How the Christian Church in the United States Can Survive and Overcome Spiritual Warfare
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Digital Commons @ George Fox University Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations 3-2020 Believers Armor: How the Christian Church in the United States can Survive and Overcome Spiritual Warfare Michael A. Webb [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/dmin Part of the Christianity Commons Recommended Citation Webb, Michael A., "Believers Armor: How the Christian Church in the United States can Survive and Overcome Spiritual Warfare" (2020). Doctor of Ministry. 394. https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/dmin/394 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses and Dissertations at Digital Commons @ George Fox University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctor of Ministry by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ George Fox University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY BELIEVERS ARMOR: HOW THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES CAN SURVIVE AND OVERCOME SPIRITUAL WARFARE A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF PORTLAND SEMINARY IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF MINISTRY BY MICHAEL A. WEBB PORTLAND, OREGON MARCH 2020 Portland Seminary George Fox University Portland, Oregon CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL ________________________________ DMin Dissertation ________________________________ This is to certify that the DMin Dissertation of Michael A. Webb has been approved by the Dissertation Committee on February 19, 2020 for the degree of Doctor of Ministry in Leadership and Global Perspectives Dissertation Committee: Primary Advisor: Darrell Peregrym, DMin Secondary Advisor: Phil Newell, DMin Lead Mentor: Jason Clark, PhD, DMin Copyright © 2020 Michael A. Webb All Rights Reserved. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ii To my Lord and Savior, thank you for calling me to become an Armor of God-bearer iii TABLE OF CONTENTS FIGURES ..................................................................................................................... viii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .............................................................................................. ix ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................... xi CHAPTER 1: THE PROBLEM WITH SPIRITUAL WARFARE Introduction ......................................................................................................... 1 Field Research ..................................................................................................... 2 Research Summary .............................................................................................. 3 Study Limits ........................................................................................................ 4 Expected Results .................................................................................................. 5 Need: Preparing for Spiritual Crisis...................................................................... 6 Spiritual Warfare Vignette: The Young Saint ..................................................... 12 Problem: Believers’ Warfare .............................................................................. 14 Opportunity: Recognize, Resist, and Overcome Evil .......................................... 20 Thesis: Wearing Christ Prepares Believers for Spiritual Warfare ........................ 22 The Way Forward—Not Limited to One Denomination ..................................... 23 CHAPTER 2: BIBLICAL FOUNDATIONS SUPPORTING THE THESIS THAT PUTTING ON CHRIST PREPARES BELIEVERS FOR SPIRITUAL WARFARE Introduction ....................................................................................................... 25 Biblical Foundations .......................................................................................... 27 Old Testament ................................................................................................... 28 Garden of Eden Scheme ................................................................................ 28 iv Tower of Babel Scheme ................................................................................ 31 King David’s Infidelity Scheme .................................................................... 33 New Testament .................................................................................................. 35 The Temptation of Christ in the Wilderness Scheme ..................................... 36 Judas Betrays Jesus for Thirty Pieces of Silver Scheme ................................. 37 Peter Denies Jesus Three Times Scheme ....................................................... 39 Reflections on Spiritual Warfare Schemes.......................................................... 40 Theological Approaches to Spiritual Warfare ..................................................... 43 Conservative Approach to Spiritual Warfare ...................................................... 45 Does Evil Bring Glory to God ............................................................................ 48 The Influence of Spiritual Warfare .................................................................... 50 Summary ........................................................................................................... 51 CHAPTER 3: CULTURAL INFLUENCES ON SPIRITUAL WARFARE Introduction ....................................................................................................... 54 How Culture Influences Spiritual Warfare ......................................................... 55 Naturalism .................................................................................................... 56 Consumerism ................................................................................................ 57 Humanism..................................................................................................... 61 How Evil Hides in Plain Sight............................................................................ 63 Social Media ................................................................................................. 67 Globalization ................................................................................................ 71 The Problem with Sin.................................................................................... 76 Summary ........................................................................................................... 82 v CHAPTER 4: SPIRITUAL WARFARE RESEARCH AND PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS Introduction ....................................................................................................... 84 Experiential-Longitudinal Study on Spiritual Warfare ........................................ 85 Field Research on Spiritual Warfare ................................................................... 87 Summary ...................................................................................................... 88 Methodology ................................................................................................. 89 Findings ........................................................................................................ 90 Discussion and Analysis ................................................................................ 92 Moving Forward ........................................................................................... 93 Examining US-American Worldviews on Principalities and Powers .................. 94 Liberal Worldview ........................................................................................ 96 Traditional Worldview .................................................................................. 97 Conservative Worldview ............................................................................... 99 Evaluating Worldview Solutions for the Church .............................................. 101 Liberal Worldview ...................................................................................... 102 Traditional Worldview ................................................................................ 102 Conservative Worldview ............................................................................. 104 Analysis of Worldviews .............................................................................. 104 Theological Viewpoints on Principalities and Powers ...................................... 105 Biblical Viewpoints..................................................................................... 106 Alternative Viewpoints ............................................................................... 108 Summary ......................................................................................................... 109 vi CHAPTER 5: THE DEVIL’S EVIL SCHEMES VERSUS THE BIBLICAL ARMOR OF GOD Introduction ..................................................................................................... 111 Formidable Enemy but Limited Powers ........................................................... 112 Opponents to Christian Life ............................................................................. 115 World .......................................................................................................... 115 Flesh ..........................................................................................................