October 29

Day 229: This is Not Peacetime!

There has been a prevailing narrative in my head lately. It goes like this; "Why was I so good before, and now I'm not?" This relates to my pastoral and leadership role. And it's also wrong.

My error is this. (As Paul Tripp, in his book "Lead" articulates for me) I have always assumed a peacetime mentality. All the while, I have been under attack. You too!

The reality of "spiritual warfare" is more difficult for we North Americans than it is perhaps for other cultures. I was in high school when the Exorcist movie came out. Everybody was talking about it. I never saw it. Didn't care. Because I knew it was fake.

My perpetual pragmatism causes me to doubt just about everything I cannot see. But, upon reflection, I know this also to be wrong.

Ephesians 6:12 says, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood (though it may seem like we do), but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."

There is a great vulnerability when a fighting force assumes there is no threat. We let our guard down, to our peril. While the Bible does not dramatize the spiritual forces against God's own, it does normalize it. It's a thing, whether we acknowledge it or not.

There are almost countless Bible verses about the attack we are under. All of them lead to the same instructive conclusion: Keep your eyes open, heart engaged, mind alert, and keep your protective gear in place (Eph. 6:13-15.)

So my battle plan for today is this: Humbly accept and be growingly aware of my own susceptibilities. As mentioned, I am easily drawn to believe the idea that I used to be a good leader, but now I am not. My susceptibility is that I will agree to this, and withdraw, so as not to cause any damage to myself or others.

I have to preach the gospel to myself, now more than ever. Because I need the truth of the gospel to permeate my heart more than ever.

I read Romans 8-10 this morning. It reminded me of who I am in Christ. And, that He has already won the war. I do not have to surrender to the vanquished. I belong to the Victor.

By the way, we believers need the gospel as much as any unbeliever. The attacks that threaten us are always attacks against the dominion of our hearts.

Thirdly, I have to examine and defend myself (see above) against Satan. In my case, the Enemy will use ministry against me. Ministry failure or ministry success can and will both be used against me, if I allow it to be so.

Any theological expertise, any sense of calling, any giftedness, even any forward progress toward my desire to achieve will be used against me. I am therefore vulnerable. And so are you.

Isolation from others leaves me out on the battle field, with no help. I have to make myself, and you have to make yourself visible. So we can protect each other from our respective susceptibilities. The Church is the people of God, called to support and encourage each other while we are all fighting the war.

A war we may not see, but is a war all the same. This is not peacetime! Never has been!

-Mike Rydman, Lead Pastor, Radiant Church Juneau