About ten years ago, I was talking with a Baptist preach who was in his first church after serving in the Army as his first career. We were talking about this scripture as he was preaching through the whole Letter to the Ephesians. And I wondered what Paul would use in today's world. He decided that he was going to update it, he talked to his military contacts and got modern camouflage over a dummy, sandbags for a bunker, and for the sword of truth brought in a 50 caliber gun into the sanctuary. A mutual friend, who is a pacifist, was doing pulpit supply there, and walked into the church and threw out the sermon he prepared and preached about the Prince of Peace whom he knew and followed.
Paul, nowhere else in his letters, talks about military or a just use of violence. In Romans, he does talk about government authority and justice, but he doesn't honor the military, the police, or glories in their use of force. In fact, in this text, he boldly proclaims that we struggle not against flesh and blood. He uses the word struggle, not fight, battle, or war against. We battle not against the enemies of flesh and blood, but against rulers, against the authorities, the cosmic powers, and the spiritual forces of evil. How do we struggle against this he asks? We struggle using truth, righteousness, gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the word of God. We don't do this conquer or to win, but to stand firm against those who desire evil.
I think that Paul uses the imagery of a Roman soldier for a couple of reasons. One is that Paul has started churches in different countries and places and each has their own local dress and customs. So Paul, probably knowing this letter and others are going to different places, needs something they all can recognize and is easily identifiable. Since it is the Roman Empire, all people have seen their soldiers and can identify their equipment. Secondly, this is a struggle, a cosmic battle, so there is risk involved and power to save or lose a life. So, in some ways, talking about helmets, shields, breast plates, belts, and swords is not totally inconceivable.
But, however, nonetheless, Paul uses this armaments as metaphor, not in a literal manner. He is not asking church members to arm themselves or to join in the battle against others. If fact, many of the early Christians could not and would not serve in any Army because they served the Prince of Peace and doing violence was against everything that was commanded by Jesus, "To love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and your neighbor as yourself." We battle not against flesh and blood enemies! It wasn't until Caesar Constantine that made Christianity the official religion of Rome and painted crosses on their shields did things start changing. Right?
So we don't battle, we struggle! We battle not against white men or people, but struggle against white supremacy. We battle not against the Muslim religion or Afghan people, we struggle against religious extremism and patriarchy run afoul. We battle not against the police, we struggle against the authority of using violence against people of color. We battle not against the rich, we struggle against the cosmic powers that enrich a small few while the majority languish and many go without. We battle not against the traditional family, we struggle so that all families and all consensual forms of love are valued. We battle not against the oil companies, but we struggle with the greed, the apathy, and polluting of our planet that is creating our global climate crisis.
What is interesting, which I have never noticed before is the shoes. It doesn't say to put on combat boots or whatever the Roman soldiers wore, but it says to put on anything that makes you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. It is wide open to what you need, what we need to proclaim "Peace!" Whether cowboy boots, sneakers, dress shoes, or flip flops.
In today's world, we can no longer use the metaphor of the soldier because too many think that we battle flesh and blood and our job is victory, to conquer the enemy, the people, the person. The struggles we face today are real and are life and death for too many people. We are called to work for justice, to liberate, release, and lift up. We are called to proclaim equality, unity, and harmony. We are called to bind up the wounds and hold those who inflict the wounds accountable.
I ask us to imagine not the soldier, but the musician. Instead of weapons and armaments, let's think about the violin, the trumpet, and the electric guitar. Let's imagine the mandolin, the guitar, the native flute, the drums, and the maracas as our way to persevere, as our way to strengthen ourselves, and bring the message, the gospel of peace into the world. Amen.
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