Spiritual war veterans waging their own battles

This week we celebrated Veterans Day, one of the most important days of the year. The origins of the day date back to 1938, when Nov. 11, then known as Armistice Day, was declared a legal holiday for the purpose of honoring World War I veterans and focusing on world peace.

However, after the impact of World War II and the battles American soldiers fought on Korean soil, the word Armistice for substituted for Veterans, thereby amending the Act of 1938 to recognize every American veteran of every war. Given the sacrifice our servicemen and servicewomen have made, they most certainly deserve to be acknowledged and celebrated.

There are other veterans who deserve to be honored as well. Many of them never fought wars driven by human or political causes. They haven't experienced bombs falling around them or had grenades hurled at them.

On the contrary, they engaged in a different kind of battle. It is the kind of war described by the Apostle Paul in Ephesian 6:12 (ISV): "For our struggle is not against human opponents, but against rulers, authorities, cosmic powers in the darkness around us, and evil spiritual forces in the heavenly realm."

These are spiritual war veterans -- men and women who have been on the front lines fighting against the forces that seek to destroy the moral fiber of society.

These spiritual war veterans have fought on different kinds of battlegrounds: in classrooms and the halls of Congress, in picket lines and in marches. Some have been in churches where pastors have fought to keep their sheep from falling prey to the wolves of this world. Some battlegrounds have been in homes where good parents have relentlessly fought for the salvation of their children.

Spiritual war veterans fight whenever and wherever necessary in order to overcome evil. This kind of warfare is for the betterment of mankind -- not its destruction. It is not about satisfying political agendas, but about fulfilling God's purposes.

It is also not a battle that can be won by one soldier. It can only be won as soldiers fight together with singleness of heart.

I recall as a Baptist kid having to sing a hymn that never really grew on me. The hymn was entitled, "Onward Christian Soldiers." I always thought the tune was just horrible, and I was a warm and fuzzy child so I could not understand why we had to sing about being an army engaged in warfare.

However, the day came when I personally encountered enemy forces. As my knowledge of war continued to evolve, I faced the very sobering realization that the universe is a battlefield and most battles are not to be fought alone.

We need the collective forces of our brothers and sisters coming together with one heart and one mission to advance God's purposes. The third verse of the hymn encapsulates both the purpose and passion of the army that produces spiritual veterans:

"Like a mighty army

Moves the church of God;

Brothers, we are treading

Where the saints have trod.

We are not divided;

All one body we,

One in hope and doctrine,

One in charity.

Onward, Christian solders,

Marching as to war,

With the cross of Jesus

Going on before!"

The Rev. Gail T. Smith is pastor of the Universal Light Christian Center in Macon.

This story was originally published November 13, 2015 at 8:49 PM with the headline "Spiritual war veterans waging their own battles ."