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Why?

          You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8:44)

          Some 80 pages into The Christian in Complete Armour, Mr. Gurnall finally asks an important question. Why do we need to worry about all this stuff, all these graces (as he calls them,) all this armor? As we look around, it can be hard to tell that there is a war going on. If there is, it must be somewhere else, mustn’t it?

          I’ve shared my problematic response to this – surely the problems I encounter are not due to demons or devils or powers of wickedness. I am more than capable of shooting myself in my spiritual foot or of dislocating my shoulder by wielding the shield incorrectly. And I’m right. None of us needs a devil to tempt us. That does not mean they are not there. We may think ourselves insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but what if our significance is greater than we suspect? Can we see the grand scheme of things clearly enough to judge that? Is “I’m not important enough” likely to distance us from God? Why would He be near to help me when I’m not in danger because I’m nobody to Him?

          If we understand sin to be that which separates us from God, could it be that our “humble” claims to insignificance be as much a sin as our arrogance that we would be like the Most High? Mr. Gurnall says that one of Satan’s two main weapons is temptation to sin. He maintains that we need to wear our armor all the time because Satan and his followers make choices according to their battle plans.

          Satan chooses when to tempt us. Among the times we are most vulnerable are when we take a significant step toward God. This can mean when we’re newly converted, or when we have repented of something God has shown us. He finds it useful to tempt when we are up, when we are down, when we are busy/excited, or when we are bored. He strikes when we feel strong, and when we feel weak.

          He also chooses how to tempt. Sometimes, he questions our beliefs about God. “Did God really say...?” Sometimes, he draws attention to one facet of the Christian life in exclusion to all else – “unconditional love” and tolerance are ready weapons in his hands. Must we welcome someone who seeks to poison us with their toxicity? And if the key for you isn’t unconditional love or tolerance, there are plenty of other possible “only things that matter.”

          Satan also chooses who and what he will use to tempt us. Years ago, I found myself wondering what the greater sin was: murder or eating a big spoonful of peanut butter. In one sense, they’re equal. One is as good as the other if it can separate us from God. In another sense, they’re not equal. I am not really likely to murder anyone. It’s possible. Of course, it’s possible, but I am far more likely to eat the spoonful of peanut butter. The sins that take less effort, the ones that seem to cause less of a ripple in our lives are more effective than the ones that frighten us with their intensity.

          As I noted earlier, just because we are comparatively insignificant does not mean we will not face demonic temptation, but if we suffer it, how much greater temptation do those who have leadership roles face? Even supposing that we need no armor ourselves, should we not wear them and learn to use them on behalf of those around us who do face temptation?

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