Threat Against Christian Churches: The Wise Tools for Victory.

Read this to the end and share, it could save your life and that of your loved ones.

There is a burning debate among Christians on whether it is scriptural for Christians to use guns, swords and other physical weapons against their enemies. The argument is instigated by the growing cases of attack on Christians in churches and on the streets, and the insistence by some believers that the only acceptable instrument of defense of a Christian is prayers.

Is it true that Christians should not fight using modern weapons other than prayers? The answer can only be found through a proper consultation of the Bible which is our life guide. So, take time to read this to the end as it can help save your life and that of your loved ones.

Let’s start from the most commonly quoted text for Christian warfare and examine its true meaning.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not walk after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds
5 Casting down imaginations and, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Many people erroneously generalize this text to refer to every form of Christian warfare. But a careful look shows that it is referring only to the warfare or struggle that takes place in the mind, and against no other enemy but ungodly thought. It starts by describing the weapon as not being canal and shows that the war objectives is to pull down strongholds in the mind.

It further specifies that the target enemy is unscriptural thoughts. The word of God does not leave us in the dark about the mode of waging the metaphoric war, which includes casting down our imaginations that contradict the word of God and controlling our thoughts to be in line with the word of God.

If you check it well, you will see that the warfare in this context is in the mind of the believer, and not against any external forces. It is a specific type of battle against our fleshly desires coming from the mind. There is nothing in the text suggesting that the weapon or the war strategy could be used to fight armed robbers, terrorists, or even witches. It is purely a war of using ones will against the sinful thoughts we might have. Judging from this, we can see that it is an error to over-extend the scope of the weapon in this text to all forms of war that may confront the children of God.

The Bible says “my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge”. Wrong interpretation of the word of God leads to error, and exposes the people of God to the danger of being destroyed.

The lack of correct teaching of this text has caused a big weakness in the churches, where you see people who are under threat praying only with no plans to do any other thing to shackle their physical enemy. To understand the subject of Christian warfare better, and help our mind to unlearn the error of generalizing 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, we need to see the other types of Christian warfare seen in the Bible and the weapons we should use to fight them.

Other types of Christian warfare
War against the devils
While the war in 2 Corinthians 10: 3-5 is against sinful mindset, Ephesians 6:11-18 teaches about demons and how to fight them.

Ephesians 6:11-12
11 put on the whole armour of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, and against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Here, we see that the weapon is the whole amour of God, and the enemies are Satan and his different types of demons. The form of the war is also different as we’ll see below:
Ephesians 6:13-16
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand on the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness
15 and feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked …

This is a different enemy we need a different set of weapons and approach to fight. The approach in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 will not work here because “our warfare” there is different from our type of warfare here. Different types of enemies, different weapons, and different strategies.

Physical Warfare
This piece will be incomplete if we don’t examine in the light of the word of God, how Christians should deal with physical threats from enemies like terrorists, territory invaders and generally any enemy aiming to attack us with physical weapons. Instruction in this line was given by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself while preparing his disciples for His departure shortly before his arrest.

Luke 22:35-38
35 And He said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.
36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hat no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
37 For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.
38 And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords, and he said, it is enough.

Something stands out in this valuable instruction from the Master, and it is that having a weapon is so important to His followers that He says anyone among them who doesn’t have the weapon should sell his cloth to buy weapon. I know this is not what we often hear in our churches, but it is the truth all the same.

Jesus asked them to get physical swords, not spiritual ones. And when they showed him that two swords were available with them there, he said it was okay. He didn’t rebuke them that he was talking about the sword of the spirit as some people may like to say. He said “It is enough.” Hmnnn. This is plain truth not hidden from us.

If despite the clear scriptural instructions about different types of wars and how Christians should fight them, we still only pray against our enemy armies, whether religious terrorists or ethnic militias and fail to equip and organize ourselves to fight them with God’s support, we are either being ignorant or foolish.

And if we do not act we may not escape the destruction that has already befallen many Christian communities who took such unbiblical approach of folding our arms and only praying as a way of fighting an army of human enemies.
We have to rouse ourselves like the armies of God of old and take strategic war effort to counter the jihadists threatening to kill us or force us to become muslims.

