Journal: Southern Baptist Journal of Theology
Volume: SBJT 23:3 (Fall 2019)
Article: SBJT Forum
Author: Anonymous

SBJT 23:3 (Fall 2019) p. 131

SBJT Forum

Chuck Lawless is Dean of Doctoral Studies and Vice-President for Spiritual Formation at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina. He also serves as team leader for Global Theological Education Strategies for the International Mission Board (SBC). He formerly served as Vice-President for Global Theological Advance of the IMB, in addition to leading the Lawless Group, a church consulting firm. Dr. Lawless earned his MDiv and PhD in Evangelism/Church Growth from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky, where he also served as professor and dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions and Evangelism. He is the author or co-author of more than ten books, including Spiritual Warfare: Biblical Truth for Victory (Life- Way Press, 2001), Discipled Warriors (Kregel, 2002), Putting on the Armor (LifeWay Press, 2007), Mentor (LifeWay Press, 2018), and Spiritual Warfare in the Storyline of Scripture (B&H Academic, 2019). Dr. Lawless and his wife, Pam, have been married for more than 29 years, and they live in Wake Forest, NC.

SBJT: You Have Done A Lot Of Work On The Importance Of Thinking Biblically About Spiritual Warfare And Missions. Why Does This Topic Matter? Why Is It Important For Us To Consider?

Chuck Lawless: Through their International Mission Board, Southern Baptist churches support approximately 3, 600 missionaries serving around the world (https://www.imb.org/about/). Their roles vary, though all must share the gospel with a non-believing world. Their places of service range from rural to urban, frontier to legacy, Africa to the Americas. Consistent among them, however, is this truth: they find themselves in the sights of Satan and his forces. Their battle is real—as is ours—and we ignore the biblical truth about spiritual warfare to our peril.

What is “spiritual warfare”? Bill Cook, professor of New Testament at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and I have defined spiritual warfare as, “the ongoing battle between the church and the devil and his forces, with the church standing in the armor of God, defensively resisting the devil, and offensively proclaiming the gospel in a battle already won” (see William F. Cook III, Chuck Lawless, Spiritual Warfare in the Storyline of Scripture

SBJT 23:3 (Fall 2019) p. 132

[Nashville: B&H, 2019], Kindle Edition, locations 294–296). We want believers to know that the battle is ongoing and real, yet Christ has already conquered the enemy. Indeed, our warrior-God (1 Sam 17:47) grants us his armor (Eph 6:11) to defeat the enemy through offensi...