Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Ephesians 6:11-13

Harvard University is the oldest corporation in America.

Founded in the year 1636, the original intention of Harvard was to train Christian ministers. To provide guidelines along that line, the school had a set of rules that was called "Rules and Precepts." The first version of those guidelines was adopted in the year 1646.

With the original spelling left unchanged, I quote one of the most important rules:

"Let every Student be plainly instructed, and earnestly pressed to consider well, the maine end of his life and studies is, to know God and Jesus Christ which is eternal life (John 17:3) and therefore to lay Christ in the bottome, as the only foundation of all sound knowledge and Learning. And seeing the Lord only giveth wisedome, Let every one seriously set himself by prayer in secret to seeke it of him" (Proverbs 2:3).

It was a noble goal and one which stood Harvard in good stead for many years. That is no longer the case. As proof of that, I point to a recent article written by a professor at Harvard law. Professor Mark Tushnet is of the opinion that conservatives and Christians are losing the culture wars.

Now, Tushnet asks, "How to deal with the losers?"

"Trying to be nice to the losers didn't work well after the Civil War, nor after Brown," he said, adding that "taking a hard line seemed to work reasonably well in Germany and Japan after 1945."

In short, our good professor is saying the religious and political liberals should treat us like America treated the Nazis and the Japanese emperor-worshippers of World War II.
So there you have it. We are at war, and the enemy thinks we are losing that war.

I suppose that opinion is nothing new. Nineteen-hundred years ago the apostle Paul said we were in a spiritual war with Satan. Acknowledging this war would have its share of evil days, the apostle urged us to put on the armor of God. Paul's opinion was shared by Luther who told us to take our refuge in the Lord who is "a Mighty Fortress."

Of course, there is one difference between Paul and Professor Tushnet.

That difference is this: Tushnet thinks Christianity is washed up. He thinks we have lost the battle and the war. In contrast, St. Paul maintains that those who are outfitted with the armor of God's Word will be able to withstand Satan's worst onslaughts. I agree with Paul and pray you also will do what you can to stand firm in the evil day.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I give thanks that I have been rescued by the Redeemer and can be clothed with the armor of faith, which saves. Grant that I, and all of Christendom, may stand firm against Satan's onslaught. This I ask in Jesus' Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 24-26    John 10:22-42

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