Does your church practice Spiritual Warfare?

Did the women dress up like this, also?

 

I've been mulling this concept over for a good 30...40 seconds.

Seriously, it sounded like a cool idea at first. But then when I started thinking about it...that they make an active stand against drugs and gangs (and I'm all for churches preaching against these things and trying to talk teenagers out of it). But, it would seem a bit scary to me if I was a member.

I'd be afraid that our church would become a target. Does that make sense? Not just a target of the press, but a physical target of drug dealers and gang members who want to "send a message".

These are just feelings, though, and just mine. It sounds like fun, and does send a loud message to the teens, but I'd be a bit afraid.

I'd love to see pictures, though.

 

What do you think, Ben?

 

My first thought?
Sounds like a caricature of the Salvation Army.

My second thought?
That would never work overhere.

My third thought?
I humbly admit that in this case the culture gap between me and them is so great that I don't know what to think of it.

 

If the warfare is in spiritual realms, why would it matter what we wore?

 

I think the idea is dangerous.
The world is already looking for a reason to wipe out Christians. Being given an excuse to label us dangerous militants won't help any, and look at the Branch Davidians. (I think Koresh was a fruit-cake of course, but look at it from a "freedom of relgion" and "they are weird and scaring me" point of view.)

 

Soldiers wear fatigues and uniforms that assist them in getting their work done, they are not merely for show. A soldier on the field needs gear that will help him be shielded from his enemy and able to move swiftly. Gear that will protect him from the elements and from the artillery. Their dress uniforms are still used to identify who they are what job they have.

Christians are to wear the Armor of God as listed in the Word. This requires no special material outfit.

This tactic is stricly for show and to make people feel as if they are making a difference. I guarantee you, that soldiers in the field do more than dress the part. The prayers of these people, I am sure are appreciated, but true soldiers do more than pray. They go out and fight themselves, they do not sit back and pray for those who are doing what we are all called to do. They don't get dressed up and not partake in the battle, and they wouldn't wear the wrong uniform for the job.

~Lorelei

 

True. In fact, just the opposite. Fatigues are made for NOT showing...so the soldiers can hide from the enemy.

We're not supposed to hide. We're supposed to shine...be the light of the world...the salt of the earth.

I agree. This is what I was trying to say, but I think TexasSky said it better.

HOWEVER, when I first read the article (and I admit I didn't take time to fine-tooth it), I thought this was an every-Sunday event...that the entire church was going to remodel itself into fatigue-wearing members who were going to march out on visitation, etc.

If this is a yearly event, that shines a different light on the subject.

I remember as a child, we'd have Old-fashioned Sunday on the church's anniversary. Everyone would come dressed up in early 1800 styles then we'd have an on-the-ground picnic after church.

Then, on Independence Day Sunday, those who were actually IN the military would wear their dress uniforms. The choir would sing a medly of the four service songs and those in the military would stand to attention as their song was being sung.

So if this is something like that, where it's contained in the church and they're not marching around the city, I can see that.

I have to go back and read the article, but I don't have time right now.

But basically, we want to bring people to Christ...not scare them away from Him.

 

As a church and a praying people, we ARE engaged in spiritual warfare!

Eph 6:12
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.

 

Jesus threw the money changers out of the temple. What do you suppose he's do to the war mongers?

 

What do you think happens when us military "war mongers" when we attend services in uniform, in the base chapel - be it a field tent set up for services or an actual brick and mortar building?

Can a Christian serve in combat?
http://ocf.gospelcom.net/pubs/christian_serve.php

We have. We do. The last people on earth that want war are the ones who are specifically designated to fight it.

As for this concept of "spiritual warfare", I read the article and thought...whatever works. I dont think I would appreciate a missle in my church. (Not to mention it violates the Geneva Conventions.)

 

Ben????

The missles----rockets-----brought into the worship center???? Are they "armed???"

They are????

Cool!!!!!!

I had a seminary professor who had a "fake" grenade he used as a paper weight on his desk---to which my "Altar/Ego"---Blackbird would fantize . . .!!!

 

Ben---the link has nothing to do with spiritual warfare---but of some sort of conscientious objection to Christian's engageing in physical combat---to which I believe that it is still biblical for a person to be Christian---and still be armed to the teeth physically as a Military Minuteman!

Case in point---when John the Baptist was baptizing in muddy Jordan---he ran across a few Roman soldiers----I read nowhere where he instructed them to "resign" their commission.

When Jesus engaged the Roman Captain----he didn't tell the Captain---"Now, look here, Cap'tn!! You resign your Legion---go on home---and be a good boy!!"

Did He???

 

First off...I think "minutemen" are a bunch of nuts. You have not been given the authority to do anything, vigilante law is wrong, and it don't take a whole lot of guts to engage a bunch of old ladies and children coming over on a boat trying to make a better life for themselves....you know...kinda like your "founding fathers".

Now...on to the topic. I think this is wierd. As said earlier by Diane, we are ALWAYS "doing" spiritual warfare. And the real spiritual warfare is nothing like this nonsense. It is not "engaging" satan and calling him names and shooting "missiles" at him. It is RESISTING the devil while submitting to God. That is IT.

 

Getting back to the original thought---do we practice spiritual warfare???? Certainly do!!! We never leave the battlefield?? We do not "rebuke" the devil---but we "resist" the devil---how??? By submitting ourselves to God---how??? By obeying His word!!!

Isn't that what you just said, King James????

 

That is what I just said.