The term "spiritual warfare," as used by most conservative evangelical
Christians, is simply a figurative way of describing what takes place every
day as they attempt to live their lives in a manner pleasing to God. The very
real adversaries on the spiritual battlefield are the world, the flesh, and
the devil, and the "good fight" consists of resisting temptation,
overcoming personal sin, and being an effective witness for Christ. The figurative
language of this term expresses the nature of the literal, temporal struggle
in which all believers find themselves. At least, that's what many if not most
evangelicals would say. But this view is changing rapidly.
The military metaphor is now being taken quite literally. Prayer has been drafted
and retooled with the latest technology. C. Peter Wagner of Fuller Seminary
writes, "Thousands of churches have installed prayer rooms, tastefully
furnished rooms that include a phone line or two and perhaps a fax machine or
a computer for e-mail. These rooms are occupied by intercessors 24 hours a day."1
In many cases these are dedicated "strategic-level spiritual warfare"
(SLSW) rooms manned by intercessors engaged in "warfare praying for the
cities of the world." From such rooms many of the "strategies"
of the new spiritual warfare can be executed.
For example, "spiritual mapping" is considered a critical strategic
procedure. It involves creating geographical area maps with markings for all
historically and presently significant pagan activities at a particular location.
It's claimed that by researching the area's religious history one can learn
in detail what brought it into spiritual bondage, and that this specific knowledge
can lead to more effective prayer. When historical information is limited or
unavailable, direct communication from God closes the gap. "Discernment
of spirits is a spiritual gift that is extremely valuable, for through it spiritual
cartographers are given special insights by the Holy Spirit."2
Here is one example of how SLSW works, according to Dr. Wagner:
[It] begins by breaking
the city down into neighborhoods, manageable geographical areas. In Medellin,
Colombia... they have designated 255 neighborhoods. ...Each one...is mapped
in detail, showing each lot, what buildings are on the lot, what color house,
and the name of the family or families who live there.
The maps are distributed
to prayer groups in the city, in other parts of the country and in other countries....If
at least three prayer groups report spiritual impressions about a particular
household or place, trained workers go right in and solicit specific prayer
requests for that house.
Prayer groups outside the
city keep in touch through fax machines and computer modems. In Medellin, one
of the participating prayer groups was a Baptist General Conference church in
the United States. Even though they had no tradition of receiving prophetic
words from the Lord, one day the group heard clearly that there was
something wrong with a certain vacant lot in the neighborhood they were praying
for, and they faxed the information to Medellin. A ministry team visited the
lot and found five occult objects cursed and buried by witches to control the
neighborhood. They were destroyed and the gospel flowed freely. 3
(Emphasis mine)
SLSW focuses upon demonic
activities perceived to be keeping people in bondage and preventing them from
hearing and receiving the gospel. Certainly Satan and his minions do all they
can to oppose the gospel. But can "five occult objects cursed and buried
by witches" prevent the flow of the gospel? And what of "spiritual
impressions" received by the above-mentioned noncharismatic Baptists? Was
it the Holy Spirit who gave such insights to them, then later directed the ministry
team to find, dig up, and destroy the objects?
To accept all of this we
would have to go beyond what the Bible teaches and embrace the key doctrine
of the spiritual warfare movement: that of territorial spirits.
Territorial spirits are
said to be "high-ranking principalities [demons]" which "attempt
to keep large numbers of humans ...in spiritual captivity."4
Their control includes nations, cities, neighborhoods, industries, and religious
groups. Wagner writes, "Only the Holy Spirit can overcome the territorial
spirits, destroy their armor and release the captives under their wicked control."5
Strategic intercession by prayer warriors is brought to bear in situations where
evangelistic efforts seem to be unproductive. Wagner recommends in such cases
that "strategic-level spiritual warfare might at least be worthy of experimentation.
