There is no neutral ground in the universe. Every square inch, every split second is claimed by God or counter-claimed by demons. C.S. Lewis taught that the reality of the unseen realm affects humans all over the world, and the solution to this spiritual oppression is in the conquering God, Jesus Christ. Bp. Onesimus Asiimwe of North Kigezi Uganda preached this message Friday morning at the GSFA global assembly.
Who are we wrestling against when we pray and minister? Is it the Western progressive leaders in the Church, or Islamic militants, or prosperity gospel preachers?
No. These are not our true enemies. “We wrestle not against flesh and blood,” as St. Paul wrote, “but against principalities and powers in the spiritual realms” (Eph. 6:12). In the midst of the Global South Fellowship of Anglicans (GSFA) Assembly, it is easy to talk about the conflicts the Church faces, and the actions needed in order to bring solutions, but the spiritual enemies we face are more easily ignored. We can throw stones at TEC and the Archbishop of Canterbury for what they’re doing to a beloved Church, but are we praying? Are we fasting? Are we loving even when we criticize the teachings and actions of these leaders?
Bishop Onesimus spoke about the importance of not only realizing who we fight against, but also how we fight using the armor of God which is the spiritual resources and disciplines given to us in Christ. He dove into each aspect of this armor: truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, scripture, and prayer. These are the tools we must utilize in order to be prepared for the spiritual battle we wage. With these defenses, the otherwise fatal attacks of Satan are thwarted.
It makes me wonder, in all our conversations about Canterbury, Western progressives, poverty, Islam, and all the other “bad guys” afflicting the Church, how much we really know who the enemy is. How much do we look inward to see if our own hearts are right, if we are pursuing God, if we are praying, if we are judging in areas that we ourselves are guilty? Until we look inward and get right before God, our solutions for these global problems will be nothing more than complaint and judgment without Spirit-born resolutions. It’s often easier to attack our enemies outside of us than the one at work within us whether the devil or the flesh.
Whatever happens at this Assembly, may those believers who are keeping track of it do more praying than complaining, more reading of Scripture than reading of news, and more pursuing of Christ than of earthly “enemies.” May we know that it is Christ who prevails against these challenges and that our engagement with him directly affects our engagement with our spiritual enemies. May we believe that through him the Gates of Hell will not prevail against his Church.
