Don't Wage War As Humans Do

 

In 2 Corinthians 10:3 Paul says this, “We are humans but we don’t wage war as humans do.”

I love how Paul insists on taking the higher ground.
He doesn’t look for an escape from duty.
He doesn’t use his “humanness” as a way out of the responsibility of godly living.

He says it like it is.

“We are humans… but we… the Jesus people… are not to ACT like humans act.”

He goes on.  “We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.”  (verse 4)

In fact he uses the identifying tools of an aggressive army when talking about the weapons we’re to use against the enemy at war with the believer.

“knock down” the strongholds.
“destroy” false arguments.
“destroy" proud obstacles.
“capture" rebellious thoughts.

Defensive warfare because of the hatred of sin.

And we see the reason Jesus came in 1 John 3:8, “to destroy the works of the devil.”

The strongholds, the arguments, the obstacles, and the thoughts.
They all have a hold on the believer, especially.

And it is our responsibility to nip them in the bud.
And to, “teach them to obey Christ.”

Teach our strongholds to obey Christ.
Teach our arguments to obey Christ.
Teach our pride to obey Christ.
Teach our thoughts to obey Christ.

The King James Version for verse 3 says it like this, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh.”

Our war is with OUR flesh.  
This is not a war AFTER flesh.

Our war is with our own strongholds, our own arguments, pride, and thoughts.

But we are not called to war AFTER the flesh.
In other words, we are not to fight in the spirit and manner with which we are fought against.

Jesus says, “If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also.”  (Luke 6:29)

It is the upside down Kingdom of God.
The harder way.
The narrow way.
But the path that leads to Jesus!

When Christ suffered under the cruelty of his fellow citizens, He returned silence for insults.

Silence for insults.
Deeds of mercy and grace for deeds of retaliation and bloodshed.

Even our dear apostle Paul, when faced with the reality of his own personal accusers says, “I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.”  (2 Tim 4:16)

The more difficult path?
Yes.
But the one necessary if we want to live in victory over the war on our very soul.