In conclusion, we can see that:
The warfare in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 does not refer to every warfare confronting a Christian.
The warfare 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 is about only the fight against sinful thoughts in one’s mind.
The other types of warfare includes warfare against the demons, and warfare against human enemies.

The weapons and approach to the different types of warfare are different.
Jesus Christ recommends that Christians obtain physical weapons for use.

The place of prayer in physical warfare
Just as in every aspect of the life of a Christian, prayer cannot be left out in any type of warfare, including physical warfare. The Bible says “Not by power nor by might, but by my Spirit”, says the LORD Almighty” Zechariah 4:6. It was prayer that secured victory for the Israelites in their wars, and we still need believing prayers to give us God’s support in physical warfare

The inconsistencies of prayer alone believers.
Many Christians who believed in prayer alone as the weapon of Christian warfare are usually inconsistent about their belief. This can be seen in how they see nothing wrong with their pastors being protected by gun wielding police and military officers, but quickly attack anyone who says Christians should use the same weapons. If it is wrong for anyone to use it, it is wrong for anyone to engage other people to use it on their behalf.

That also means it is wrong for Christian soldiers to use weapons because sin does not have occupational boundaries. This is the same as saying Christians can not fornicate but they can work as prostitutes because prostitution is a profession. If it is wrong, it is wrong.

Thank God it is not wrong for the people of God to engage in physical warfare using available weapons. They have done it before, and they can do it again.

Other arguments against Christians using physical weapons.

It is a spiritual sword not a physical one
Some people claim that the sword Jesus Christ asked the disciples to get in Luke 22:36 is a spiritual sword, which is the word of God. This is a clear error because the account makes it clear that the sword is a physical sword. Jesus asked them to sell their garment, a physical thing, to buy another physical thing, the sword.

Secondly, when they brought two swords to show our Lord Jesus Christ, He said it was enough. If Jesus had meant another type of sword, howbeit a sword of the spirit which is the word of God, He would have rebuked them for their error and told them it was a spiritual sword. But Jesus basically told them “okay”.

This shows clearly that it is a physical sword and not a spiritual one. It is when it comes to dealing with the devil and his demons that the Bible instructs us to use the sword of the spirit (Ephesians 6:17). So, while we still have to support the “sword” with prayer, the sword itself is a literal, and not a metaphoric sword.

Jesus resisted the disciples from cutting the servant.
Some argue that if Jesus approved the use of a physical weapon and physical warfare, he wouldn’t have asked the disciple who cut the ear of one of those who came to arrest Jesus to put his sword away (Matthew 26:47-64, Luke 22:47-56).

Why did Jesus forbid His disciples to attack the arrest party despite telling them to get armed? The reason is not farfetched. Jesus came to the world to die, and He Himself also announced repeatedly that the hour for Him to be taken by the enemy had come and the scriptures concerning His death had to be fulfilled.

Secondly, If He needed defense, He would have prayed and God would have sent “more than twelve legions of angels” to fight for Him. The need for sword (weapon) was for the protection of the disciples after Jesus’ departure, just as they would also need the purse and the scrip after His demise.

So, Jesus asked them not to fight then, not because he had changed his mind about them using the sword, but because the sword was for their own protection not His, and also because it was time for Jesus’ tribulation and death.

All who take the sword die by the sword
In Matthew 26:52 Jesus said that “all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword”. Many naturally interpret this as meaning that Christians should not use the sword, believing that anyone who uses the sword (physical weapon) will be killed by physical weapons. This is the meaning that will first come to mind until you examine it critically.

First, soldiers of God’s people including David and Joshua, have fought with sword and other physical weapons in the Bible and did not die by the sword. Secondly, not all soldiers and policemen die through weapons, yet they usually work with guns and other weapons. Many of them live till old age and die peacefully. So, the meaning of this expression is not clear. There may be an issue of language and interpretation along the line.

Meanwhile, it is also believed that Jesus expected the disciples to pray also, and not depend only on the weapon. This is suggested by the fact that before the arresters arrived, He repeatedly urged them to pray so that they wouldn’t enter into temptation (Matthew 22:36-54). If they had prayed to God to help them overcome the coming challenge, they might have handled the situation better than they did.

That is probably the lesson Jesus was passing when He said that those who take the sword die by the sword. Those who depend on the sword, leaving prayer out die by the sword because nothing can guarantee success in any endeavor except God.

