I can’t tell you exactly what spurred this, but I was thinking the other day about how I used to listen to Bob Larson’s radio program. For those who ever heard the program, you know that it was continually filled with sensationalistic portrayals of spiritual warfare that included exorcising demons from heavy metal bands and death threats from Satanists. In my stream-of-counsciousness, Bob Larson quickly flowed into Frank Peretti’s Present Darkness books, also filled with haunting portrayals of demons behind every rock.

But is this truly how the Bible portrays spiritual warfare? Yes, there are certainly instances of literally casting out demons, but these seem focused on the Apostles and do not seem to be the norm for the daily spiritual battles of the typical believer. Robert D. Jones notes in his book Uprooting Anger that “Neither James nor any other epistle writer commands us to exorcise or rebuke the devil or his demons.” Instead, as Jones notes, “the operative verb resist” is “the most frequent command in the epistles for the mode” of spiritual warfare.”

The daily mode of operation for the average believer is not one where we are to look for a demon under every rock but rather, one in which we are to cultivate spiritual discernment and discipline through prayer, the Word and fellowship. It is an attitude of perseverance and one of standing fast. In other words, “resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7) and “draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8).

Scripture does indeed tell us that we are in the midst of spiritual warfare. Paul says in Ephesians 6:12 that we “do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Paul tells Timothy to “wage the good warfare” (1 Timothy 1:18). Elsewhere, Paul instructs us to put on “spiritual” armor:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints (Ephesians 6:10-18).

How different are these depictions from the sensationalistic portrayals of “spiritual warfare” we so often encounter. Frank Peretti has us looking for a demon behind every rock, Bob Larson has us wondering if our every neighbor is a closet satanist conducting a black mass in his living room while Scripture says that we must “resist” the devil and cling to God, being in His Word, drawing to Him in prayer, cultivating fellowship with His people, making His character ours. The Bible presents spiritual warfare more as a marathon race than a 30-second UFC bout.

While the Bible does certainly depict demon exorcisms, they are not performed (generally speaking) by “normal” believers. Rather, the clearest examples seem to be directly tied to Jesus and the Disciples/Apostles. Instead, we are given a much more subtle battle plan, one which involves our every day and our character. Though this is not nearly as sensational, it is much more practical and powerful.

Rather than focusing on the demons without, Scripture tells us to battle the sin within. Peter reminds us that our passions are in fact waging war against our souls (1 Peter 2:11). It seems that the truest sense of spiritual warfare is actually the spread of the Gospel and it taking control of every aspect of our lives.

We must learn to see every day and every battle with sin as spiritual warfare. Rather than giving credit to outside forces, we must take aim at the sin within which seeks to wage war against our souls (1 Peter 2:11). Paul says in Romans 6:1-11 that believers, united to Christ, die to sin’s power over them. How different would our perseption of spiritual warfare be if we listened more to Scripture than culture?

• Read Uprooting Anger: Biblical Help for a Common Problem by Robert Jones
• Read A Fight to the Death: Taking Aim at Sin Within by Wayne Mack
• Read The Mortification of Sin by John Owen