“We Wrestle Not Against Flesh and Blood…”
by Rick Lunsford

Paul’s words to the Ephesians have echoed time and again in the hearts of most Christians as they have dealt with the travesties of life over the years. Since 9-11 these words have taken on a whole new reality. Previously, we had little or no contact with terrorism. Terrorism was a third world or Middle Eastern dilemma, mostly having to do with Israel.

Today terrorism has spread across the boundaries of oceans and has invaded our world in the west. This war on terrorism is not just about dealing with hostile nations or dictators as many have come to believe, but rather, we have come face to face with the devil himself. Today all of our previous teaching on spiritual warfare is being tested and we have been found wanting.

By now it should have become overwhelmingly obvious to most spiritually minded people that terrorism and Islam are synonymous. Unfortunately, the lights haven’t come on in the minds of those occupying the platforms of communication in our country. The talking heads of government and the media are calling on every expert they can find to give his or her “educated opinion” on how to deal with the ever increasing, worldwide terrorism situation at hand. At the same time, with all eyes on Iraq, the whole world is looking for someone to blame for our failure to quiet the turbulent waters of war and to bring peace. Still we refuse look up.

Andy Rooney of CBS chimed in with a “profound” plan to bring salvation to our nation and specifically our government. He explained that our college and university professors are the most highly educated people in America. Therefore, why not establish another branch of government in Washington and call it the “Bureau of Smart People.” It would be made up of only the most intelligent professors from the top colleges and universities in our nation. These wise men and women would not be voted into office, but rather chosen by their peers and would serve a term of two years.

These “Smart People” would be called on to consider every major issue that we face as a nation and give their opinion to our President and the Congress; to be considered as a remedy to the problems we face. They would also give a written report of their findings to the media and thus might apply pressure on our President and government by swaying public opinion and forcing them into implementing their findings. How bizarre is this?

Today the media and our government flood us with endless unspiritual answers to a spiritual problem. That problem is rooted in the anti-Christ spirit of Islam. This principality religiously lords it over most of the Arab (specifically Muslim) world and will not stop its torment, murder and mayhem until it devours the whole world and sits on the throne of Jerusalem declaring himself to be god. This spirit cannot deny itself because it is inherently, by its very nature, anti-Christ. It is anti-God as we know God to be, anti-Jewish and anti-Christian. This spirit loathes the principles of God and certainly the authority of God Almighty. It hates anyone and anything that remotely embraces God, His character and His ways. It doesn’t matter to the spirit of Islam whether people are true followers of God. If people embrace Judeo-Christian values in opposition or indifference to Islam they are an enemy to Islam.