THE BATTLES WE FACE
Paul declared, “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses” (1 Tim. 6:12). To the Ephesians brethren he wrote, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph. 6:10-12).
The church today faces some tough battles. Battles that must be fought! The church cannot shrink back from these onslaughts. There are three particular battles that are faced daily. Here they are:
ONE IS THE BATTLE OF FALSE DOCTRINE THAT HAS CREPT INTO THE CHURCH. Congregations have abandoned the biblical principle of the “one body” (Eph. 4:4) and have joined forces with the denominational world. It is reported in various publications the joy that the churches of Christ have had joint services with various denominations in their city. These denominations care nothing for the text of inspiration. They worship as they please, they accept the immorality of homosexuality, and have created their own plan of salvation. Some of our brethren have said, “How wonderful that we can worship with them.” There is one body (Eph. 4:4) and that one body is the church (Eph. 1:22-23). Denominationalism is wrong (1 Cor. 1:10-13; Jn. 17:20-21). We must continue to fight the battle.
SECOND IS THE BATTLE OF IMMORALITY. Same sex marriage, homosexuality, fornication, adultery, abortion, etc. just read Galatians 5:19. More and more couples are living together outside of marriage. When couples are interviewed it is no longer, “How long have you been married?” but “How long have you been a couple?” Millions watch the trashiest shows on TV such as “Two and a Half Men”. Have we reached the level of the days of Noah? “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Gen. 6:5). We must continue to fight the battle.
THIRD IS THE BATTLE OF COMPLACENCY. Check out the Sunday and Wednesday evening attendance and you will find fifty percent of the folks are not present. Most congregations have deleted gospel meetings from their schedules saying, “Our members don’t even come.” Paul’s admonition, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58) no longer has meaning to some folks.
While there is a battle to be fought remember that we have one who is always with us and supporting us in that fight, “…for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands” (1 Sam. 17:47).
Larry