Spiritual Warfare

If a stranger to Christianity were to listen to the way today's Christians present our teachings on morality, salvation and the afterlife, they could very easily come to the conclusion that our religion is nothing but one big spiritual business, a Company of God so to speak. Consider some common phrases you have heard Christians use when they speak about salvation, as well as some of the questions raised against Christian morality. It is treated like a business manifest. Good deeds are tallied in one column, bad deeds in another. God has a specific quota in mind that we must meet, and if our good deeds do not sufficiently meet the quota, or if our bad deeds surpass our good, we are "fired" to Hell (no pun intended), or perhaps "demoted" to Purgatory. The saints are those who not only meet the quota but surpass it, thereby earning a "promotion" to Heaven.

This all-too-common presentation of Christian morality has been one of the central focuses of criticisms by opponents of Christianity for many decades. While this version has not been very popular amongst academic or clergy Christians, it has been adopted, even if unintentionally, but a majority of lay Christians, particularly in the West. An exploration into the causes and origins of this worldview would certainly be worthwhile, but it is not the intention of this article.

Rather, I wish to compare and contrast this modern idea of Christian morality with a much more ancient and far more valid conception: spiritual warfare. While some Christians may be aware of this idea, their knowledge or understanding of it is probably shallow at best, used more as an analogy than as a real, literal description of the intricacies of Christian spirituality. To view it as nothing more than analogy and symbolism misses its fundamental truth, a truth that is essential and even central to the Christian life. Our understanding of spiritual warfare not only influences our own spiritual lives, but our attitudes towards other religions, other groups within Christianity, and the deepest truths of Catholicism. It also shapes our understanding of the purpose and meaning of Christ's sacrifice, as well as the Sacred Liturgy we celebrate.

Many Catholics in today's world find it hard to imagine things like angels and demons, miracles, and even the Resurrection. Ideas such as these are often ignored or responded to with confusion or denial. When these fundamentals are forgotten, it is not difficult to see how the idea of a constant, invisible war being waged in Heaven and Earth, within each of us and all around us, between angels and demons, and even more so, between Satan and humanity, could have been lost in modern times. It can seem absurd or pointless. Yet, it is absolutely essential to the Faith. A reading of the New Testament makes this abundantly clear as we witness the interactions between Christ and angels, demons, possessed people and Satan himself. We are also told that Christ same into the world to "defeat the works of the Devil" (1 John 3:8), and that our war is not with "flesh and blood; but against principalities and power, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places." (Ephesians 6:12 Douay-Rheims 1899) And in Acts, we see the apostles carry on the work of Christ, casting out demons and being aided by angels.

But is spiritual warfare merely a heavenly struggle between angels and demons for greater influence over our souls? No, this would be a very simplistic way of seeing it. Angels and demons are only two parts of a much larger war. Truly, the greatest means of understanding spiritual warfare is the Sacred Liturgy. While we participate in the earthly Mass, the Heaven Liturgy is taking place, souls washed clean in the blood of the Lamb, armies being led by the Dragon combating the holy armies of God led by the Lamb and those clothed in white. Every time we attend Mass, we enter into this battle. Each instance of repentance is a victory for Christ; each act of confession of faith, of charity and prayer, of praise and worship is a bolster for God's Army. (For more on these ideas, see the Book of Revelation and especially Dr. Scott Hahn's magnificent book, The Lamb's Supper.)

This liturgical war is an example of the great distinction between an economic, business conception of Christian morality, and the idea of spiritual warfare. The greatest differences lie in the pragmatism of the former version, in which knowledge of only the very end of one's destiny is desired. A pragmatic morality is seen as more realistic and "boiled down", but in fact, this is a rebellion against the neglect that Catholics have shown towards explaining and living spiritual warfare over the past several decades. With spiritual warfare transformed into mere analogy or forgotten altogether, Christians replaced it with a pragmatic economy of salvation. But if we are to correct the many errors being proliferated amongst Christians in today's world, we must return to a truer, deeper understanding of spiritual warfare and we must start applying it to the way we believe and the way we live our faith.

Spiritual warfare is the most real, "down-to-earth" aspect of Christian spirituality. It is experienced everyday, all day. Our spirit, our will, is constantly experiencing new spiritual events - negatives like temptation and confusion, as well as positives like opportunities for spiritual growth in wisdom or charity. There is never a time when our spirit is dormant. Even our dreams can be sources of temptation or growth for us once we awake. The Adversary is a roving lion, and like a predator with its prey, he never lets us rest. His intelligence far surpasses ours, as does his reach and his following. He coordinates with his demonic legions, tempting each person individually. He offers excuses, confusions, emotional pressures; he tempts one person to act in a way that will tempt someone else. He and his Reign are never asleep. Neither are, however, the armies of Christ - His angels and saints, following the Lamb. These are always there to aid and protect us. But because God honors our freedom, neither demonic nor heavenly host will force themselves on us. No one can force us to choose anything against our will - they can only try to influence or protect our will and so promote its freedom.

