A Weaponized Faith

After 9/11, I agreed with leaders across the evangelical world to avoid military language so that Islamists would not view followers of Jesus as jihadists. Is it time for a change? If so, the church shouldn’t wrap itself in the American flag, but weaponize faith in Jesus alone.

               The word “weaponize” has become in vogue although Webster’s says it was first coined in 1957. Today, Christians seem to be jumping on the idea of Jesus as warrior. Mike Huckabee titled his 2015 book God, Guns, Grits, and Gravy. Natalie Grant in 2020 sang “My Weapon,” a worship song that identifies Jesus’ presence that crushes strongholds, pushes back darkness, and breaks every chain.

What if your faith was weaponized? Would it become more laser-focused on Jesus? What if your faith turned outward (as weapons do) and you became less doubtful; more confident? The Psalmist depicted children as arrows (Ps 127:4). Jesus said if you have the faith the size of a mustard seed you could move a mountain and throw it into the sea (Lk 17:6). What if your faith weaponized hope in what can’t be seen (Heb 11:1)? Would we pick up the Sword of God more often (Eph 6:17b)?

In WW2, the Battle of Saipan ended with 240 U.S. fighters and bombers trying to find the U.S. fleet after attacking the enemy. The sun soon set and several planes began running out of fuel. One-by-one, many pilots ditched into the ink-black sea. Then three battleships were given orders to steam ahead of the fleet. Breaking wartime protocol, they focused their searchlight beams back toward the U.S. aircraft carriers. Their lights pointed the way home, saving all but 46 crewmen.

 What if we weaponized “this little light of mine” and turned it into a brilliant beacon shining the way to Jesus?

--Mark Snowden serves as director for the Cincinnati Area Baptist Association

#WeaponizedFaith, #FaithInJesus, #SpiritualWarfare, #JesusIsOurWeapon, #LightOfTheWorld, #HopeInDarkness, #ChristianBoldness, #FaithOverFear, #SwordOfTheSpirit, #WorshipAsWarfare, #MustardSeedFaith, #BeaconOfHope, #ChristianReflection, #MissionalLiving, #FaithAndCourage, #ShineYourLight, #Ephesians6, #Hebrews11, #Psalm127, #ThisLittleLightOfMine