Possibly a strongman [territorial spirit] needs to be bound by the power
of the Holy Spirit given to us."6 (Emphasis mine)
Binding territorial
spirits is the primary SLSW method of removing demonic control. Wagner and other
SLSW proponents contend that Matthew 12:29, 16:19 and 18:18 and Mark 3:27 lay
the foundation for power encounters in which ruling demons or principalities
are neutralized. Arriving at such an interpretation of those scriptures, however,
necessitates reading them with SLSW preconceptions. If Jesus were instructing
us in Mark 3:27 to enter Satan's house and bind him in order to prevent his
obstruction of the gospel, 1) He failed to follow His own counsel during His
"power encounter" with Satan in the desert; 2) His instructions were
terribly vague; and 3) none of His disciples bothered with the application.
Incredibly, the rationale
offered by some SLSW advocates is that such spiritual warfare teaching was for
good reason not specific: Christ's words were for the most part prophetic, and
meant for a later time in which the very necessary extrabiblical sources and
devices such as libraries, faxes, computers, the internet, etc., would be widely
available for waging spiritual warfare.
Although he encourages experimentation
with SLSW methods and techniques, Wagner nevertheless issues a warning: "It
is foolish, as well as dangerous, to confront the enemy by binding and loosing
outside the will of God or outside His timing. ...[C]ertain spiritual powers
could be too mighty for us to handle at a certain time and in a certain place."7
Therefore, receptivity to extrabiblical revelation (personally hearing from
Godsee Part I) is extremely critical and must be nurtured in order for prayer
warriors to know: who (by name) the territorial spirits are, what
their particular function is, and when they might effectively be
bound.
There seems to be no end
to what many in SLSW are "hearing from the Spirit." Prayerwalking,
prayer journeys, prayer expeditions and Marches for Jesus are related forms
of spiritual warfare. Leading proponents Steve Hawthorne and Graham Kendrick
define prayerwalking as "praying on site with insight."8
Locations are visited by intercessors who have researched the "spiritual"
history of each place to determine specific things to pray for, or who have
"spiritually discerned" strategic information obtained directly from
the Holy Spirit. Prayer journeys usually involve travel to foreign cities, while
prayer expeditions are often cross-country hikes taken for the purpose of strategic
intercession against the nationwide rule of demonic principalities. Kendrick
describes the SLSW attributes of March for Jesus as a joyful public proclamation
as well as a "foray into enemy territory. God's enemies retreat as [Jesus]
arises in His magnificent processional presence during the march."9
Reading through the popular
literature featuring strategic-level spiritual warfare concepts, methods, and
techniques has been a perplexing ordeal. Nearly all the authors were found to
be terribly sincere, and some select teachings I read were quite insightful,
even spiritually convicting. For instance, even the badly flawed books dealing
with prayer revealed the shortcomings of my own prayer life. Nevertheless, the
new spiritual warfare movement has missed the mark in so many fundamental ways
that I believe it must be abandoned by its participants in order to desist from
accommodating the strategems of the adversary. Here's why.
Foremost, the concept of
spiritual strategy is unbiblical. Strategy is a military term having to do with
the science and planning of large-scale military operations. It involves strategems,
which Webster defines as "trick[s], scheme[s], or plan[s] for deceiving
an enemy in war." Nowhere in God's Word is such an approach applied to
the spiritual realm.
Strategy usually entails
some form of direct engagement of the enemy. The fundamental tactic of the strategic-level
spiritual warfare movement requires power encounters with demons, especially
territorial spirits. With the exception in certain instances of the Lord directing
deliverance on behalf of the demon-possessed lost, direct confrontation
with demons is not the rule for believers. In fact, it is a deadly quicksand
of spiritually erroneous effort.
1 John 3:8 tells us that
"the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the
devil." It is the works; not the devil or his demons. Although Satan's
fate was sealed at the Cross, God, for His own purpose, has allowed him to continue
until the Lord himself bindshim for a time, and then casts him
into the eternal Lake of Fire (Rv 20:2-3,10). The works of the devil are lies
and deception with which he "hath blinded the minds of them which believe
not...the glorious gospel of Christ" (2 Cor 4:4). Satan's works began in
heaven with his own self-deluded lie: "I will be like the most high [God]"
(Is 14:14). He brought his deceptions to earth to infect mankind. Adam and Eve
were seduced by his lies (Gn 3:1-6), and that has been his modus operandi
in every subsequent generation.
