The Armor/Amor of God
Ephesians 6:10-20
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.
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Since the time humankind first braced itself against harsh climates and dangerous foes, they sought to protect themselves from the elements or anything else that might cause them harm. Greek poetry, such as the Iliad, captures the significant role of armor in such a scene where Hephaestus, the Greek god of fire, forges a blazing suit as bright as the sun for the champion Achilles. Armor, in these instances, was not only for protection but a weapon of war. Is this the kind of armor that Paul is writing about in this morning's passage? The imagery of donning on protective plates and clothing would have resonated with his audience, but what else is Paul trying to get at in this rallying call to the early church?
What kind of armor are we talking about now?
The armor of God that Paul tells the Ephesians to put on is not the traditional battle gear you would expect. Contrary to our common understanding, it serves purely as a defensive mechanism that aides us in remaining steadfast against the spiritual forces of hurt and evil that try to tear us down and tear our neighbors down. In comparison, it might seem counter-intuitive, armor that's meant to take a beating instead of keeping us safe from doing the beating ourselves. Instead, Paul tells us to remain steadfast, to remain stalwart, and not to worry about taking action on our own. Why does Paul say this? Because Paul wants us to remember that the armor of God is imbued with the love of God. It wraps us in the love of God and holds us through the rocky and rough times.
Today it could be helpful to think of Paul telling us to erect a flood barrier or a storm surge barrier. These are massive structures that prevent a storm surge from flooding an area of land, and they often absorb vast amounts of energy from the waves that crash down on them. It's not an active structure; it's passive; it serves to protect everything that exists behind its walls. Similarly, the armor of God protects us from the forces in this world that aim to bring us down. Through prayer, the singing of psalms and hymns, and through the active living of the gospel, we strengthen the armor of God that we put on. And it should be said that this power is magnified when we gather together to encourage and support one another when the occasional pangs of sin and hurt make their way through.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God.
Let us equip ourselves with truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and prayer. Then, when we put on the armor of God, we should feel empowered by the Spirit of God. It serves as a reminder that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses who grant us the strength to be bold and loving and stand against the evil that comes our way. Yet, we aren't a solitary island, meant to bear the burdens of life by ourselves because while the armor of God surrounds us, we are communal beings who are meant to stand together. When we together put on the armor of God, we will discover that we can face more than by ourselves; it's a beautiful vision for our life together as the people of God and a vision that we can start working towards today.
Now when we put on the whole armor of God, it is not so ironclad that it cuts us off from the outside world. It is not an armor that keeps our ears from the cries of those who need help. Nor does the armor of God make us invulnerable to change or hurt. Instead, what the armor of God does is remind us who we are in the grand scheme of creation. Darkness and evil will adapt and try to draw us away from the life and faithful love of God, but that is where the armor of God presents itself to reaffirm that our life is part of a larger community that together can resist the manipulation and temptation of evil for centuries to come.
Perhaps then we should say that we are called to put on the amor of God, the love of God, instead of armor fashioned by human hands. Thus, Paul's rallying cry to the early church, to us, is not a call to war but a call to stand fast together. The words of Paul are meant to summon the best each of us has to offer when we connect with the spiritual gifts God has given us. So let us don the amor of God, the love of God, knowing that whatever comes our way, we have each other's backs, and not just the people who are in our inner circle; it includes all those who cry out for help. Let us be encouraged and strengthened by the love we put on this day and the love that we receive from one another. Amen.