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Our Struggle

 For 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)

          With all that is going on, today’s passage is a basic to which we need to return. For the past four years, we’ve been told that Mr. Trump was the problem, along with anyone who disagrees. Now those who didn’t think Mr. Trump was the problem are proclaiming that Mr. Biden is the problem, along with anyone who disagrees. The reality is that Mr. Trump and Mr. Biden, and even those who disagree are not the problems. The problem is the rulers, the authorities, the powers of this dark world, and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

          Reading that, it’s easy to say, “Yeah, the rulers, like Mr. Trump/Biden.” But the president doesn’t rule. He is ruled by those who bankrolled him, putting him in office. He is also ruled by the philosophy or culture that he believes or accepts. If Mr. Biden were to experience his own “Damascus Road” conversion and suddenly start enacting Conservative policies, I’ve little doubt that he would be removed from office as incompetent or assassinated. Another person taking his place would either represent the ideals of the Liberals or the ideals of the Conservatives. The point is that the rulers, etc. would not be that person, either. The ideals are the enemy. The things that take us away from God are the enemies.

          This is again why we need to stick to the basics, including love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23.) This  is why we must not play by the rules set by the world. We are not to hate the people who oppose us. We are not to find joy in their suffering. We are not to all them names unless they have applied those names to themselves.

          We need, desperately, to learn to communicate better, to tell our stories, and to argue effectively. But we need even more for our behavior to be above reproach.

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