It is perhaps the greatest folly of modern times, though it should surprise no Christian, that the majority of Western people today reject the idea of Satan, demons, angels, and spiritual warfare, especially in their traditional forms. I say that it should not surprise Christians - those who still believe in these things, that is - because we live in a fallen world. The Prince of this present darkness is cunning, and what eases his work more than disbelief? If I choose to ignore the assassin in my house, will it not be much easier for him to murder me? And even though the Faithful shine bright lights in front of people, only by choosing to turn and see what lurks behind them will someone truly identify the presence of the Enemy and his Reign. We cannot and should not try to force this choice on anyone; by doing so, we only push them further into the arms of Satan.

As should be clear, this traditional conception of spiritual warfare is greatly contrasted by the modern economics of Christian morality. But I think it is also erroneous to see spiritual warfare as a detached, impersonal relationship between soldier and General. God does not sit at the back of the lines while His troops die at the front. No - Christ came and stood at the very front, taking all the blows while His men abandoned Him, betrayed Him, and thereby fell to the Enemy. By standing in the shadow of Christ, we can accept the protection He offers us, for even when we fall to the wounds and enticements of the Enemy, Christ frees us. No adversary is greater than the Lord of Hosts.

Spiritual warfare is not only apart of daily spirituality and morality, it is an explanation for all history and a great tool of prediction. History is not ruled by economics or politics or science. The advancement or prosperity of a civilization does not determine its quality or its actions. No - the moral character of its people and its leaders determines this. And spiritual warfare is even greater than the individual beliefs and choices of people. The influences, weaknesses, aspirations and habits of the inner life are constants of human nature. By addressing these and recognizing their influence in our lives, we can truly grasp human nature and what we can do to overcome our vices and attain true virtue, victories in the Great War.

Yet, the questions of economic morality remain. Practicality cannot be ignored by Christian teaching. How, indeed, is one saved? What standard is used for salvation and damnation? What is required? The fact that people continue mentioning these concepts, whether positively or critically, attests to their enduring meaning and importance, and any mention is greater than forgetfulness.

Spiritual warfare can answer these questions and, indeed, it is the only valid means of answering them in a Christian context. Salvation is not a tally or point system, but it is also not an instantaneous occurrence as many modern Christians believe. (Romans 10:9) Salvation is a matter of the will, of the heart. It is a matter of choice. The graces of God, given through the Holy Sacraments and in the various sacramentals of the Church, and through other spiritual sources, are given by Him as a gift to aid us. God's grace is not meant to overwhelm us, to force us into salvation. Rather, grace liberates our will from the influences of sin - confusion, temptation, passions, habits.

While salvation is a matter of the will, itself aided and transformed by God's grace, our salvation itself is Christ the Lamb. Throughout the history of religion, man has recognized his own weakness and corruptibility. Contrition is an inherent quality of religion. Alongside this recognition is the practice of vicarious sacrifice, placing an offering before God that is both good in itself and a personal sacrifice to us. Christ is the summation of this historical thread in religion. His practice of the Eucharist is the greatest expression of His vicarious sacrifice, fulfilling the meals of thanksgiving as well as the priestly sacrifices of Judaism. As God, He made this sacrifice universal and perfect. As man, He was not an inferior offering, like a crop or animal, receiving the punishment we deserve for our sins vicariously. And as the Eucharist, He can be received with equality perfection and potency by all men for all time.

A life of spiritual warfare involves orienting the will towards God, coming to desire His will above all things and to choose to do His will whenever we can. Because of the sin of this world and our flesh, our will is influenced, its freedom marred. The grace of God works to free our will, liberating it and thereby giving it greater strength to choose God completely. And with our will free and strong, we may then choose to accept Christ as our Savior - not through words alone, but through the sacrifice of the Mass.

By partaking of the Eucharist, we are entering into the universal liturgy of Heaven and Earth. We renew our covenant of baptism through which we were freed by grace from original sin; we experience the fulfillment of the sustenance of food and drink through the true Giver of Eternal Life, the Lamb; our sins are cleansed and we join in the moral war where Satan struggles to drag us to Hell with him while the Host of Heaven works to return us to the salvation of Christ. The truth, meaning and benefit of the Eucharist are endless. It is the summation and summit of spiritual warfare.

I pray that we may grow in understanding and faith in the reality of spiritual warfare, to practice it with knowledge and strength in the grace of God, and to see the liturgy, particularly the Eucharist, as the highest expression of spiritual warfare and the means by which we can come into the fullest relationship with God our Lord and Savior. Amen.