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Are We Supposed to Resist/Fight Evil or Is God Taking Care of It Now?

I've written a book and am running into this argument at an alarming rate. It seems as though allot of Christians are under the belief that we aren't supposed to fight for what's right/good/honest and that God is taking care of fighting all our battles with satan himself. Well, sort of, that's the gist of what I'm getting from folks. The trouble I'm having with this is obvious;

Exodus 23:24; Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.
Ephesians 5.11; Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
Ephesians 6.10-20; Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
Zechariah 8.16; These are the things you shall do: Speak each man the truth to his neighbor: Give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace.
Galatians 5:1; Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Romans 12:21; Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Quran 44:51; Surely those who guard against evil are in a secure place.






All comments and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 
One aspect that tends to be problematic is the fact that as we live in a Democratic society where our votes count and we then supposedly have a "voice", we tend to think that we can take on politically what we view as evil by our votes and certainly the "ears" of our Senators and Congressmen. And, as there is so much spin telling us about percieved evils, we tend to get waylaid by a lot of deceptions at times.

I have searched Paul's Letters to the different Churches looking for clues as to how to be a Believer and still be a Citizen in a democratic Society in which I live in to fulfill those worldly obligations as well. No really clear answers, but one aspect of fighting against evil is in ourselves resisting the deceptions that are certainly all around us in these Last Days. Another verse to throw out there is Colossians 2:8 <sup class="versenum">8 </sup>Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
{NKJV}

Fighting evil or exposing those elements of darkness of course has to start with ourselves. Most of those verses you list really are directed towards the first person, rather than on an outward focus and thus it would be wrong to think that God has taken care of all our personal battles in overcoming any evil in our own lives.
 
I respect your input but am having a hard time taking anything from it. In my humble opinion, our democratic society is a complete farce and in fact our votes don't matter one iota! Our senators and congressmen are all corrupt to the core, working for the satanic global elite (Rothschilds, Warburgs, Morgans, Rockefellers etc.) . Our elected officials are all nothing but sellout puppets. But that's getting into politics and off course.

The problem I'm having is in figuring out where we're all supposed to be standing in resisting evil doers. It seems to me that the scriptures are quite clear that we're not supposed to roll over and play dead but there's an odd, do nothing consensus floating around in my church that I can't put my finger on. It's almost as if, dare I say, followers are somehow beguiled or possessed! I mean, c'mon, who lets evil and LIES just hang around among us without reproving them? Well, that's how the Christian soldier in me feels anyway.

So, when you Jamesone5 says "fighting against evil is in ourselves resisting the deceptions that are certainly all around us in these Last Days", it makes me pause in distress. For again, shouldn't we be seeing to it that this is not just a game of resistance but one of offensive maneuvering as well. After all, last days or not, shouldn't we be continually responding in the manners clearly prescribed in the good books?

I'm really not seeing the demons in the mirror nor in my fellow countrymen, but they most clearly are in the hearts of our leaders of current. Getting rid of all the scum seems like the battle we should all be fighting. I would love to hear more chime in on this stuff. The New World Order is satans' grand plan, and from what I can tell, it has nothing to do with the end of the world, just the end of us as followers of God/Christ. I think we should be fighting like hell right now!
 
I can't believe threads about the weather, the second millenium, math brain teaser and funny evolution are getting more action than this one!!! Something is very, very wrong here!
 
Maybe I can give you something in this response.

You seem to be looking for an offensive weapon, while being saddened by the passiveness as to fighting evil in fellow Believers, at least in your own Church.

Certainly as some suggest, that the only offensive weapon we have in our Armor of God is the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God {Eph. 6:17,NKJV} Likely we are all misusing or just taking for granted the Awesome Power of the Word.

As to reproving the evil and the lies going on around us that to me are in such abundance, I believe it would and can be a very consuming thing. For myself in maybe paying too much attention to the lies themselves, it weakens me in a Spiritual manner and I always have to bring my focus back to the Word of God. I merely am not strong enough in my Faith to allow too much of a focus on the evil and the lies themselves around me. I always have to go back to working on me and my own Faith.

We all have to definitely be prepared if this "new world order" is to come. I believe as Christ says that even the elect can be deceived [if it were possible] and thus satan is definitely going first after those who claim the Name of Christ as well as the non-believers. Just seems to me that one huge aspect of living in a world of evil and deceptions is to test everything by the Word and certainly be discerning in what man may tell us or have us believe. My weapon in this world of such evil and clear deceptions is simply to let the Holy Spirit increase my Wisdom and grow in my Faith and thus be proactive in a sense.
 
It's interesting that you used the word offensive since in my opinion the entire problem with our world is that we, the only ones who could actually rise up with the strength of the Almighty within us, aren't. Instead we're forced into defensive postures, constantly being beguiled and beaten into corners by ruthless, lying, satanic scum! That just doesn't seem anything like what I remember learning about in terms of our forefathers and other famous fighters of truth.

So, do we not have other "offensive" weapons to be used in conjunction with that of Gods' armor and sword? What about fighting for what we believe in? Especially if that "fighting" isn't anything more than peaceful resistance and non-compliance. The new world order is coming and has been for decades if not centuries. And what it prescribes is ONE RELIGION, satanism! Are we going to just sit idly by while a bunch of satanic nutters take over our world?
 
