Ephesians 6 tell us what we need to know: we wrestle not against flesh, it says, but spiritual enemies in high places.
When are we going to realize that?
When are we going to realize that the most effective battles are fought in prayer, in going directly against satanic forces — yes, in opposing societal evils in a temporal way, but more than anything, from getting to the root of those societal evils and going after that instead of what is seen on the surface.
Sometimes — often — we chase news headlines more than we chase demons.
That’s because it’s easier. It’s visible. We can attack others verbally. We can support this person or that person. We can fight through politics.
And it’s true: certain profound issues (though fewer than one would like) are fought politically. There is a place for expressing oneself strongly against the enemies of Christianity. There is merit in opposing the sobering and highly-worrisome trend toward taking away our religious rights. There is certainly merit to protesting at abortion clinics and attacking other such transgressions.
How about some protests at pornography theaters? At “adult” bookstores? At occult shops? At the offices of doctors who perform transgender operations? At schools that teach obscene sex “education”? At stores that have bathrooms for both genders? At government meetings that allow a satanist to give the opening prayer? Let us not just blog!
In large part, the big dip in abortions — the lowest number per thousand since 1973 — is because so many young women have had second thoughts after seeing Catholic protesters. Nearly sixty percent of Americans are now pro-life!
But again: the most consequential battles will be fought in the spirit. They will be fought with prayer. This doesn’t take vitriol. This doesn’t take divisiveness and hatefulness. This doesn’t mean screaming or shouting or insulting, which usually tallies to little or no effect. This isn’t bloggery or comments on Facebook.
It means casting the demon of whatever evil we are fighting out. That’s real combat! That’s real intercession! That’s where the real war is!
For all the protests in the world won’t have a permanent effect if the demon is still there, slinking below the surface.