The Theology of Spiritual Warfare

Part 12 of 12: Mark's Perspective.

There's a significant list of well respected practitioner's in the faith with whom I've personally engaged with that have shaped my perspective. These include: R.C. Sproul, Ron Nash, and others at Reformed Theological Seminary, Robert Norris of Fourth Presbyterian Church, John Eldredge of Wild at Heart, Michael Thompson of Zoweh, Justin Paul Abraham, Mike Parsons, Nancy Cohen, and others.

Yikes. These folks are super divergent in their experiences. This is why we needed to review a wide range of experts. The bottom-line, of course, is that, regardless of what your own experiences or opinions may be on what role we play and how effective we can be, there is a spiritual battle that has been raging since the beginning rebellion in heaven with Lucifer revolted and was cast out...to earth.

Finally, we come to the question that remains, what are you going to do about "your enemy, the devil, [who] prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8.

If you chose to take the red pill like Neo did, your eyes will be opened to the truth, and you can be trained to leverage all the gifts and weapons we've been given by the Father to extend His Kingdom and defeat the enemy. If you chose to remain in the Matrix, you may live out a very happy life and avoid a lot of difficulty, but you will also miss out on the Dance, the very essence of the bliss of freedom that we share with those who are free from demonic oppression, healed of cancer, resurrected, etc.

The challenge to develop a theology of spiritual warfare is ultimately one that resonates even deeper than seeing wholeness on this side of heaven, it is the challenge, the theology of becoming like Jesus. Jesus even told Peter to "get behind me Satan," because he clearly saw the spiritual realm. I want to live in that realm, not so I can simply cast out demons, but so I can see them as they are, broken, fallen, previously beautiful, magical creations, and invite them to return to their Creator by bowing their knees and confessing that Jesus is Lord.

That is how the ministry of reconciliation works. In love, we exercise our authority in the Kingdom so that everything is restored back to the Father.

See the Video on Fallen Angles to learn more!