I believe in the passage that directs us to "put on the full armor of God" we are told to actively, not just passively, fight against evil. But what does that look like? Of course one level is on the political level, and some Christians are called to run for public office in order to try and influence public policy. I really think it all has to do with where God has called us to be. For me, right now, it is being focused on raising Godly children in the way they should go, and provide them the tools they will need when they entire the wider world to fight evil in whatever way God calls them.
 
I've written a book and am running into this argument at an alarming rate. It seems as though allot of Christians are under the belief that we aren't supposed to fight for what's right/good/honest and that God is taking care of fighting all our battles with satan himself. Well, sort of, that's the gist of what I'm getting from folks. The trouble I'm having with this is obvious;

Exodus 23:24; Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.
Ephesians 5.11; Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
Ephesians 6.10-20; Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
Zechariah 8.16; These are the things you shall do: Speak each man the truth to his neighbor: Give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace.
Galatians 5:1; Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Romans 12:21; Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Quran 44:51; Surely those who guard against evil are in a secure place.






All comments and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

As far as those statements stand, I cannot say I disagree. I believe Christians should be at the forefront of such movements which try and bring about justice. Movements such as environmentalism, animal rights, the slavery and sex trade in Africa, etc.
 
I've written a book and am running into this argument at an alarming rate. It seems as though allot of Christians are under the belief that we aren't supposed to fight for what's right/good/honest and that God is taking care of fighting all our battles with satan himself. Well, sort of, that's the gist of what I'm getting from folks. The trouble I'm having with this is obvious;

Exodus 23:24; Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.
Ephesians 5.11; Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
Ephesians 6.10-20; Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
Zechariah 8.16; These are the things you shall do: Speak each man the truth to his neighbor:Give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace.
Galatians 5:1; Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Romans 12:21; Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Quran 44:51; Surely those who guard against evilare in a secure place.


All comments and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.


Does any of this help?

1Pe 2:11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.
1Pe 2:12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.

1Pe 2:13 Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority,
1Pe 2:14 or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.
1Pe 2:15 For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.
1Pe 2:16 Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.
1Pe 2:17 Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.
1Pe 2:18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable.
1Pe 2:19 For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.
1Pe 2:20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.

1Pe 2:21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,
1Pe 2:22 WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH;
1Pe 2:23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;
1Pe 2:24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
1Pe 2:25 For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

Why have you included a passage from the Quran?
 
Not all are called to do the same thing in a war. One is called to write news or even propaganda. Others take care of logistics. Some are foot soldiers, some in the air force, and some on sea. And each has a different functiòn.
One battle I fought entailed putting òn the full armor of Gòd and, having done everything I knew how to do, to stand and hold the ground. All the fighting in the world does no good if there is ño one to hold the ground.
Then God directed me to 2 Chròn..20 where I was to sing praises to the Lord while the ènemy defeated itself.
Èach time the battle instructions may be a littlle different. Our part is to obey His orders.
I pray or sing praises. Sometimes I counter with the sword of the Word. Satan was overcome by the Blood and the testamonies of the saints. Quite often I testify as to what God has done in our family. If people don't want to believe they will throw up all kinds of intellectual arguments. But unless their hearts are very hard, they may listen to a testimòny. This is face to face çombat. It may employ turning the other cheek, overcoming evil with good, or otherwise just not following the crowd. I was forced to learn this kind of warfare to survive in my own hòme some 40 years ago.
So the point is that each of us answers to the Commander and Chief of the Lords' Armies. Each of us has different marçhing orders accordings to our functiòn and gifts. Each has a different purpose. And it is our sole duty to obey Hìm. We can't afford to stand around wondering what another person's functiòn is when we each have òur own duties to perform. We just do them and report back for more instructiòns.
 
James 4 NASB
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James exhorts believers to resist the devil in order to cause him to flee or “run away” from us. To resist means to withstand, strive against, or oppose in some manner. Resistance can be a defensive maneuver on our part, such as resisting or withstanding the temptation to sin. Or, it can be an action we take to use the only offensive weapon in the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:13-18), the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. Using the Scriptures to expose Satan’s lies and temptations is the most effective way to strive against and defeat them.

The apostle John records Jesus saying about Satan, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). As Christians, we have full life when we are aware of the reality of the presence of evil. As we struggle to stand firm in our faith, we must realize that the enemies we are up against are not merely human ideas, but real forces that come from the powers of darkness. The Bible says, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12).

Why will resistance cause the devil to flee? Because he knows he cannot have victory over us if we are prepared to do battle against him. As mentioned before, the Bible assures us that we need only put on the full armor of God to be fully protected from evil and to actively resist it. There is nothing more frightening to Satan than a believer who is fully equipped with spiritual armor, beginning with the “helmet of salvation,” which protects our minds and the “breastplate of righteousness,” which protects our hearts because it is the righteousness of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21). Only a true believer wears these because only those who have received God’s forgiveness by grace through faith have eternal salvation and the righteousness of Christ imputed to them.
 
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