What’s the first thing you think of when you hear that phrase? Maybe you remember the movie about the Vietnam War directed by Stanley Kubrick. The phrase is actually the name of a type of bullet that has a hard shell surrounding a softer lead core. The jacket enables the bullet to pierce harder surfaces used in armored vehicles and combat gear. I’m using the phrase in a more literal way to describe body armor: something that’s constructed to be worn in battle. If you read your Bible much you probably know where I’m going with this. The Apostle Paul encouraged the Ephesians when he said:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BRESTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:10-17)

This is Paul’s description of our Full Metal Jacket: the spiritual apparel that we should wear in order to walk out our salvation representing, and presenting, the Gospel to a lost and dying world.

In some ways the language is difficult to apply…properly. The environment that 21^st century America emphasizes is individualism expressed in an array of rights and freedoms that are afforded us. We can do what we want, within certain limits; live our lives the way we see fit even if it doesn’t jibe with everyone else. And the limits of our freedoms focus on the extent to which our lives affect other people. It’s that boundary where our actions affect others that contentions are expressed because that boundary is fluid: changing over time, and reflecting values that are not set in stone. In our democracy values are derived from the collective understanding of the people who populate our country. It’s a “contest” of ideas that are promoted, altered, and contended for by the country’s citizens. And it’s this feature of American life that provides the substrate for the American Church to practice and present their faith in Jesus Christ. We interpret and apply the Bible to our lives within this environment, and if we’re not careful, the environment will work to misinform our understanding and application of what the Bible tells us. An example of this is the above mentioned discussion of the “full armor” of God afforded us by the Good News of the Christ. The warfare language of the text can seem to promote an atmosphere of animosity in our engagement with the non-believing community and I don’t think that’s what the Lord intended. We sort of skim over the phrase that says our contention is not with “flesh and blood,” and focus on the powers that impact our actions. In the past Christians have engaged in actual warfare in order to promote the message of the Christ. (I’m thinking of the crusades of The Middle Ages) In our current circumstances we “go to war” with our truths in order to establish institutions that support biblical values. We argue for our rights and, at the same time, declare that God loves the sinner and invites him or her to give their lives to Jesus because He loves them. This seems inconsistent to me.

In order to think about this more carefully, let’s take a look at this “armor.” The first call is to gird your loins with truth which can suggest that truth provides a support for exertion: sort of like an athletic supporter for men. In order to engage in a fight you need to gird up for action. More likely it meant to secure your tunic to allow freedom of movement in dealing with the forces that work against the truth of the Gospel. You need to know the truth in order to counteract the lies of the enemy. And who is the enemy described in the text? It’s not a good fit to apply it to political debates in which we “fight” for our rights as citizens to establish institutions informed by Christianity. Rather the truth counteracts the lies of the enemy that work to deny the reality of God and His provision of salvation; and that enemy is the supernatural forces that work against the light of the truth! The “breastplate” is a breastplate of righteousness which is acquired as a gift of grace derived from the death of Jesus on the cross. We’re rendered righteous because Jesus has paid the penalty for our sin; but we have to believe it. Faith acts as a “shield” against the accusations of the evil one and his minions, counteracting the lies of condemnation that are hurled at us by this enemy. This is “armor” that is supplemented by a helmet of salvation that defines our place before God, and provides an expectation of entering into His eternal kingdom; an entrance that has been inaugurated now and will be fully realized at the end of days. Furthermore, not only can we withstand the offensive powers of darkness, we are also equipped with our own offensive weapon: the “sword of the Spirit,” namely the Word of God; and, along with this our feet are “shod” with the Gospel of Peace as we bring the “Good News” to a lost and dying world. (See Isaiah 52:7) That’s our fight; the people that are used to promote the lies are not our enemy. They don’t know what they’re doing because they don’t know the Lord and, in this modern environment, they don’t really understand how the powers of darkness inform this world. Instead of seeing them as our opponent, the Lord wants us to approach them with our greatest asset and true armor: the love of God. God is love, and His love for us sustains us before the lying accusations of the forces of darkness. And the love of God is also the basis for approaching those who contend with the truth in whatever circumstance we engage them. Speaking to the Thessalonians the Apostle Paul encouraged the Church to hold fast to their faith, and to recognize their calling before God saying:

