“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” (2 Corinthians 10:3–4, NIV)
Every now and then, it is very healthy to do a bit of self-evaluation. Examine how you think, spiritually and emotionally. Scrutinize your motives. Are they godly? What are you thinking? What psychological pressures are you experiencing? Are there any sticking points in your mind or heart?
When I do a bit of self-evaluation, I may find myself thinking too worldly. When someone doesn’t agree with me about something I feel strongly about, I may get frustrated or angry. When a person is being self-destructive, it bothers me that I can’t stop their downward spiral. If I see a person in dire need, I’m upset when they won’t accept my help. All these are worldly thoughts. It is not my job to save people; that’s God’s job. My call is to reach out. I should not get upset when others don’t see their faults or need my help. I can’t solve every problem. I am not God. As human beings, we often default to human or worldly thinking. We take offense instead of being full of grace. We get defensive when we should be more loving. We hold things in that God wants us to share. We get frustrated and impatient when things don’t flow smoothly or go our way.
Today’s scripture is a reminder that our work in this world is not of a worldly nature. We are children of God sent on a mission by God to accomplish God’s work. We are to use godly methods not worldly practices. We are commanded to think and reflect and react in a godly manner, yet we often default to worldly thoughts and manipulations. 2 Corinthians 10:3 is a corrective reminder. It explains that Christians “live in the world” BUT “do not wage war as the world does”. What does this mean?
The world is often controlled by power and manipulation and earthly desires. Worldly people employ tried and true methods of military and political power to control others. They also use propaganda, social media, rumor and suggestion, and other worldly methods to manipulate others to fall into line. They might use sexual or monetary desires to twist the mind or form public opinion. They always have a worldly agenda. Spiritual folk like you and me are not to use worldly methods to accomplish our goals. We understand that behind many worldly goals are sinful desires. We use spiritual warfare like prayer and exhortation and praise and love and encouragement and other methods to extol God’s values and standards. God has given us spiritual gifts (see Galatians 5!) to accomplish godly works. Though today’s scripture reading discourages using “weapons of the world” to advance the gospel, sadly, some Christians chose to use worldly methods instead.
Sandra grew up in the church. She was raised by very faithful Christian parents. She was comfortable in her church. She enjoyed the camaraderie. She had many friends in the pews. When Sandra turned thirty-two, her daughter Paula was born. Paula was Sandra’s only child. Sandra loved her daughter dearly and was very protective of her.
When Paula’s Sunday School class was slated to help with the Christmas program, Paula was chosen to be an angel. Sandra was not happy about it. She wanted her daughter to play Mary. Sandra went to the director of the program and asked for Paula to play the part of Mary. When the director explained that an older child was slated to play Mary, Sandra became upset. She argued with the director. Not getting her way, Sandra then went to the Christian Education Director, then to the Pastor, then to her friends in the church. She made such a stink that by the time everything was said and done, her daughter had the part of Mary. However, due to Sandra’s tactics, the director of the play, two teachers and several people on the Christian Education Committee all quit their jobs. Sandra thought she had won.
What Sandra didn’t realize was that she used worldly tactics to achieve her goals. She used power and manipulation and coercion and propaganda and many other worldly methods to accomplish her goal. This not only tainted Sandra’s personal life but it also taught Paula that she too should use worldly tactics in the church to accomplish what she wanted. To this day, Sandra is a leader in her church not because she is a godly woman but because she wields a lot of worldly power. People are afraid of her. How godly does that sound?
I have met dozens of Christians who used worldly tactics to accomplish their spiritual and worldly goals. In every case, it caused these Christians to become much more worldly. They were not respected in the church for their faithfulness but feared for their ruthlessness. Not content to use godly ways to do what was right, they were more than willing to resort to worldly tactics to manipulate any situation. They inspired all kinds of evil in their church.
The Bible lists dozens of seemingly faithful people who resorted to worldly methods to accomplish evil goals. Miriam and Aaron spoke out against Moses because of his Cushite wife. Korah and dozens of others rebelled against God’s choices in the wilderness. Ananias and Saphira withheld money from mission work. Judas betrayed Jesus to the Jewish authorities. These are just a few of the people who used worldly methods to damage God’s authority. What I find interesting is how ALL OF THEM suffered and/or died because of their misguided actions.
When you use worldly methods to accomplish your goals, it will often backfire. Like Haman, who used politics in an attempt to kill faithful Jews in the days of Queen Esther and was himself killed on the gallows he himself erected for his enemies, God’s anger is poured out upon all those who employ worldly attitudes and manipulations. When a person of faith dares to use worldly tactics, God’s wrath will be unleashed. When a church is rife with worldly actions and people, God’s Spirit will be removed (see Revelation 2:5). When that happens, a church will usually fall apart; consumed with earthly desires and worldly fights.
For today, do a little self-evaluation. Is there an area of your life that is tainted by worldly thoughts or desires? When are you tempted to use worldly tactics to accomplish your goals? How might you utilize God’s Spirit to accomplish holy deeds in a godly fashion? Are you prone to impulsive or impatient or selfish reactions? Let God show you a better way to battle issues! God has the power to “demolish strongholds” of evil around you (2 Corinthians 10:4) if you are willing to fight God’s fight in God’s way!
