By Steven Norris
Two Sundays ago, I stood before my congregation and preached a very different sermon from what I had prepared. Violence had dominated the news headlines throughout the week and I felt the Spirit leading me to a different word for that day.
However, now may be the time for the message I had prepared (with a little context). Our church has been studying the New Testament letter to the Colossians. This is an “occasional letter” attributed to the Apostle Paul, meaning that there were certain circumstances that prompted it (he wasn’t just sitting down to write a book of the Bible).
There were certain groups threatening the young Christians in Colossae and Paul was encouraging them keep their focus on Jesus alone. In the wake of recent violence in our nation, it is imperative for people of faith to be clear about the true nature of our enemy. Therefore, I would like to suggest four characteristics of the enemy’s presence that are important to remember.
First, people are not our enemy. The scriptures are clear: “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). Humans — men and women created in God’s image — are not the enemy. People are intended to be loved (see Mark 12:28-31). The true enemy is found in the dark forces at work in our world — greed, selfishness, pride, hatred, malice, idolatry, and the unquenchable thirst for power.
Second, the enemy shows up when anyone tries to add anything as necessary for salvation beyond the person of Jesus.It could be a new book, specific teacher, denomination, position on social issues, or political affiliation. Be skeptical when anyone tries to tell you must align yourself with anything other than the person and work of Jesus to be “right with God.”
Third, the enemy shows up in any teaching that creates intentional division among the people of God. Teaching that elevates one group into a position of looking down on or demeaning another group in the body is not of Christ. Christ came to break down human divisions (see Galatians 3:28-29; Colossians 3:11). Christ has come to bring peace and reconciliation above all (see John 17:20-21; Ephesians 2:11-22; 2 Corinthians 5:11-21).
Finally, the enemy shows up when we ignore the physical needs of our neighbor in exchange for purely spiritual solutions. The doctrine of the Incarnation says that Jesus took on flesh and became one of us in order to redeem all creation. This is why we work to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, house the homeless, and welcome the stranger. To a hungry person, the Gospel is bread. To a naked person, the Gospel is clothing. Salvation is about restoring God’s shalom — God’s wholeness and order to creation — not in finding ways to “get my soul to heaven” while the rest of the world burns.
I encourage us all: know the real enemy and focus your attention on following Christ, bridging the chasms that divide our world, and serving your neighbor in need. Such focus is needed today more than ever.