It is clear that Christians should not depend on the weapon for protection God is our shield and defense. Any weapon we deploy is only a measure for playing our part while allowing God to play His part in the Spirit realm

Jesus never used a sword
Another argument of the anti-physical-weapon Christians is that Jesus Christ never used a weapon, and since He is our example, we should not use weapons either. The error in this opinion is that it expects us to wrongly copy Jesus for unrelated circumstances. We are to follow Jesus in our situations that are similar to what Jesus experienced, or else, we will be in error.

While Jesus Christ is our perfect example, our situation is not always exactly the same as His when he walked the earth as man, therefore, we cannot copy everything. For example, we are not called to crucify ourselves for the world, and Jesus did not get married. So, we cannot copy Him in those aspects.

This is in addition to the fact that it was Jesus Christ himself that asked the disciples to get sword, and he showed that He Himself would not need any swords for protection because he could pray and angels would appear to fight for Him if he wanted to.

The disciples never fought a war
Some people also argue that the disciples never fought with any physical weapon. To this, we should remind ourselves that the disciples are not our perfect examples, Jesus Christ is. And with Jesus Christ, it is cases where the situations are similar that we can copy. Again, that the disciples never fought in any physical war could be due to ignorance or disobedience.

When Herod killed arrested James the brother of John, the disciples did not know that they ought to pray for his deliverance from the shackles of the King (Acts 12:1-11). After killing James, Herod again captured Peter, and this roused the disciples to pray. God answered their prayers and an angel took Peter out of the prison.

This only shows that the disciples also made mistakes and they are not our perfect examples. Ignorance or disobedience may also explain why they didn’t use weapon despite being instructed to get weapon.

Conclusion
It is scriptural for Christians to use weapons and engage in physical warfare against their enemies. However, we should not depend on the weapons for victory. We need to pray and believe God for direction and conquest. And God Who supported His people in the scriptures and gave them victory in their physical wars will also give us victory today.

Ok

What Jesus Christ of Nazareth COMMANDED his disciples to do in such a situation is FLEE the territory where you are no longer welcomed! Matthew 10:23

There is just one reason why a Christian may be pressured to pick up weapons and start fighting back: MATERIAL POSSESSIONS! So Jesus has earlier warned his disciples not to think of acquiring much material possessions {Matthew 6:19-28} because if they should their minds will not be focused on the more important thing which is the salvation of both them and even those coming to KILL them! Luke 6:27-28; Romans 12:20

So stop storing treasures on earth so that you may not be tempted into becoming killers like all other men in this time of the end {Revelations 6:3-4} Satan is wiser than most of you think, he knows that if you will not kill for money rituals, nor kill your business partner to gain what you both worked for, nor kill because you want to become king, nor kill over a man or woman, at least you will love to protect your life and possessions. One way or the other Satan just want you to ignore that order: YOU MUST NOT KILL!

Before Jesus faithful servants of God do fight and kill but what exactly were they fighting for? Well it was JERUSALEM where God's temple was built. God's people so much cherish that city that they're prepared to lay down their lives for Jerusalem.
But after Jesus has taught us that worshipers of God shouldn't think of any geographical location as Holy {John 4:23-24} there's no reason for faithful people to fight for any city {Luke 21:20-24} that is why Jesus commanded us to FLEE from zombies who has been brainwashed to fight and die for POLITICIANS while they're thinking it's a fight for God! Matthew 10:23

God bless you and may you have PEACE! 2Corinthians 13:14

Jesus did not tell them to flee their home oo. He told them to leave the societies they go to preach who are hostile to their preaching. They are not to flee their places of abode.

Summary:
- There are three types of warfare in the new testament.
- They enemy and weapons for fighting each war is different.
- The war in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 is only war against unGodly thoughts.
- Ephesians 6:11-18 teaches about war against demons.
- Luke 22: 35-38 teaches about physical warfare.
- Jesus supports physical weapon warfare for believers.

So, christians should not only pray, but they should get weapons and defend themselves against the enemies that want to attack them physically.

Addition:
We should also be proactive by organizing ourselves and searching them out before they launch any attack on us.

butterfly777:
Jesus did not tell them to flee their home oo. He told them to leave the societies they go to preach who are hostile to their preaching. They are not to flee their places of abode.