When I do a bit of self-evaluation, I may find myself thinking too worldly. When someone doesn’t agree with me about something I feel strongly about, I may get frustrated or angry. When a person is being self-destructive, it bothers me that I can’t stop their downward spiral. If I see a person in dire need, I’m upset when they won’t accept my help. All these are worldly thoughts. It is not my job to save people; that’s God’s job. My call is to reach out. I should not get upset when others don’t see their faults or need my help. I can’t solve every problem. I am not God. As human beings, we often default to human or worldly thinking. We take offense instead of being full of grace. We get defensive when we should be more loving. We hold things in that God wants us to share. We get frustrated and impatient when things don’t flow smoothly or go our way.
Today’s scripture is a reminder that our work in this world is not of a worldly nature. We are children of God sent on a mission by God to accomplish God’s work. We are to use godly methods not worldly practices. We are commanded to think and reflect and react in a godly manner, yet we often default to worldly thoughts and manipulations. 2 Corinthians 10:3 is a corrective reminder. It explains that Christians “live in the world” BUT “do not wage war as the world does”. What does this mean?
The world is often controlled by power and manipulation and earthly desires. Worldly people employ tried and true methods of military and political power to control others. They also use propaganda, social media, rumor and suggestion, and other worldly methods to manipulate others to fall into line. They might use sexual or monetary desires to twist the mind or form public opinion. They always have a worldly agenda. Spiritual folk like you and me are not to use worldly methods to accomplish our goals. We understand that behind many worldly goals are sinful desires. We use spiritual warfare like prayer and exhortation and praise and love and encouragement and other methods to extol God’s values and standards. God has given us spiritual gifts (see Galatians 5!) to accomplish godly works. Though today’s scripture reading discourages using “weapons of the world” to advance the gospel, sadly, some Christians chose to use worldly methods instead.
Sandra grew up in the church. She was raised by very faithful Christian parents. She was comfortable in her church. She enjoyed the camaraderie. She had many friends in the pews. When Sandra turned thirty-two, her daughter Paula was born. Paula was Sandra’s only child. Sandra loved her daughter dearly and was very protective of her.
When Paula’s Sunday School class was slated to help with the Christmas program, Paula was chosen to be an angel. Sandra was not happy about it. She wanted her daughter to play Mary. Sandra went to the director of the program and asked for Paula to play the part of Mary. When the director explained that an older child was slated to play Mary, Sandra became upset. She argued with the director. Not getting her way, Sandra then went to the Christian Education Director, then to the Pastor, then to her friends in the church. She made such a stink that by the time everything was said and done, her daughter had the part of Mary. However, due to Sandra’s tactics, the director of the play, two teachers and several people on the Christian Education Committee all quit their jobs. Sandra thought she had won.
What Sandra didn’t realize was that she used worldly tactics to achieve her goals. She used power and manipulation and coercion and propaganda and many other worldly methods to accomplish her goal. This not only tainted Sandra’s personal life but it also taught Paula that she too should use worldly tactics in the church to accomplish what she wanted. To this day, Sandra is a leader in her church not because she is a godly woman but because she wields a lot of worldly power. People are afraid of her. How godly does that sound?
I have met dozens of Christians who used worldly tactics to accomplish their spiritual and worldly goals. In every case, it caused these Christians to become much more worldly. They were not respected in the church for their faithfulness but feared for their ruthlessness. Not content to use godly ways to do what was right, they were more than willing to resort to worldly tactics to manipulate any situation. They inspired all kinds of evil in their church.
The Bible lists dozens of seemingly faithful people who resorted to worldly methods to accomplish evil goals. Miriam and Aaron spoke out against Moses because of his Cushite wife. Korah and dozens of others rebelled against God’s choices in the wilderness. Ananias and Saphira withheld money from mission work. Judas betrayed Jesus to the Jewish authorities. These are just a few of the people who used worldly methods to damage God’s authority. What I find interesting is how ALL OF THEM suffered and/or died because of their misguided actions.
When you use worldly methods to accomplish your goals, it will often backfire. Like Haman, who used politics in an attempt to kill faithful Jews in the days of Queen Esther and was himself killed on the gallows he himself erected for his enemies, God’s anger is poured out upon all those who employ worldly attitudes and manipulations. When a person of faith dares to use worldly tactics, God’s wrath will be unleashed. When a church is rife with worldly actions and people, God’s Spirit will be removed (see Revelation 2:5). When that happens, a church will usually fall apart; consumed with earthly desires and worldly fights.
For today, do a little self-evaluation. Is there an area of your life that is tainted by worldly thoughts or desires? When are you tempted to use worldly tactics to accomplish your goals? How might you utilize God’s Spirit to accomplish holy deeds in a godly fashion? Are you prone to impulsive or impatient or selfish reactions? Let God show you a better way to battle issues! God has the power to “demolish strongholds” of evil around you (2 Corinthians 10:4) if you are willing to fight God’s fight in God’s way!