Spiritual Pacifists

[B-A-C]

There have been a few discussions about war and guns and self-defense here on TalkJesus over the years.

I was in the military for a while, but I never actually in a war. But I believe I would have gone if my number was called.
However this isn't really about that, this is about spiritual warfare; against the devil.

Eph 6:11; Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
Eph 6:12; 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.
Eph 6:13; 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.
Eph 6:14; Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
Eph 6:15; and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;
Eph 6:16; 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.
Eph 6:17; And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Eph 6:18; 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,

Whether you know it or not, you are in a war. You may not want to be, but you regardless of whether you want to be or not.
There are verses like this...

Rom 12:18; If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

..and that's great, I'm all for peace on Earth and goodwill to men. But we should never be at peace with the forces of darkness and wickedness.

Php 2:25; But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my need;
2Tim 2:3; Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
2Tim 2:4; No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.

Were Timothy and Paul actual military soldiers? No, they weren't, so then why did Paul use language like this? Why did he call Epaphroditus and himself both soldiers?

1Tim 1:18; This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight,
1Tim 6:12; Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
2Tim 4:7 ; I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;

Why does Paul tell Timothy to "fight the good fight"? Aren't supposed to avoid fighting? Not when it comes to spiritual warfare.
But I have noticed there are spiritual pacifists. People who don't want to be involved. People who don't want to be in the fight.
The thing is... they already are, they just don't know it.

 

[B-A-C]

Mark 9:38; John said to Him, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us."
Mark 9:39; But Jesus said, "Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me.

Acts 19:13; But also some of the Jewish exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, "I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches."
Acts 19:14; Seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.
Acts 19:15; And the evil spirit answered and said to them, "I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?"
Acts 19:16; And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

1Pet 5:8; Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Matt 10:8; "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.

Mark 16:17; "These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues;

Luke 10:17; The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name."
Luke 10:18; And He said to them, "I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning.
Luke 10:19; "Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.
Luke 10:20; "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven."

You don't hear much about casting out demons anymore. But I assure you, there are still wicked spiritual forces active all around us even today. All you have to do is watch the news and politics to see these things. It almost seems like... at least to me. Some Christians have gotten comfortable living with demons.

Matt 12:43; "Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it.
Matt 12:44; "Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came'; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order.
Matt 12:45; "Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation."

Why do some of us want to be friends and neighbors with darkness?

2Cor 6:14; Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?
2Cor 6:15; Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?
2Cor 6:16; Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
2Cor 6:17; "Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord. "AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you.

Some Christians.. "just don't want to make waves", or they are simply afraid to face spiritual forces.

Rom 8:15; For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!"
Heb 10:38; BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM.
Heb 10:39; But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.

 

[B-A-C]

In a more practical way, some Christians have become... well how do I say this?

I love Jesus, but I love living with my girlfriend more.
I love Jesus, but I love watching pornography more.
I love Jesus, but I love getting high and drunk more.
I love Jesus, but I love my same-sex partner more.

... the list goes on, I could easily add a dozen more items here, but you get the idea.
How far can we go, and still be fighting for Jesus? Maybe some of have already jumped ship, and are fighting
for the other side, even though we don't think we are.

Rev 2:4; 'But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
Rev 2:5; 'Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent.

Rev 3:16; 'So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.

Luke 18:8; "I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?"

 

[Rhema]

Mark 16:17; "These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues;

You ever cast out a demon, B-A-C ?? ((Most bizarre thing I've ever done.))

 

[KingJ]

You ever cast out a demon, B-A-C ?? ((Most bizarre thing I've ever done.))

How is this related to the thread topic? Create a new thread or pm him.

 

[Rhema]

How is this related to the thread topic? Create a new thread or pm him.

So you are God?? The owner?? Not even a mod eh???

Go stick your nose elsewhere.

 

[KingJ]

You need to stop derailing threads Rhema. This is a very good thread speaking to examining ourselves as Christians.

Now you want to speak about your personal experiences with an exorcism you performed. It is completely unrelated. But I am sure many would like to hear about it, please create a new thread. We can further discuss there.

 

[Rhema]

You need to stop derailing threads Rhema. This is a very good thread speaking to examining ourselves as Christians.

Now you want to speak about your personal experiences with an exorcism you performed. It is completely unrelated. But I am sure many would like to hear about it, please create a new thread. We can further discuss there.

You just can't help yourself from telling other people what to do, can you.

The title of the thread is Spiritual Pacifists, which directly speaks to those who step away from engaging in Spiritual Warfare, and what good is some academic or "conceptual" discussion that has no real impact on the world around you?

You need...

You need to learn what derailing a thread actually means.

We can further discuss there.

No need. There is no "we." I was asking B-A-C about his personal experiences in Spiritual Warfare.

Rhema

 

[KingJ]

You just can't help yourself from telling other people what to do, can you.

The title of the thread is Spiritual Pacifists, which directly speaks to those who step away from engaging in Spiritual Warfare, and what good is some academic or "conceptual" discussion that has no real impact on the world around you?


You need to learn what derailing a thread actually means.


No need. There is no "we." I was asking B-A-C about his personal experiences in Spiritual Warfare.

Rhema

Not looking to argue, I explain why I believe it is derailing here Casting out demons.

It is certainly a topic that deserves its own thread. Feel free to come chat and share there.