Weldone op, May God bless you in Jesus name. Please I want a clarification on this , Bible says those that kill with sword will die by sword. My question is that during the time of Elijah in the Bible, we read that he killed the prophets of Baal with the sword for their inability to worship the true God,who sent fire down. Some Bible scholar believes that it is this Elijah that come in the form of John the Baptist who was later beheaded by pharaoh inorder to back up the word of God.

Please,share more light on this

adeoyekay:
Weldone op, May God bless you in Jesus name. Please I want a clarification on this , Bible says those that kill with sword will die by sword. My question is that during the time of Elijah in the Bible, we read that he killed the prophets of Baal with the sword for their inability to worship the true God,who sent fire down. Some Bible scholar believes that it is this Elijah that come in the form of John the Baptist who was later beheaded by pharaoh inorder to back up the word of God.

Please,share more light on this

What about David, Joshua, and many Godly men who fought with the sword but died peacefully in their bed.

What Jesus means there is definitely different from what it seems on yhe surface.

adeoyekay:
Weldone op, May God bless you in Jesus name. Please I want a clarification on this , Bible says those that kill with sword will die by sword. My question is that during the time of Elijah in the Bible, we read that he killed the prophets of Baal with the sword for their inability to worship the true God,who sent fire down. Some Bible scholar believes that it is this Elijah that come in the form of John the Baptist who was later beheaded by pharaoh inorder to back up the word of God.

Please,share more light on this

What about David, Joshua, and most of the Godly men who fought with the sword and still died peacefully in their bed.

What Jesus means there is definitely different from what it seems on the surface.

butterfly777:

What about David, Joshua, and most of the Godly men who fought with the sword and still died peacefully in their bed.

What Jesus means there is definitely different from what it seems on the surface.

Thanks sir
Even Elijah case is different from David case. David killed I order to fulfil his lustful desire.

butterfly777:
Jesus did not tell them to flee their home oo. He told them to leave the societies they go to preach who are hostile to their preaching. They are not to flee their places of abode.

JERUSALEM is the home of Jews and this is what Jesus of Nazareth told his own disciples to do when Romans comes to ATTACK their homeland:

“However, when you see Jerusalem surrounded by encamped armies, then know that the desolating of her has drawn near. Then let those in Ju·deʹa begin fleeing to the mountains, let those in the midst of her leave, and let those in the countryside not enter into her" Luke 21:20-21

This is the directive form Jesus of Nazareth though 99.9% of Jews in the first century don't take him serious because they believe he's not mentally stable {John 10:20} but to his own disciples Jesus commanded them to FLEE their homeland!

Of course he wasn't talking to everyone his orders applies only to those that accepted him as their KING and COMMANDER!

MaxInDHouse:


JERUSALEM is the home of Jews and this is what Jesus of Nazareth told his own disciples to do when Romans comes to ATTACK their homeland:

“However, when you see Jerusalem surrounded by encamped armies, then know that the desolating of her has drawn near. Then let those in Ju·deʹa begin fleeing to the mountains, let those in the midst of her leave, and let those in the countryside not enter into her" Luke 21:20-21

This is the directive form Jesus of Nazareth though 99.9% of Jews in the first century don't take him serious because they believe he's not mentally stable {John 10:20} but to his own disciples Jesus commanded them to FLEE their homeland!

Of course he wasn't talking to everyone his orders applies only to those that accepted him as their KING and COMMANDER!

You are mixing things up, sir.
1. Not all Jesus' disciples were from Jerusalem or Jews.
2. The fight we are talking about is the fight against them as christians, not against the land. ( Of course, christians should join others to defend their homeland). So, your conclusion is not applicable here.
3. Jesus already gave them divine information that the place would be destroyed. It would be unwise and disobedient to stay to defend a place God says will be destroyed.
4. Jesus is still out guide and commander in any war. We follow His strategic instructions. If He says flee in a particular situation, we will flee. Other than that, we follow His general instruction and common sense.

- I suspect you are a Muslim trying to mislead or confuse christians.

butterfly777:

You are mixing things up, sir.
1. Not all Jesus' disciples were from Jerusalem or Jews.
2. The fight we are talking about is the fight against them as christians, not against the land. ( Of course, christians)

What Jesus said there is simple and straightforward.

