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Christian Warfare

Christian Warfare

Do you remember the song Onward Christian Soldiers? I remember singing it mightily as a child:

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war
With the cross of Jesus going on before
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe
Forward into battle see His banners go

Do you recognize that we are in a war?

When you think of this war, what comes to mind?

Jesus said,

From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it (Matthew 11:12 NIV84).

But what does this mean? How do forceful people lay hold of God’s kingdom? Can God’s kingdom be obtained by force, might, or power? Didn’t God previously say that it is “not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit” that His kingdom advances? (Zechariah 4:6 NIV84). So how can forceful people lay hold of God’s kingdom if it doesn’t advance with might and power?

The Good News translation helps clear up the confusion:

From the time John preached his message until this very day the Kingdom of heaven has suffered violent attacks, and violent men try to seize it (Matthew 11:12).

God’s kingdom is the kingdom of love, truth, and liberty. It is built upon design law, the protocols upon which the Creator built reality to operate. It cannot be advanced through might, power, force, coercion, external control, imposed laws, or inflicted punishments.

That’s why God cannot win people to love and trust by threatening to torture and kill those who don’t love and trust Him. Such actions result in just the opposite outcome—more rebellion, less trust, and the destruction of love.

It is Satan’s kingdom that operates upon imposed law and advances through external control, inflicted punishments, and violence.

So Jesus is telling us that since John the Baptist came preaching about the true kingdom of God—the kingdom that operates within the hearts and minds of men (Luke 17:21)—violent men, humans who embrace Satan’s kingdom of imposed laws and coercive force, have been trying to take control of it. Meaning, violent men who use imposed law, imposed punishments, and external control have been trying to take control of the Christian message and, ultimately, control of human hearts and minds.

And sadly, they have succeeded far too often.

We are in a war, fighting upon the same battlefield against the same enemy, and utilizing the same weapons that Jesus did. Jesus won every encounter, but after His ascension, the violent people slowly took over the “church” and rebuilt it not upon God’s design laws of truth, love, and freedom, but upon Roman law, Roman power, and violent methods of coercive control.

The idea that God’s law functions like human law, imposed rules requiring God to use power to punish rule-breakers, has become assumed truth to almost all Christians. Thus, violent people have taken control of the theology of Christianity and teach a violent, punishing god that wars against Jesus and what Jesus lived, taught, and revealed.

 

The Gates of Hell

But Jesus said that the gates of hell would not prevail against His true church, which is built upon Him (Matthew 16:18). What a strange and interesting expression—the gates will not prevail? Think about that imagery. In warfare, what role do gates play? Do people carry gates into battle? No, gates are used to close out opposing forces and to seal in a captive people.

Jesus is saying that Satan, with his lies about God, has taken the hearts and minds of people captive in fear and selfishness. The enemy has closed the minds and hearts of many through fear and falsehood, but his gates of lies, of fear, of selfishness cannot prevail against the divine weapons given to us by God.

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:3–5 NIV84).

Our divine weapons have the power to demolish the gates of hell, to open hearts and minds to healing and salvation, to set the captives free!

  • The divine weapon of truth demolishes lies—“you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32 NIV84).
  • The divine weapon of love demolishes fear—“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18 NRSV).

We war against lies with truth and against fear and selfishness with love—the infinite love of God found only in Jesus. We do as Jesus instructed:

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. … Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:44, 45, 48 NIV84).

We can never win the war for God’s kingdom by embracing and practicing the methods of this world. We cannot win people to love by seeking to control, dominate, punish, and destroy those who disagree with us. So we move forward with the truth, in love, leaving others free.

But we also cannot win the war by compromising with the enemy, by agreeing with their falsehoods, in order to get their approval. The truth cannot be exchanged for a lie for the sake of peace. No, we are at war. We must war against all lies, all falsehoods, and all violations of the kingdom of God.

In a war, the force that takes the initiative dictates the place and the flow of the battle and often wins the conflict; the force defending scrambles to react to the force directing the terms of the engagement.

As Christians, we are to be advancing the kingdom of God by taking the initiative, moving forward the truth about Jesus, and standing firm for reality as God created things to be. But all too often, reacting to the false allegations of God’s enemy, too many good-hearted people find themselves placating the enemy rather than advancing the truth God has given them.

Have we fallen into a trap of reacting to the methods, standards, practices, rules, and logic of the world, trying to meet the worldly on the platform of godless standards, or are we advancing the kingdom of God on God’s terms, with His methods, holding to His principles and refusing to step down into the perversion of the world?

