World Affairs

The Spiritual Divide

by Zeal Clark
08/07/16
Free to Share

  Message Writer
  Hire Writer

Tweet

     One of the definitions of a “divide” is “a separation of people into two or more groups that is caused by different opinions or beliefs or by a disagreement; a point or line of division or disagreement.” Most people would probably agree with this definition or concept as it relates to political or cultural matters, as it’s clear that there certainly seems to be many factors or interests causing divides within our country and throughout the world.

     But what many may fail to recognize is that what is actually causing the dissention throughout America and throughout the world is far more significant than mere disagreements regarding cultures and styles. What the world is being subjected to is a great spiritual divide, that has been steadily progressing, or perhaps regressing, and is now to the point that it is in complete control of our society. Therefore, this definition fully characterizes the spiritual state of our world today.

     Unfortunately though, the notion that what is happening throughout the world is governed greatly by what is occurring in the spiritual realm, is often met with a great deal of doubt, and even outright disbelief by many, even many Christians. Christians who fall into this category quite often have limited knowledge of what is written in the Scriptures upon which they claim to base their Christianity. They often fail to “study to show themselves approved unto God,” as commanded by Scripture in II Timothy 2:15 KJV; therefore they are easily persuaded to identify primarily with secular beliefs.

     One Scripture clearly warns us to expect to have to battle against opposing spiritual forces that will rise up in an attempt to pull us away from Christian principles. That Scripture, found in Ephesians 6:12, states:

     12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places .NKJV

     In this Scripture the Apostle Paul explains that our earthly battles are actually physical manifestations of spiritual battles that are waged against us by satanic forces. The satanic goals are to keep Christians from realizing or identifying the actual source of our earthly problems. Our enemy knows quite well that by keeping Christians focused on worldly issues and problems from a physical rather than a spiritual perspective, he is able to minimize the influence that Christianity has on our society. This worldly focus keeps Christians from counter-attacking these issues from a spiritual or prayerful standpoint that would be considerably more effective. 

     The Apostle Paul further expounds on this principle in II Corinthians 10:1-6: 

     3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. NKJV

     The Apostle Paul is declaring that we need to be mindful of the distinction between the natural and the spiritual and recognize the extent to which we must war against the natural issues by addressing them as spiritual issues. He is reminding us that, while we might struggle with natural issues using natural warfare principles, we cannot be successful against them when they are the work of spiritual hosts of wickedness.

     He then explains how we are to wage warfare against these seemingly natural issues that we face, such as those that are dividing our culture. More specifically, we must strip away the camouflage and identify each biblical or spiritual issue that is under attack and we are to address these issues directly and spiritually through prayer directed toward the core of each problem.

     God has given Christians the capacity to prayerfully discern the basis of natural manifestations of spiritual issues through the help of the Holy Spirit. While many Christians have neglected to utilize the help of the Holy Spirit, nevertheless, the Holy Spirit is always available to assist us in engaging in warfare against strongholds. This is the essence of the warfare that is addressed in this Scripture.

     Another warfare principle that is available to Christians in addressing the spiritual divide is also often neglected, usually out of fear of reprisal. This approach has been successful by the enemy to cause his followers to use the repressive tactics of “political correctness”. This physical tactic is primarily a spiritual one in which Christians are being silenced when facing what is occurring throughout our present-day culture. The result is a fear for Christians to speak out against what is clearly contrary to what is taught in Scripture, fearful of being accused of violating the principles of “political correctness”.

     As a result of Christians’ fear, this issue has progressed to the point that what was once considered politically incorrect is now considered to be “hateful speech” This so-called “hateful speech” is now rapidly progressing towards legal actions to prevent any criticism of activities and lifestyles that are clearly the result of “spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” . NKJV

     Christianity is clearly being silenced. For fear of reprisals, Christians, being virtually leaderless in this regard, have failed to speak out or address the encroaching control of satanic forces against what was once a predominantly Bible-based culture. The result is that we are on the brink of being completely controlled by “spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” . NKJV

     Unless Christian leaders arise and begin to lead Christianity toward correctly identifying the nature of the problems and initiate the appropriate responses, as clearly defined in Scripture, our nation, along with the rest of our civilization, will lose the ability or rights to freely worship the True and Living God.

www.zeal4truth.org