Spiritual Warfare: Introduction

Spiritual Warfare in the 21st Century

John 1:1-4

In the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him, all things were made and without Him, nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life and that life was a light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1:14

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only son, who came from the Father full of grace and truth.

These verses would seem like a peculiar or an unusual place to start a discussion on spiritual warfare. So let me break it down a little bit.  To start, let’s explore the “Word”. This word is from the Greek “logos” which translated means written language.  But that simple English translation doesn’t convey the depth of what logos meant to the Greeks of Jesus time.  The educated Greeks rejected superstition and mysticism in favor of reason and rhetoric. For them, the invention of the written language – the logos was a point of historical demarcation. Before logos was Mythos or the age of superstition.  After logos was the age of rationale thought, philosophy and rhetoric. 

From the Greek perspective, from that point in history, logos brought sophistication; logic and reason were the foundation upon which the Greek philosophers established the modern approach for critical thinking.  At its zenith the great philosophers, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and others influenced cultures worldwide even to this day. Greek rhetoric, understanding, rational thought, even divine reasoning, was the basis of their cultural sophistication. But what the Apostle John was saying very clearly to his readers who were steeped in Greek culture was that reason, logic and wisdom did not start with the Greeks and their written language but was present in a person who is the creator of all things – Jesus.

Allow me to go a bit deeper into that concept.  In Christ, we have reason, logic and wisdom.  The Apostle Paul even goes on to say that if we are in Christ, we have the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16).  The divine wisdom that the Greeks sought and to some extent believed they were in alignment with is only attainable in Christ. Apart from Christ, we have human wisdom and reasoning, but that is limited at best even to the most brilliant minds which are cloaked in superstition and myth because of its inherent inability to see into the real but invisible dimensions that Jesus calls the heavenly realm.  The truth as Jesus proclaimed is found in him, and only his disciples were set free from myths and superstitions of a worldly mindset (John 8:30-32).

Looking back through the history of humanity and even Jewish history as recorded in the Old Testament, it’s pretty easy to recognize how superstition and myth influenced cultures.  Even the Jews were led astray to bow down to powerless idols even sacrificing their own children in the fires of Molech (Jere 30:35).  The oppressive power of their belief in myth and superstition was clearly demonstrated in these horrific acts.  In the New Testament, we can observe how the Apostle Paul met great resistance proclaiming the gospel in Ephesus due to the Ephesian’s belief in Artemis (Acts 19) – the goddess of their city.

It is the wisdom of God that is found in Jesus and is the truth that contends against myths and superstitions then and still does today.  The myths and superstitions of the 21^st century in developed western nations are different from what we read in the Bible or in historical literature, but there are spiritual battles that are still waged today in our minds and hearts.  The Kingdom of God is not of this world; it is real but invisible and its governance flows from Jesus to his disciples who are in unity with him and one another through the Holy Spirit who dwells in their hearts.  The myths and superstitions of today is any philosophy of this world and its culture that is not aligned with the truth that is only found in Christ. The juxtaposition of the spiritual (eternal, real but invisible) vs the material (temporary but tangible) is the battle ground of our faith.

We live in a material world, but we are also immersed in an invisible dimension(s) of the heavenly realm.  In us and all around us is this invisible dimension of the spiritual world.  Jesus says that we are in the world, but not of the world just as he was in the world but not of the world (John 17:14-16). The apostle Paul says that we are individually a temple and corporately the temple of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us (1 Cor 3:16-17;1 Cor 6:19).  Our bodies are made out of the dust of the earth, basic elements commonly found everywhere.  But we also have a spirit and a connection to the Holy Spirit.  This connection is why we are “one” with Jesus and the Father (John 17:21-23).  Because we are a temple of the Holy Spirit, heaven and earth are overlapped within us.  To the degree we live by faith in the overlapped dimension between heaven and earth we grow in Christlike maturity, discerning good from evil, recognizing the truth (Heb 4:12, 5:14) and are kept from being oppressed and blindly following the myths and superstitions of our day.  So, what are the myths and superstitions in the 21^st century? 

Today we can find myth and superstition in the excesses of science, philosophy (including politics) and religion (even Christianity).  Wherever science, philosophy or religion is stretched beyond its inherent limits because of an invalid underlying assumption (e.g., God does not exist or a faulty understanding of the character or nature of Jesus) you will find myth and superstition. For example, if you are trying to find the meaning of or your purpose in life apart from Jesus, you will be following myths or superstitions of our culture. If you are trying to find the origins of life in the excesses of science will find myth and superstition. Whenever you believe and put your faith into actions based upon these excesses of science, philosophy or religion, you are acting on superstition and myth. Whenever or whatever you are spending your time, energy and/or financial resources in or on these excesses you are being driven by hope in superstition and myth.  Of course, one person’s truth is another person’s myth, therein lies the spiritual battle.

Spiritual Warfare in the 21^st century is a bit more sophisticated than in the days of Jesus.  In the coming weeks and months, I am planning to write short chapters going more in depth into common (and perhaps not so common) myths we believe that are based upon on the excesses of science, political philosophies and even Christian myths. I am sure that there are likely some things I believe are myths that you hold as truths so I expect that there may be some parts of my writings that may offend you.  If you are offended, please take some time to pray through it and get back to me on where you landed and why.  It may help me to better understand my own alignment (or misalignment) with Jesus and thereby help me grow into greater maturity and Christlikeness.  Iron sharpens Iron. My hope is that together, we can help each other grow even through our disagreements to become more like Jesus – that is my ultimate goal.

Each chapter going forward will conclude with a few reflection questions.  I encourage you to spend some time in solitude and silence reflecting on these questions.  I encourage you to journal your thoughts, hold them up to scripture and soak in the Lord presence as you seek understanding of the mysteries of his Kingdom and your role and purpose in his magnificent story. 

Contact me at

Bob.isaiah61life@pm.me