Recently, I’ve been thinking that the way I deal with spiritual conflict is backward from the strategy presented in Scripture. There are three general sources of conflict that regularly affect us – the devil, disordered desires, and people. My strategy has been 1) flee from the devil, 2) resist my disordered desires, and 3) either resist or ignore people. But the New Testament writers lay out a counterintuitive strategy.

The Devil: Resist him and stand firm

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith.” 1Pet 5:8-9

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Jam 4:7

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes… 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.” Eph 6:11, 13

The devil must be resisted, not fled from. This seems counterintuitive considering how powerful of an entity he is. But the New Testament writers unanimously declare that Jesus has defeated Satan (Luke 10:18; Col 2:15; Heb 2:14-15; Rom 16:20). Therefore, any attack from him must be resisted.

Jesus’ resistance of the devil’s trifold attack in the wilderness provides us with a pattern. The devil traffics in lies. He’s the Father of Lies (John 8:44). So Jesus counters each attack with the truth of Scripture. But this was far more than quoting Scripture at Satan. At one point, Satan quotes, or better yet misquotes, Scripture at Jesus. But Satan’s use of Scripture is a lie. Jesus, on the other hand, embodies the truth and reality of the Scriptures he is quoting.

Likewise, as Jesus’ apprentices, the truth of his teachings must get into our minds and our bones. His truth must change our thoughts, transform our will, and become the natural habits of our bodies. The embodied and habituated character of God is the armor Paul speaks about that enables us to stand against the devil’s schemes. God’s truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation and Word must be part of who we are, in our thoughts, feelings, values, decisions, nerves, muscles, and bones.

Disordered Desires: Flee them, put them to death, and walk in the Spirit

“Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” 2Tim 2:22

”Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” Col 3:5

”So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Gal 5:16

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 1Corinthians 10:13

When it comes to our disordered desires, we tend to think we are to resist them with self-discipline and willpower. Instead, the New Testament exhorts us to flee them and put them to death. How do we do this practically? By putting our full attention on the life of God available through apprenticeship with Jesus. 

In Galatians 5, St Paul exhorts us to walk in the Spirit and become people who naturally bear the fruit of the Spirit – the very character of God – as the remedy for not gratifying our disordered desires. In Colossians 3, St Paul instructs us to put to death our disordered desires and behaviors – especially those that cluster around lust and anger – by developing new habits of loving others. These new habits are part of our “new self” that replaces the “old self”. 

Fleeing evil desires is like a trapeze artist who must let go of one trapeze (“the old self”) and fling himself to the other trapeze (“the new self”). He flees the one by abandoning it and completely embracing the other.

People: Engage with gentleness and respect

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” 1Pet 3:15-16

The last counterintuitive strategy is dealing with people with gentleness and respect. Because any conflict from people is so tangible, it seems right to either argue with them or to withdraw from them. But the effective strategy is to present the case for the hope you have in you, the life of Christ being formed in you as you learn his lifestyle. The new love, joy and peace you experience now governs your interaction with those who would attack you and mean you harm. You counter their anger, slander, and malice with love, joy and peace. You can bless those who curse you. You no longer care about having the right answer or convincing others that you are right. Rather your gentleness and respect exhibit genuine care for them.

The strategy for handling spiritual conflict requires embodying God’s truth and character. This is part of the overall life in God’s kingdom that Jesus’ himself embodied and offered to teach any who would apprentice themselves to him. But one cannot have the life of Jesus without adopting the lifestyle of Jesus. Jesus’ knowledge of and faith in God allowed him to enjoy a confident, unhurried and relaxed posture toward life, enforced by specific spiritual practices such as solitude, silence, fasting, prayer, Scripture, and celebration. We must embrace Jesus’ lifestyle to embody his life, truth, faith, character and  power.