If those ruling over your territory maintained law and order then you can continue with the ministry but when they fail don't pick up weapons to fight for anything because anywhere you go is your home not necessarily where you are born.

That's the order.
So if the Nigerian government can maintain the laws they made for us then we as Christians can continue our ministry but if not then it's either we flee or fight, so if Jesus said we must not settle matters with the sword (weapons) then we have no other options than to FLEE!

MaxInDHouse:


What Jesus said there is simple and straightforward.

If those ruling over your territory maintained law and order then you can continue with the ministry but when they fail don't pick up weapons to fight for anything because anywhere you go is your home not necessarily where you are born.

That's the order.
So if the Nigerian government can maintain the laws they made for us then we as Christians can continue our ministry but if not then it's either we flee or fight, so if Jesus said we must not settle matters with the sword (weapons) then we have no other options than to FLEE!

We should flee our country for the enemies to take over? Read your Bible well sir.

butterfly777:

I suspect you are a Muslim trying to mislead or confuse christians.

Do you truthfully believe (trust) in Jesus Christ of Nazareth? John 3:16

Well i'm only trying to REASON with you going by what Jesus himself said {Matthew 15:8} so if you think you're wiser than the world's most wonderful counselor {Isaiah 9:6} of all time it's OK but please please please don't speak against Jesus' orders it's a sin!

butterfly777:


We should flee our country for the enemies to take over? Read your Bible well sir.

Christians don't have any country!

We worship in spirit and truth {John 4:24} the ministry is paramount in our lives not the material possessions we gained in this world {Luke 18:18-23} that's why Jesus commanded us not to think of acquiring riches because it will hinder us from living our lives without having to always rely on protecting material possessions! Matthew 6: 19-21

butterfly777:
1. The Bible says “my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge”. Wrong interpretation of the word of God leads to error, and exposes the people of God to the danger of being destroyed.

2. The lack of correct teaching of this text has caused a big weakness in the churches, where you see people who are under threat praying only with no plans to do any other thing to shackle their physical enemy.

3. To understand the subject of Christian warfare better, and help our mind to unlearn the error of generalizing 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, we need to see the other types of Christian warfare seen in the Bible and the weapons we should use to fight them.

1. The knowledge referenced in Hosea 4 vs 6 is that of God's Law/commandments to His people. And yes, God's people, both Old Covenant, and New Covenant, suffer because they lack knowledge of God's Law. Jesus Christ, the one who is God's Law and Truth in the Kingdom of God did stipulate that His followers not defend themselves when attacked.

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’[i]
39 But I tell you, don’t fight back against someone who wanfs to do harm to you. If they hit you on the right cheek, let them hit the other cheek too.
40 If anyone wants to sue you in court and take your shirt, let them have your coat too.
41 If a soldier forces you to walk with him one mile,[j] go with him two.
42 Give to anyone who asks you for something. Don’t refuse to give to anyone who wants to borrow from you. - Matthew 5 vs 38 - 42

He also decreed that rather than fight using prayer, against their enemies, His own pray for(not against) their enemies.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[k] and hate your enemy.’
44 But I tell you, love your enemies. Pray for those who treat you badly.
45 If you do this, you will be children who are truly like your Father in heaven. He lets the sun rise for all people, whether they are good or bad. He sends rain to those who do right and to those who do wrong.
46 If you love only those who love you, why should you get a reward for that? Even the tax collectors do that. 47 And if you are nice only to your friends, you are no better than anyone else. Even the people who don’t know God are nice to their friends.
48 What I am saying is that you must be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. - Matthew 5 vs 43 - 48

Similar teachings are found written of in Luke 6 vs 27 - 38

2. I am afraid the problem with your churches are foundational. Jesus Christ never commanded any man to build churches of gather them in His name in the way that is your pastors and mogs to begin with. So you Churchians live an existence separated from the Truth of God hence the reason why you are easily swayed by that happening in the world around you.

3. Your Christian warfare has absolutely nothing to do with Jesus Christ who instead commands that your focus remain solely on Him through all of the storms of life. So, when your focus is instead on how to battle your enemies, you are not longer abiding in Jesus Christ but in yourselves and your ideas.

Pastors, Reverends, etc has told people to get their PVCs. As prayers no dey work again, na works/fight remain!