We met maybe ten years ago. A Christian man, he is a political conservative. That is not the same as saying he is a Republican. Most Republicans in government are way to liberal for him. I always enjoyed talking with him because he was so easy to light up. He would go off on a rant and then he would stop, realizing I was playing with him, and then he would start laughing. He is on Facebook and I still pull his chain occasionally.

         He was not in a laughing mood on Wednesday night, though. The Capitol Building had been stormed. My friend started his Facebook rant with the words, “The war has started!!!” A veteran of the US Army, he was offended that the Capitol had been attacked, but he has been offended by politicians, Democrat and Republicans, for as long as I have known him. The actions of that mob, however, really set him off.

         There are many on both sides who want civil war. The liberals want war to beat down the conservatives. The conservatives want war in order to wipe out socialism in this country. And I agree. The war has started. The first thing you need to decide is which of the three sides you are on.

         ‘Uh, OK. There are only two sides, Pastor.’

         Not really. There are three sides. There is the liberal side, there is the conservative side and there is the Christian side. The liberal would believe that the Bible says God is love and they love everyone, other than conservatives, who are too stupid to love. So they believe liberalism and Christianity are one in the same. Afterall, when speaking out in support for late term abortions, Nancy Pelosi said that they were doing the Lord’s work. The conservative would believe that God is on their side because they espouse Christian and family values, which, oddly, are different than Christian and family values of fifty years ago. Those values are subject to change. And then there is the Christian, who is influenced by society and politics and tends to be confused as to which way to turn.

         To the liberal and to the conservative, the world would be a much better place if the other side no longer existed. Liberal commentators and politicians and comedians talked often of the President dying. Conservative politicians and regular citizens often wished, out loud, that Pelosi and others would die. The big difference is that the liberals talked of actually killing people while the conservatives talked about age or disease doing the job. The end result is the same.

         Meanwhile, Christian leaders insisted on taking sides and supporting one side or the other, as though this was the Godly thing to do. But, were they acting in a Godly way? What do we, as Christians, do during this time of national emergency?

         I suppose the answer lies in a question we were asked in seminary. Do you identify yourself first as an American or as a Christian? Are you a liberal first or a Christian? Are you a conservative first or a Christian? If you are a member of the church I pastor and someone asks you what you are, do you say Christian or nondenominational? If you are Methodist or Baptist or Brethren or whatever, do you reply with your denomination or Christian? We assume that whatever we are associated with is the same as being a Christian. It is not.

         Christians should look at the world, and therefore, the war, differently.

         Please do not misunderstand me. I love my country. During a time in the 1970s when anyone in the military was ridiculed and spit on and called names, I enlisted in the Army. There is a time for war and Christians need to be there for their country. But this is not a normal circumstance.

         So, what does a Christian do and how do we fight the war?

         There is a passage in Ephesians that we all like. It makes a great visual for little children in Sunday School. But as adults we are pulled into whatever label we prefer for ourselves and this little passage goes by the wayside. Ephesians 6:10-18---¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the Spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; ¹⁷ and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, ¹⁸ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

         First, our war is not against physical threats. It is against the evil spiritual forces that guide those threats. We have to be prepared in a different way. Verse 14, the belt of truth. In that time the Roman soldier wore a belt that had places to attach various weapons, not unlike a present day soldier wears a web belt. The principle weapon of that time would be the sword, which would be in a sheath attached to the belt. Paul says in the Spiritual way, truth has to be manifest in us. Verse 14 also speaks of the breastplate of righteousness. The breastplate protected the vital areas of the body and was what the enemy saw as he attacked. In the Spiritual war, righteousness needs to be our hallmark. Someone said to me a while back that Mike Pence calls himself a Christian but is the biggest hypocrite of all. I asked the young woman what Pence had done that made him a hypocrite, other than being a Republican. She had no answer. That is what the breastplate of righteousness does. Verse 15 tells us to wear shoes that lead us to share the Gospel of peace. That means to share Jesus with people. We are bold about our politics; are we bold about our Savior? Verse 16 shows us the shield of faith. The shield of faith allows us to see the turmoil and to know that God is in control and our job is to be consistent in our faith. Verse 17 tells us that we must put on the helmet of salvation. Unless we are born again, we will be struck down in this war. And verse 17 also tells us to take up the sword that is the Word of God. Not the feel good devotional, but the real, true, Word of God. Verse 18 tells us that all of this has to have the basis of prayer…..

         The war. It has always been there. Satan has always attacked and attacked. We have to fight the war. We are not liberal or conservative in this war, we are not Democrat or Republican in this war, we are not even American in this war. We are Christians. Are you a person of truth, or only when it is convenient? Are you striving for righteousness, or only on Sunday? Are you sharing the Gospel of Christ? Do you have real faith in the Savior? Have you accepted Jesus as Savior, or is He still a baby in a manger to you? Do you really read the Bible? Do you consume it? And what about prayer? How important is prayer in your life?

         These are dark, dark times in our country and in our world. Christians need to answer the call to stand and put on the whole armor of God.