sweeping and perilous as claimed.

Whenever there’s a label that comes with a billion definitions no one can agree on, my eyebrows immediately raise and my concerns elevate, and that’s the precise case with Christian nationalism. While we can rifle through a billion potential definitions, let’s start by looking at one from Amanda Tyler, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty.

“Christian nationalism is a political ideology and cultural framework that seeks to merge American and Christian identities,” Ms. Tyler said in an interview. “It heavily relies upon a mythological founding of the United States as a ‘Christian nation,’ singled out for God’s special favor. … The ‘Christian’ in Christian nationalism is more about identity than religion and carries with it assumptions about nativism, white supremacy, authoritarianism, patriarchy and militarism.”

That’s certainly an interesting framing with a plethora of buzzwords and constructs — and some elements we should most certainly eschew. But, again, how sweeping are these paradigms, and isn’t it possible for people to believe the U.S. was founded on Christian values without being clumped into this messy amalgam?

The biggest problem here is that people are using the Christian nationalist label as a definitive without any universal understanding of what it truly means. And many of those sounding the alarm are secularists or political progressives who have long lamented conservatism and Christian influence over politics.

These forces have clumped ideological opponents into a political box, and warned endlessly that everyone must fear this nebulous cohort. That’s what makes headlines like this so alarming: “More than half of Republicans support Christian nationalism, according to a new survey.”

That’s the same NPR article that defined Christian nationalism as “a worldview that claims the U.S. is a Christian nation and that the country’s laws should therefore be rooted in Christian values.” But the alarm bells really went off when a Politico article recently unveiled its own definition.

“Christian nationalists in America believe that the country was founded as a Christian nation and that Christian values should be prioritized throughout government and public life,” the article in question, co-authored by Heidi Przybyla, reads.

During an appearance on MSNBC last month, Ms. Przybyla said the Republican base has “shifted” and warned about “extremist” ideas surrounding former President Donald Trump.

“The thing that unites them as Christian nationalists — not Christians, by the way, because Christian nationalist is very different — is that they believe that our rights as Americans, as all human beings, don’t come from any earthly authority,” Ms. Przybyla said. “They don’t come from Congress, they don’t come from the Supreme Court. They come from God. The problem with that is that they are determining — man, men, it is men are determining what God is telling them.”

She lamented that there’s, thus, an “extremist element of conservative Christians” who say natural law “applies specifically to issues including abortion, gay marriage, and it’s going much further than that.”

But doesn’t Ms. Przybyla realize that Christians have always applied biblical truth to personal and policy preferences? And are the faithful simply supposed to remain quiet and subdued about views clearly outlined in the Bible and church teaching while secular people jam their own relativistic viewpoints down everyone’s throats?

Critics seem most perturbed by the existence of Christians in America who, like every other group, want to influence the policies governing their lives. Ironically, it’s what every human being — regardless of his or her worldview — seeks to do: find politicians and policies that align with their framing of the world.

It’s the epitome of ideological privilege to lament those who seek to see their values represented in government all while obsessively advocating for one’s own perspectives to be enshrined in public life. And yet that’s what so many atheist activists and progressives are doing.

Much of the conversation around Christian nationalism seems aimed at drumming up hysteria only to find out much of the consternation is rooted in an effort to stop biblical ideals from impacting public policy and life.

The truth is: The media, Hollywood, universities and many elites have never understood Christianity, have often openly had disdain for its values, and have sometimes taken steps to undermine its presence in public life. Now that the influence of faith on culture has waned, many have moved from a “stop infusing your faith into your politics” into a full-on effort to manifest a Christian nationalist boogeyman.

Christians should always lead with faith over politics. But it seems those who are worried Christian nationalists are lurking under every rock really want to see Christian impact on politics minimized or entirely removed. And that attempted silencing is the real dynamic that should alarm us all.

• Billy Hallowell is a digital TV host and interviewer for Faithwire and CBN News and the co-host of CBN’s “Quick Start Podcast.” Mr. Hallowell is the author of four books.