William F. Cook III and Chuck Lawless, Spiritual Warfare In the Storyline of Scripture: A Biblical, Theological and Practical Approach (affiliate link). Nashville: B and H Academic, 2019. 352 pages.
Spiritual Warfare in the Storyline of Scripture is a thorough, conservative, biblical survey of spiritual warfare by two respected Southern Baptist leaders. I have wanted to do some reading on the topic, so this book is a great resource.
The book is divided into two sections. The first section offers 200 pages of overview of every mention in the Bible of spiritual warfare or Satan. The second section looks at the practical implications of the spiritual battle.
The authors describe spiritual warfare as “[t]he 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” (3). They claim, “Between the Bible’s opening and closing chapters, it depicts a war being fought on a cosmic scale—a war fought between God and the devil” (7).
They point out that “Satan” is only specifically mentioned in three places in the Old Testament: Job 1-2, Zech. 3:1-2, 1 Chr. 21:1 (25). They take the position that Isaiah 14:12-14 and Ezekiel 28:14-28 describe actual kings, not the epic fall of Satan (30). They also note that demons are often behind the false gods and idols people worship (40).
The authors make an interesting observation that Satan was audacious enough to tempt the holy Son of God in the holy city (Jerusalem) at the holiest site (the temple) (47). They write, “Some believers mistakenly think that the more like Christ they become, the less they will be tempted. The reality is that the temptations become subtler and more diabolical” (49).
The authors point out that “What takes place in the physical world often represents a battle being fought in the spiritual realm” (79). They later claim, “Satan will do everything within his power to keep people from hearing and believing the gospel” (121).
They indicate that Ephesians 6:10-20 is the most extensive passage on spiritual warfare in the Bible and offer a thorough study of those verses (145). They point out that there are three primary commands to be found: 1. Be strong in the Lord 2. Put on the full armor of God 3. Stand Firm (146).
They also offer an interesting perspective on prayer, noting that “Prayer, in spiritual warfare, is how one sends strategically located guided missiles into the heart of the enemy’s domain” (150).
This biblical study takes up the first 200 pages. I found this section to be the most interesting. The authors examine every passage in the Bible on Satan, demons, and spiritual warfare. They generally take a conservative position on the various difficult passages and avoid speculating when discussing obscure references. The second section of the book is more practical. Though it contains some helpful insights, it could have been briefer. At times, the authors veer into discussions about missions or family that stray a bit far from the main subject.
Nevertheless, they offer some helpful material. They note that “. . . giving Satan much attention risks granting him more space than the Bible does” (205). They emphasize the importance of focusing on God and his word rather than on Satan and his lies. They note that we face three enemies as we follow Christ: 1. Our flesh 2. the world 3. the devil (208). They comment, “. . . any church that sees itself only on the defensive has already given up some of the battle” (215). They add, “Any attention to spiritual warfare must, therefore, emphasize the already-achieved victory more than the ongoing battle” (219).
The authors also examine the concept of “spiritual mapping,” a practice in which people try to identify the demonic power associated with various countries or cities (280). They do not see this activity as biblically justified, though they recognize that demonic forces may focus on particular localities. They then examine whether believers can be possessed by demons (283). They determine that they cannot.
Finally, they give some guidance to leaders as they engage in spiritual warfare, including some helpful questions for church leaders and pastors to ask themselves:
- How much time do you spend with God, hearing him via his word?
- Do you pray first and plan second, or do you plan first and then ask God to bless your efforts?
- How much of your work do you do without praying at all?
- If God were to remove his Spirit from you and your work, how much would change?
- When was the last time you tackled a task you knew you could not do?” (315)
This book is a helpful resource for those seeking a conservative thorough, biblical, and practical reference book on spiritual warfare. It does not always go as deep in places as I would like, as it is primarily an overview of the subject. However, it offers some practical insights for pastors, church leaders, and everyday Christians. This is a balanced study on a controversial and confusing subject. It can be a useful reference tool for anyone wanting to become better acquainted with the subject of spiritual warfare.
Rating: 3