Spiritual warfare is not
hand-to-hand combat or strategic battle in the heavenlies against spirit entities.
It is contending for the truth, vanquishing false teachings, and resisting the
lies. The "wrestling"of Ephesians 6:12 refers to disputations over
truth (v 14), not body slamming demons. Our weapon is the "sword of the
Spirit [of Truth], which is the [written!] word [rhema] of God"
(v 17). Jesus himself used that sword against the devil: "It is written..."
(Mt 4:4,6,7,10).
The strongholds of the devil
to be pulled down are not literal "terrritories ruled by demons,"
but Satan's lies, which hold captive the minds ("every thought") of
the lost (2 Cor 10:4-5), and can even deceive God's "very elect" (Mt
24:24). Scripture tells us clearly and simply how we are to deal with such strongholds:
"...If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye
shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (Jn 8:31-32).
Not only has the SLSW movement
missed the mark with its unbiblical mission; its militantly aggressive strategy
is also dangerously erroneous. The Scriptures determine the manner and mode
of dealing with Satan: "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the
devil, and he will flee from you" (Jas 4:7). Again, that's just what Jesus
did (Lk 4:1-13). Over and over again the Word of God exhorts believers, not
to power encoun4ters with demons, but to steadfastness in the faith.
Peter, who was no stranger to casting out demons, nevertheless wrote, "Be
sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh
about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist stedfast in the faith"(1
Pt 5:8). (Emphasis mine)
Many concerned observers
of the strategic-level spiritual warfare movement recognize its characteristics
as being akin to shamanism (i.e., witch doctoring). Limited space allows only
a sampling here. The shaman's world is one of direct daily contact with the
spirit realm. The shaman leads his people in spiritually efficacious rituals
or public dances/marches to the glory of his spirits. He develops methods and
techniques to overcome evil spirits, techniques he receives from good spirits,
so he believes. Communication with invisible entities is totally subjective,
often experimental, and always pragmatic: if it works it's good medicine. The
"good" spirits give the shaman spiritual discernment, enabling him
to recognize curse-laden objects and even to "see" evil entities which
could be destructive to his village. All such methods, techniques and rituals
encompass sorcery and are diametrically opposed to God's way.
When the Apostle Paul referred
to Jannes and Jambres in his second letter to Timothy, the reference seems to
be to their involvement in counterfeit signs and wonders in Pharaoh's
court. Is Paul telling us that the perilous times in the last days will see
pervasive counterfeit spirituality or sorcery? Are we seeing "...a form
of godliness" (2Tm 3:5) being dispensed to the sheep by witting or unwitting
shepherds of shamanism who, like Pharaoh's magicians, "also resist the
truth" (v 8)?
Major elements of the strategic-level
spiritual warfare movement's teachings and practices are either foundational
to, or heavily incorporated in, many of today's popular programs/ministries.
Of the latter, some of the most influential are the Pensacola revival, Richard
Foster's Renovaré, the John Jacobs Power Team, YWAM's Impact World Tour,
Neil Anderson's Freedom in Christ seminars, Cindy Jacobs' Generals of Intercession,
Dick Eastman's Every Home for Christ, and George Otis, Jr.'s The Sentinel Group.
Pray that the Lord will bring true spiritual discernment to both the leaders
and followers of these programs, and to the many others caught up in the same
biblical errors. Pray that God will turn them from the way of the shaman and
back to His "good way" (Jer 6:16). TBC
Endnotes
1 C. Peter Wagner,
Confronting the Powers (Ventura, CA, Regal Books, 1996), 12
2 C. Peter Wagner, Warfare
Prayer (Ventura, CA, Regal Books, 1992), 154
3 Ibid., 166-167
4 Confronting, 22
5 Ibid., 152
6 Ibid.
7 Ibid.,155-156
8 Steve Hawthorne and
Graham Kendrick, Prayerwalking (Lake Mary, FL, Creation House, 1993),
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