When COVID swept the world and the fear-messaging, mind manipulation, and other coercive tactics were employed, did Christian organizations stand for the principles of truth, love, and liberty of conscience—or did far too many embrace the methods of the world and justify coercion of conscience and collusion with the false governmental narratives? (If you would like to know what the false narratives were and how minds were manipulated, see my presentation COVID and the Manipulation of Your Mind.)

When greed-driven corporations and power-hungry politicians divide society based on race, sex, gender, or any other identity issue, does the church fall into their trap and seek to prove how inclusive it is by holding sensitivity training and working to be inclusive of each and every identity group—or does the church stand for the principles of God’s kingdom and stand firm on the truth that there are only two groups of people: the righteous and the wicked, the sheep and the goats, the wheat and the tares, the saved and the lost. Do Christians recognize that in God’s kingdom, race, sex, nationality, tribe, language, marital status, or vax status doesn’t matter? What matters is character. In God’s kingdom, “there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28 NIV84). In God’s kingdom, there are only those who are like Jesus in character—and we are to advance the kingdom of God by keeping Christ, His character, methods, principles, and design laws central.

Martin Luther King Jr. understood this and dreamed of a country in which his little girls would be judged by the quality of their character and not by the color of their skin. Has the church continued to advance this high standard of godliness—or has it fallen into the devil’s trap and worked to prove to the world how inclusive it is?

Yes, we are at war, but it is not a war of might or power; it is a war of methods: truth, love, freedom at war against lies, fear and selfishness, and control. I invite you to embrace the kingdom of God and advance it by using only His methods—truth, love, and freedom.

 

 

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Testimony 70

I have been watching you for many years and have learned to love God with all my heart. I was raised by a loving Christian mother that had been lied to about who God really was, so our religious upbringing was hell fire and damnation. As soon as I was old enough and moved out, I not only left the church, I ran as fast as I could to get away from it. Sad to say, it wasn’t until the past couple of years that I learned and understand who my Father really is and how much He loves me. I understand God’s Design Laws (which make sense) and when I’m teaching my church Bible study class, I’m able to really put to use the things I’ve been learning and Holy Spirit is leading. Thank you for introducing me to my Father of true, pure love. Everyday with Him is new and exciting. One thing that breaks my heart is that I didn’t know Him sooner. God Bless you and your ministry!

Judy Phelps, Reno, NV, USA

Testimony 37

Hearing Dr. Jennings’ presentations in person came at a pivotal moment in my spiritual journey that began about nine months ago, when the fault lines inherent in my belief system began to crack under questions that most reasonable people end up asking about God and His nature. These were questions I couldn’t find answers to, and they shook my faith. I was unable let it go any longer and be satisfied. My Christian experience became distant. I was afraid; the fear in me rose like thorns, pushing me away from Jesus. And then someone heard my questions and introduced me to this ministry, and my life has totally changed.

I can tell you that this new, “present truth” message is far grander and life-changing than when I shifted from being an agnostic and then a nominal Christian. It has radically altered my worldview, because it reveals a God that makes sense. It is a revolution. I believe that Dr. Jennings’ message is the final message that must go to the world. If any message could be called “righteousness by faith,” as abused as that term is by the right and the left, this is that message, because Jennings’ biblical message identifies a God who is different, whose character isn’t an impossible contradiction.

I walk this path now without fear. I see people differently, and the Holy Spirit burns in my heart. Many call Dr. Jennings’ message false and compromising, but it isn’t false, because I’ve seen the fruits within my mind and body. It is not compromising, because in this message is the only road to holiness that makes any sense. No longer do I behold a pagan god who is always angry and suspicious. Instead, I behold a God who is freeing and loving, always working for our good, and giving me every reason to love my enemy even to my own death, just as Jesus pleads with us. God is good.

Anthony L., CA, USA

 

Testimony 42

I am just writing to say that I have been so blessed by the teachings of Come And Reason Minitries recently. I watched last week’s bible study lesson on Youtube and am thankful that the error in the printed lesson guide you use was pointed out and this week’s study was of equal benefit, if not more so. My understanding of God’s nature has been very confused of late and I am so grateful for clarity in this matter. I have never really fully understood previously how a good God can cause bad things to happen and now I realise that He doesn’t, it’s a natural consequence of sin. May the almighty Father and His Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, continue to bless your ministry.

Laura P., United Kingdom

 

Testimony 9

I really enjoy with you the view of a gracious God. Thank you for sharing the work you are allowing the Lord to do in you.

