"Full" Gospel Preaching: Demons & Spiritual Warfare

It's a perfect pick-up game for kids. No board, no dice, no props. Just an impromptu face-off loaded with strategy, action and clear-cut winners and losers. Dramatic consequences, even. And that dreaded line:

"Rock crushes scissors."

Kinda reminds me of a line in scripture: "God crushes Satan."

Well, to be a bit more precise: "The God of peace will soon crush Satan... under YOUR feet." (Romans 16:20, emphasis added)

But how important is this verse? Can we proclaim the "full" gospel without mentioning Satan? How relevant are the issues of demons, cosmic battles and spiritual warfare when engaging in mission?

Acts 16:18: "In the name of Jesus Christ I order you to come out of her!"

A couple days ago I opened a can of worms by mentioning "signs and wonders." I blogged about whether preaching the gospel in words alone -- without the reinforcement of signs and wonders -- was really a "full" proclamation of the Kingdom.

Today I want to push it a little further by bringing in the whole messy business of the role of "spiritual warfare" in the life of a missional church.

Paul, the author of Romans (and probably as good of a missional guy as you'll ever find) said this:

"I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done -- by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit.... I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ." (Romans 15: 18, 19, emphasis added)

The Greek word Paul uses here that is usually translated as "I have fully preached" or "I have fully proclaimed" is peplērōkenai.

This particular word is different than the words (kerusso, euaggelizo/"evangelize") that Paul frequently uses when speaking about missional preaching. Here, he's speaking about something bigger and more holistic. This word is not just about sermons. It means to complete, to fulfill, to totally accomplish. We're talking here about bringing in the Kingdom with both words AND deeds.

Or, as some might say today, to "git 'er done!"

Paul is the same guy who cautioned us that "our struggle is not against human opponents, but against rulers, authorities, cosmic powers in the darkness around us, and evil spiritual forces in the heavenly realm." (Ephesians 6:12)

And then in the next verse, Paul launches into some pretty practical tips for conflict management for when dealing with the devil: "put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day."

Scissors-Paper-Rock is only fun until somebody gets mean about it. Like that bully who used to jump into our lunchhour games totally uninvited.

"Rock crushes scissors."

Ouch.

John Calvin, in his commentary on Romans 16:20, says: "He (Paul) indeed exhorts them to fight manfully against Satan, and promises that they should shortly be victorious."

And in reference to the Ephesians 6 passage, Calvin observes:
"Satan is called the god and ruler of this world, the strong man armed, the prince of the power of the air, the roaring lion....
Being forewarned of the constant presence of an enemy... (who is) equipped with all the engines, and the most expert in the science of war,
let us not allow ourselves to be overtaken by sloth or cowardice...
let us stand ready to resist...
let us study to persevere." (Institutes, I, XIV, 13, emphasis mine)

More on this whole business of standing to resist and studying to persevere in a future blog.

In the meantime, we proclaim the message of our Lord with all the power that God has given, knowing that our sworn enemy will protect what's "his" and will play hard and mean if he can get away with it.

But the missional church need not be intimidated.

When the dust settles, Satan and his minions will know for sure that Our Rock crushes.

And, somehow, the devils will be under our feet.

Such are the mysteries of the Kingdom.

-- Dave Cheadle

FYI: This Acts 16 image, "The Pythoness," comes from Vol. 2 of:

"Scripture Narratives for the Young," published in 1888.