As a typical Episcopalian, I don’t usually spend much time thinking about spiritual warfare. For some traditions, it is a central component of the faith.  There are churches that teach about Satan and his forces and their constant onslaught against us. I’ve never been one to subscribe to this manner of thinking. Not that I don’t believe in evil, I just don’t think we’re human puppets whose strings are so easily plucked. It has always seemed to me that “the devil made me do it” argument can too easily become an excuse or a convenient bogeyman.  

Now, I do think that there are times when the forces of evil, such as they are, are at work. Normally, however, it’s more a factor of what’s in my heart than some external moveable force I’m waging battle against. My inner struggle is more akin to the cartoon angel and demon on my shoulder, whispering in my ears. More often than not, the angel wins, in part because I point myself towards God and the teachings of Jesus. I have an example and an inspiration for good. I do not have the same equivalent on the other side. Just my own pride, fear, and self-centeredness, which is a strong enough force.   

I was warned about spiritual warfare when I began discernment in earnest, as a young adult. One of the priests who had affirmed a call in me and encouraged me to pursue it also gave me a warning. He told me to watch out as I moved forward, because whenever we try to do something truly faithful, there will be an opposing force, an evil force that pushes back against it. I can no longer remember if he specifically warned me about Satan, but as I remember the conversation, it would have fit. While there were some moments in that process that were bumps along the way, however, it didn’t feel like I was the football in a game between the Hades Hawks and the Paradise Pluckers (angels, harps, get it?). Instead, I just had to focus on the discernment and listening for what God was calling me towards.  

The other reason I hesitate to embrace the idea of a cosmic battle for my soul is because it’s too tempting to assign evil to the behavior of others. When I hear criticism or rebuke, it would be too easy to claim the high ground of righteousness and see all attacks as skirmishes with the evil one’s minions. Plenty of people operate that way, unfortunately, which is part of the problem that we face right now. When a segment of the population makes any and every argument into a campaign in the spiritual warfare of our times, it’s hard to get beyond that. I realize this in my own life.  

The truth is that I am a fallible, imperfect being who tries his best to do what is right and what fits with what God wants out of me. I know none of you are fallible and imperfect, but hopefully you can at least empathize with me on this in a theoretical way. Most of us probably can’t say that everything we do is good; we make mistakes and screw up on a regular basis. But I do hope we can say that most of the time we are at the very least, faithful. We can be both sinful and faithful at the same time. Luther’s famous assertion that we are simultaneously sinners and righteous is helpful here. Any righteousness we can claim comes from the love of Christ who took away the sins of the world, including ours, and found us worthy in the process.

The old Pogo cartoon adaptation of a War of 1812 quote: “We have met the enemy and he is us.” That’s kind of how the whole matter feels to me most of the time. Of course, when Commander Perry wrote those words to his commanding officer after the Battle of Lake Erie, he said, “We have met the enemy and they are ours,” before listing the specific ships he captured in the battle. What’s more interesting is that the other message he sent to the Department of the Navy following battle, ascribing honor to God, saying “it pleased the Almighty” to give them the victory over their enemies. Here, in a specific way, God is brought into, or seen already present in spiritual battle, as well as the physical one. What I am reminded of is that from God’s perspective, if sin and Satan are the enemy, God can say, “I have met the enemy and they are mine.” We belong to God despite the opposing force we sometimes represent to God’s will.

At the end of the day (and also the end of days, as it happens), the victory will always belong to God. We might lose some skirmishes along the way, when we come up short and fail to live into the calling we have had placed before us, but in the long run, God wins; love wins, as it is said. I don’t see this life as one of unending spiritual warfare, but one of keeping our focus on God, listening for the Spirit, and serving as faithful stewards to the best of our ability. We must accept and name our human nature for what it is, but also claim the new life we find in Christ. It is through our faithful persistence that we are formed more and more into Christ’s image. No matter what happens, we can’t lose.  

Tom+

Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow us, that we may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.  

Photo Credits: “Boy with Angel and Devil,” Vincent Giordano, and “Man with devil shadow,” Ratz Attila, are used via subscription to dreamstime.com.