But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but for the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:8-11)

The challenge I’m making here is for us to set our hearts on the goal that the Lord has set before us rather than a goal that we’ve established. The original pilgrims and a segment of the population of 18^th century America may have had the goal of establishing a christianized community; a community where faith in Christ would prevail. However, what was established after our revolution was a republican democracy informed in large part by ancient governments that were not based on faith in God. If we’re going to engage in politics—and I think we should—then we need to decide how to do that in a way that serves the interests of the Gospel within the framework of a secular society. People need Jesus more than they need a good life; that’s the case for all of us. The question is: when we engage in politics what is our primary goal, to win an election or to further the interests of the Kingdom? I think you can attempt to do both, but when these two goals collide a choice needs to be made. We’ll have to answer the question: which goal is more important? If we choose the Kingdom, then we need to “put on the full armor” in order to represent the Lord’s interests while expressing our political views. The aggressive nature of political discussion needs to be confronted with the armor of faith, righteousness, truth, AND love. When you’re being insulted, when you’re being challenged and argued against, it’s a poor witness to respond in kind. Even if losing the argument, and even the election, results in a situation that compromises your way of life in some way, it’s still the case that God’s kingdom takes precedent. I’m thinking here of the challenge Jesus laid before us when He said:

You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brother, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5: 43-48)

In order to do that we’re going to need the full armor: the “Full Metal Jacket” that can withstand the flaming missiles of accusation, abuse and insult that too often accompany political dialogue in our current environment.

This requires an adjustment of our understanding of ourselves. Are we what the world says we are, or what the Bible says we are? Our American version of the self is primarily psychological, focusing on our capacity to think and understand ourselves through the use of reason and analysis. This emphasis informs much, if not most, of the political dialogue in our present circumstances. The object of political discussion is to present arguments for a particular approach to government that works to promote the well-being of society as a whole; and an environment that allows for individuals to seek their own fortunes in the best possible way. Christians, including evangelicals, often use this approach to fight for Christian values derived from the Bible; engaging in aggressive arguments and rhetoric that reduces to a type of culture war that’s legitimized by the “full armor” imagery of Paul’s letters.

What I’m saying is that such a view of humanity is inadequate and misleading. We are not primarily psychological beings in need of reformed thinking. We are created beings that are meant to exist in fellowship with God. We’re called to be sons and daughters of the Most High. Our fundamental need is not a psychological realignment; our fundamental need is to be adopted by Holy God. The armor that we acquire is the result of the Christ’s death on the cross and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Through these we receive armament that withstands the lies of this world and the evil that inspires it. And that armament doesn’t secure our place in this world; it secures our place in the kingdom. It’s the armor that allows us to move forward in our relationship with the Father; to become increasingly like Him; standing up for the truth while loving others whether they deserve it or not. It’s Kevlar instead of heavy metal. It’s an armor that allows for freedom of movement rather than merely standing our ground. In this posture we’re looking forward to the full realization of the Kingdom of God rather than focusing on the benefits of an abundant life in this age. We’re not fighting for our fundamental rights informed by arrogant notions of privilege; we’re securing our unmerited favor through our relationship with our God and Father. Remember Paul’s admonition to the Roman Church:

So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh-for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die, but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live For all who are being led by the Spirit or God, these are the sons (and daughters) of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. (Romans 8:12-17)

In the contentious environment of this election year, our call is to represent our Savior; moving freely within our communities and engaging the political discussion informed by our knowledge of who we are in Christ. And representing Him clothed with the full armor that He has provided us.

Don’t forget to vote!

Amen and Amen!