Seeing the Strongholds

Over the last year I have thought several times about the spiritual strongholds that seem to impact our daily lives to a great extent.  My thinking has been influenced by Richard Foster's writing regarding MAMMON in his book Money, Sex & Power.  Looking at Jesus' use of the word in Matthew 6:24 reveals a personification of the word as a spiritual power or spiritual stronghold.  That has been in the back of my mind for many years now, but recently I realized that Paul does much the same sort of thing in Ephesians as he described the spiritual powers that seek to influence government and governmental rulers: ARCHAS, EXOUSIAS & KOSMOKRATORAS, (Ephesians 6:12).  All of that got me to thinking about major spiritual strongholds, how they impact our lives and what Christians can do to protect themselves.  Here are the four big ones that seem obvious to me.  There are probably others.

MAMMON

A demonic power associated with money, greed, envy and the like (Matthew 6:24 KJV).  This is the spiritual stronghold that makes the use of money such a powerful thing in the world.  People talk and act about money differently than they do anything else.  The most foundational way of breaking the grip of this spiritual power is to regularly and systematically give money away.  The tithe is God's basic protection for us in breaking MAMMON's grip.

QUEEN OF HEAVEN

A demonic goddess worshipped under a variety of names.  (Jeremiah 7:18;  44:15-18;  Acts 19:20-41).  This is the spiritual stronghold of false religion or  syncretism (the mixture of elements of false religion with Christian symbols or names).  It shows up in many Latin American countries that have combined Catholicism with folk religion, and worship a variety of goddesses, sometimes called Mary.  Syncretism is a growing problem in America as fewer and fewer people (even those who call themselves Christians) have a biblical worldview.  (See any of Barna's recent worldview surveys)

ARCHAS, EXOUSIAS & KOSMOKRATORAS

Demonic rulers, authorities and powers associated with government (Ephesians 6:12).  These are the demonic powers that seek to influence and use government and governmental leaders.  They show up in the ways in which most people begin looking to government to do that for them which only God can do (provide security, protection and meaning).  It also shows up in the ways in which leaders seek to hang onto their power at any cost.  American Christians fall prey to these strongholds anytime they seek to use worldly methods to bring about change.  2 Corinthians 10:4 makes it pretty clear that will not deal with these powers just because we get the "right" person elected.  Worship of the government is a horrible spiritual power in our land today.   Revival and spiritual awakening will bring social change.

GAEA

The idea of GAEA is the only one that doesn't have a specific Scriptural mention.   However, I think using the name GAEA helps understand a spiritual power that is increasing in influence.  This demonic stronghold is sometimes connected with MAMMON and sometimes with the QUEEN OF HEAVEN, but I am referring to the emphasis on worship of the creation rather than the Creator, (Romans 1:18-32, especially 25).  The growing environmental movement gains power because Christians have not always been good stewards of the earth.  The environmental movement is not innocent -- it is perverted by those who try to explain the universe with no reference to God and worship Mother Earth rather than Yahweh.   This is one of the fastest growing religions around.  It can only be stopped when Christians learn to be good stewards of God's creation, for the honor of the Creator.

THE FIGHT

Because of the pervasive influence of these strongholds associated with worldview, we must constantly guard ourselves against them and seek to combat their influence in our lives.      2 Corinthians 10:3-5.   Ephesians 6:10-18.