L., Queensland, Australia

 

Testimony 56

I cannot thank you enough for opening my understanding to the beautiful truth of God’s Law of Love and how it applies to everything. I have been a Christian for over forty years, but I feel like I am only now seeing with my eyes open. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!

Tammy Cinzio, Australia

 

Testimony 6

I got the book “Could It Be This Simple?” a few months ago and the reading was wonderful and I was fascinated. I lent the book to a friend at work. She is having a difficult time and the book is helping her to find Jesus and I found this very exciting. She has asked me questions and I can see her life changing.

H. S., Australia

 

Testimony 29

Thank you for all of your work to correct misconceptions about God’s character. So many people that my husband and I have talked to seem to be against the natural law construct and view it as “errant” and “dangerous.” Having learned more about it through your blogs and lessons, I don’t really understand why they view it that way, except that it means they have to relearn theology they have known for their entire lives. But I’m so excited to relearn this. For the past few years I have been questioning how I could trust a God who punishes arbitrarily and is full of wrath for those who don’t obey His commands. That view made me afraid to “mess up” or “not be good enough,” even within my relationship with God. I really appreciated the point you bring out about God not wanting us to serve Him because we are afraid, but because we love Him.

Melissa H., IN, USA

 

Testimony 46

Over the past couple of years God has been expanding my view of Himself and His character. Along my approximately 40-year journey, I have often had questions, but was hesitant to voice these and step outside the traditionally accepted thinking, for fear of admitting that I may in fact be eternally lost. In the recesses of my thinking has been the thought – if one blindly accepts (which is widely regarded as “real faith”) and does not question, is this really ‘truth?’ I often find it challenging to grapple with very theological ‘speak,’ but Dr. Jennings has a real gift of explaining spiritual concepts with clear practical examples. The weekly discussions are growing my Christian experience and slowly changing my view of how to live as a child of God in today’s complex world. Finally the whole Old Testament sanctuary teaching moved in my mind from fantasy to reality!

Beverly S., South Africa

 

Testimony 5

We listen to your bible studies lessons in our class in Montana. You actually were the main reason I decided to get a laptop, so I can go to your site and listen, read, learn, and print the class notes. I am so grateful to learn the correct view of God and his character. Now, to just have others have an interest in knowing, so I can share it with them. Good thoughts your way.

R. N., MT, USA

 

Testimony 4

I’m a youth leader in South Africa. We as a youth group are currently using a lot of the material on the Come and Reason site. Since we’ve started using the material, our youth group has grown.

R. V. N., South Africa

 

Testimony 14

We really appreciate your views on the judgment and they make good sense considering our free choice.

Anonymous

 

Testimony 24

I wanted to thank you very much for presenting your understanding of God. I’ve always been troubled by this question: Why did Jesus have to die? Since my conversion I understood that The Father & Jesus are one, I did not have issues with that. But was there not any other way to save us than for Jesus to die? I guess I actually had a question about God – if He is so wise, how come He did not find another way? I did not see the real ‘beauty’  in the cross. Only when you explained the picture in the medical context, Jesus providing medicine for my selfishness, have I started to finally ‘see the light’. Thank you so much. Your seminar, “Healing the Mind,” are absolutely marvelous & have shared them with my family and many other people, including colleagues at work. Thanks, thanks, thanks. May God bless you abundantly in your ministry.

M. W., Australia

 

Testimony 45

I have been confused for years about what [christianity] calls [its] most disgusting teaching. It has never made much sense to me and for that reason has been evermore empty. I have listened to your class off and on and have struggled determining what is truth, because of the resistance design law encounters in the church. So, I thank God for your ministry. What you teach makes sense. It’s logical and backed up by the power of love. I have never seen that in Christ until now. I am astounded by the insight that is found when we look at God’s ministry through design law. All strength to this message, as I believe it to be the power of God.

Brendon S.

 

Testimony 50

After coming into contact with Come And Reason Ministries, I can finally say that many of my unanswered questions have fallen into place. I discovered that my view of God’s Law was “imposed laws and rules” with “imposed punishments” and that this was the major culprit of my many unanswered questions. Thanks be to God for using you and those around you to help us who have struggled with this “infection” of thought. I have now rejected the “imposed law” concept to fully embrace “Design Law”… to look thru “Design Law,” instead of “imposed law,” is a relief.

Viliami L., Australia

 

Testimony 16

Your seminars are still inspiring and changing our lives and we continue to share the principles we have learned from you. Your ministry has changed our lives!

E.W.