Journal: Reformation and Revival
Volume: RAR 04:1 (Winter 1995)
Article: Myths About Spiritual Warfare
Author: Wayne A. Detzler

RAR 4:1 (Winter 1995) p. 29

Myths About Spiritual Warfare

Wayne A. Detzler

Spiritual warfare is one of the most popular topics in theological discussion today. C. Peter Wagner wrote Warfare Prayer (Seattle: YWAM, 1990) in which he charges Christians to expel so-called “territorial spirits” from their cities. This turns task of evangelism into magical confrontation with demonic forces.

One of the most sensational approaches to the subject is book written by Rebecea Brown, M.D. In He Came to Set the Captives Free (Chino, California: Chick, 1986) Dr. Brown chronicles the influences of the occult on evangelical churches. She represents the viewpoint that Christians must rebuke Satan and drive him out of their churches.

Neil Anderson has made a reputation for himself by writing about spiritual warfare. Among his books are Victory Over the Darkness (Ventura, California: Regal, 1990) and Walking Through the Darkness (San Bernardino, California: Here’s Life, 1991). It is Anderson’s thesis that Christians are in constant combat with the Evil One. They must deal with him radically and dramatically.

From a pronounced Pentecostal viewpoint, Dean Sherman wrote Spiritual Warfare for Every Christian (Seattle: YWAM, 1990). He focuses on the uses of the Lord’s Prayer, the “binding and loosing” passage, and the importunate prayer of Luke 18:1–8. He believes that Christians should “take authority” over demons and deal with them.

Mark I. Bubeck wrote, from a dispensational viewpoint, Overcoming the Adversary (Chicago: Moody, 1984). Bubeck takes the spiritual armor of Ephesians 6:11–18 and turns it into a prayer formula. He urges the believer to pray the protection of the armor for each family member every day. Bubeck is remarkably free from the “magical” aspects of the current spiritual warfare debate.

One of the most refreshing additions to this discussion is John Mac Arthur’s How to Meet the Enemy (Wheaton: Victor, 1992). MacArthur takes a solidly biblical and theological

RAR 4:1 (Winter 1995) p. 30

approach to the issue. One finds him to be a voice of sanity rising above the babel of emotion and hysteria.

Stripping Away the Myths

It is the thesis of this article that much spiritual warfare is spurious. It is predicated upon nonbiblical and thus theologically weak premises. It is therefore our purpose to strip away some of the myths which surround spiritual warfare. By doing this we can expose true spiritual warfare, as it is reflected in the Scriptures.

Myth # 1—Spiritual ...

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