The July 13th assassination attempt of former president Donald Trump shocked our nation. Many rightfully denounced the act. There was, and still is, no shortage of questions and commentary on why, or how it could even have happened. No doubt, there was a security failure. Perhaps we are overconfident in our ability to protect ourselves. Some pin the blame on the political division in our country and the visceral nature of it. While that certainly isn’t helpful, I wonder if we aren’t mis-identifying the enemy.
The apostle Paul wrote, “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.” (Ephesians 6:12, NASB95). The rulers, powers, and forces are demonic beings actively working in the spiritual realm under the direction of Satan. Their objective is to work through people to “steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10), blind minds (2 Corinthians 4:4), and deceive people with lies (John 8:44). The enemy of our souls has no problem stirring up division, hate, and violence, or in using anyone possible to do it.
It seems to me that we ought to be able agree to disagree with one another without making each other into enemies. Debate, even robust debate, is healthy; character assassination is not. Who wins when we turn on one another, isn’t it the real enemy that wins? Jesus said, “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.” (Matthew 5:22).
It’s not like this is a surprise to God, it’s the way humanity treated His Son Christ Jesus, ultimately executing Him on a cross. The difference, He voluntarily offered Himself there as a substitutionary sacrifice for sin. Peter wrote, “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;” (1 Peter 3:18).
The good news is that Christ defeated the real enemy, and all who go to Him for forgiveness of sin and eternal life can overcome the strong temptations to enter a fight that shouldn’t exist. I think the next time I start to assassinate someone with my words, I best stop and remember who the real enemy is and not give him any ground.
— Reflections appears regularly on the religion page. The column features a variety of local writers, coordinated through the Monroe Area Clergy Group. Dan Krahenbuhl is pastor of Monroe Bible Church.
