Why don’t I want my sons fighting with each other? Because they are brothers, they are allies, not enemies. But when we don’t pay attention or take the time to really notice what’s going on in the war raging around us we can fail to recognize who our enemies, our allies, and the civilians around us are. So let’s break it down.
Our brothers are not our enemies. Our leaders and those in authority are not our enemies. The person demanding a price check in line in front of us when we are in a hurry is not our enemy, nor is the one who pulls out in front of us without signaling on the highway. Atheists are not the enemy. Bullies are not the enemy. As a general rule people are not the enemy. Satan and his influence is the enemy.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Ephesians 6:12-13
People not being the enemy, does not mean that all people are allies. Our fellow believers are our allies. Those who confess Christ and believe in His Word. We have allies in the angels as well. And of course our greatest alli. Our victory winner. Our constant companion. Jesus.
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
John 16:33
So what about those people who aren’t allies, but can’t be considered enemies? I would call them civilians. Civilians in a war-zone will fall prey and be used by the enemy. They have no true alliance with either side and are vulnerable. Non-Christians are civilians. They are the weak and fatherless. The poor and oppressed. And we are called to defend them. To fight for them in this eternal battle.
Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.
Psalm 82:3
So lets treat our enemy as an enemy, our allies as allies, and civilians as civilians.
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
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