"The Armor of God"

Ephesians 6:10-24

Our study of Ephesians concludes with a key metaphor, the coat of armor. Paul states that our primary adversaries are spiritual, that we contend with spiritual forces and against cosmic powers of darkness. I have come to believe that this is more true than we may want to admit. There is a spiritual dimension to evil that is hard to ignore. Organized crime markets drugs to children through candy and stickers, so they will become lifetime customers (addicts). That's evil, really wicked. National governments use propaganda to marginalize and dehumanize our enemies so that we are willing to do just about anything to them. We market our violence to children through toys, video games, television and other digital media. Racism is passed from generation to generation through families, communities and even laws and policies. These forces have a bigger than life power in them that makes them hard to defeat. I think that's what Paul means with his vivid language of "forces" and "powers." This isn't Star Wars, this is real life. These forces are particularly powerful when they are set loose in groups: gangs, crowds, and more insidiously in economic , military, political and even religious systems.

While I am not one to look for demons under every rock or blame the devil for all the bad things I do or that others do, I do believe that there is a need for us to be in spiritual warfare against those forces that threaten the hearts and minds of our young and our society at large. We do need to put on our spiritual armor. Verses 14-17 present another opportunity for meditative reading.

"Stand, therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

Mentally picture a soldier clad this way with labels for the respective parts. If you are an artist, you might want to try and draw it: the belt of truth (what color do you imagine it?). the breastplate of righteousness (how does our righteousness and spiritual purity protect our hearts?), shoes for your feet (blessed are the feet of those who bring good news), the shield of faith (the Romans soaked their leather shields in water to guard against flaming arrows), the helmet of salvation (how does our assurance of and growth in salvation protect our minds?), and the sword of the Spirit (God's word written and spoken to our hearts, what is called a "two-edged sword" - Hebrews 4:12, Revelation 1:15).

Do you have a battle-ready faith? Remember that we represent an alternative kingdom and we must be ready to do spiritual battle, often before we do social, personal, or legislative battle. Might churches be guilty of producing wimpy Christians that end up as cannon fodder against even mild worldly forces?

Paul finishes with a call for prayer, prayer that is "in the Spirit" (fervent and connected with God, not just repeated empty words) and openly seeking God's presence and favor. There must also be prayer for others. St. Luke's has an unusual commitment to prayer that has helped my own faith. It may be the strongest weapon we have in spiritual warfare. So as you face the challenges of this day, don't go out without your armor. God has a suit for you, and it's just your size. On guard!