The Real Enemy

At a recent conference, I heard a speaker discredit two popular Christian pastors. The speaker was making a theological point and wanted to make sure we knew where those high profile pastors were going wrong.

During a planning meeting at an area church, a member spoke up and indicated that his church had to get moving if it was going to keep up with two other Christian churches in town that were gaining quite a following.

I couldn't respond to the conference speaker, but I was able to ask a question of the person at the planning meeting: Who is the real enemy?

Too often, we in the Christian Church get confused. We drift toward fighting an easy battle instead of being clothed with spiritual armor for the difficult warfare. In other words, we take potshots at fellow members of the body of Christ instead of unsheathing the sword of the Spirit against the Evil One.

It's important to remember who the real enemy is.

What are some key strategies for workers in the harvest field?

First, your job as a believer is not to cut down fellow believers, but to build them up. We may not see eye to eye on everything, but there is no place for slamming fellow servants of Jesus. Kind and gentle one-on-one conversations may be needed to clear up issues, but speaking the truth in love must prevail. Jesus wanted it that way.

Second, your goal is not to outdo other churches or be in competition with fellow workers in the harvest field. There's simply no need. There is no shortage of people who don't know Jesus or who don't have an active relationship with Him. No one has to worry about running out of people to reach. Give praise to God for successful ministries and try to work faithfully in the corner of the Kingdom God has given you.

Third, your goal is not to exalt your church or ministry. Your goal is to glorify God and build His Church. Your effort is about the big picture, God's Kingdom. Your church or ministry is a tool God has chosen to use for His gracious outreach.

Fourth, you must stay vigilant to use your time, energy, creativity, and resources to fight the real fight of faith and not to become preoccupied by faith in-fighting. The devil is prowling around, seeking someone to devour. May it never be said that you were so busy battling fellow believers that you missed an opportunity to snatch someone from the fires of hell.

Please know that it is very important to work with fellow believers so that our proclamation is faithful and true. There is internal work that must be done. But our time, our conversation, our attention, our study, our practice, and our focused efforts can never be diverted from the real enemy. If they are, he wins.