Spiritual Warfare in Missions

Preface

It’s been a while since I’ve written on here and hoping to switch things up a bit. I recently went on a Mission Trip with my church to Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. We visited and taught English & Bible stories to children at a school and visited other churches and schools which we had a vision for going forward. I wanted to write about one of my key learnings throughout and as I collect my thoughts following the trip. While I totally understand many of you reading this might not be Christian, if you end up reading this and have any questions or want to share your perspectives or experiences, please message me as I love chatting about this stuff!

Flying into the Dominican Republic

Pray and read the Bible. Those are two key tasks taught to all Christians and consistent advice dished out for most issues - and if taken to heart are a strong solution! But for a long time I didn’t always understand, feeling like I’d heard it a lot and was already doing what I needed to do.

Even flying into a foreign country with uncertainty about what was going to happen for the next eight days, while it made me feel a little nervous about the way the time would be spent - I never felt a sense of danger or anxiousness. Unlike last years mission trip, this year was filled with uncertainty through difficulties in communication. We were in touch with two other missionaries on the ground which we were hoping to talk to that week, but were not getting any follow up replies.

As the days went on, members on the mission team recounted feelings they hadn’t felt before, or were typically rare. Pressures on the chest, unable to sleep, anxiety, and bad dreams. At the same time, things with the current mission seemed hard to bear - we were under the assumption that the school we had been working with was actually relatively well-off and didn’t necessarily need our support. We were also having more communication difficulties within our church body and with missionaries in the field. A lot of miscommunication and intentions were misunderstood, and a general sense of high tension.

Satan and Evil Forces

One morning during the mission as I was reading “Let the Nations Be Glad” by Pastor John Piper, I came across a section with reference to this verse:

Ephesians 6:12 - 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.

As I began reflecting on it more, I realized how the way I had been approaching mission and prayer, and maybe some members of the team had been approaching it as well was the way that Satan had intended for us to see it. Instead of prayer for faith and courage in the face of uncertainty, we had begun to grumble and question everything. Every time a change happened that didn’t match our understanding, we would question it. This happened from as early as months before the trip as planning would often be disrupted and we began to question why we even had to go as far as DR. This type of grumbling continued deep into the mission week as change after change occurred. I even found that the type of prayer I began making for mission was similar to that mentioned in C.S Lewis’ Screwtape Letters:

“a vaguely devotional mood in which real concentration of will and intelligence have no part…bears a superficial resemblance to the prayer of silence as practised by those who are very far advanced in the Enemy’s service”

Yet God answered every prayer we had.

When we questioned why God had sent us to such a privileged private school filled largely with Dominicans and not with Haitians as we had hoped to work with, we were shown by the school principal the humble beginnings and faithful ministry of the staff for over 18 years which allowed them to receive funding to not only school the children but provide them with school supplies and even housing.

When we asked God how we were making a difference at all if so much of the country is already Christian, we were told by the school that the government, “the rulers…the authorities” restricted the curriculum that was allowed to be taught and many students did not have chances to learn about Christ, and that they had been praying for us in our journey but also to help bring more Christian teaching into the classroom. 

When we asked why God needed us in the Dominican Republic when there was so much need even in Canada, God led us to a Haitian community that was receiving no help at all. Their two biggest needs were food and school supplies.

When we wondered and often grumbled why Korean Ministry (KM) and English Ministry (EM) communication was often difficult, we were blessed with the serving of Leeto and Jules in the mission, making communication much easier.

When we felt so much uncertainty from the lack of response from other missionaries, difficult mutual understanding with our missionary, and didn’t know if we’d find a school to work with for the future, we were instead blessed with the introduction of two schools that both had unique needs.

Even when our joy was little and our faith was weak, God showed his joy through the faces of the children who were so engaged and joyful, how could we not praise Him for this?

Satan’s spiritual forces are powerful, have authority, and scheme and strategize to ruin us. Even amongst our unfaithful grumbling and weariness planted by these evil spiritual forces, God showed that If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31

True Spiritual Warfare

Rather than feeling dejected or confused by KM, missionaries, or our vision and purpose - I realized I needed to begin praying more deeply for stronger faith and for the power of Christ to overcome the evil spiritual forces attacking each of our members.

In 1 Timothy 1:18, Paul encourages Timothy to see the entire ministry as warfare:

This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare

And as we look at the rest of the passage in Ephesians 6:12-18, 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. 13 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. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints

We see that truth is for a belt in the armor, righteousness for the breastplate, gospel of peace as footwear, faith is the shield, the helmet is salvation, and the sword is the word of God, through prayer at all times in the Spirit. Piper concludes that every “civilian” blessing in the Christian life is conscripted for the war. There is not a warfare part of life and a non-warfare part.

Life is war.

And following verse 17 and 18, prayer is for war.

Though I summarized the teaching here, when I read it I was astounded about what I had been missing out on in understanding this deeper level of prayer. For the rest of the mission trip my perspective on how I was approaching things changed. Through prayer and this exposition of the word, I began giving more grace to misunderstandings and trying not to make baseless assumptions. We are told that the devil and its spiritual forces work even disguised as the light, and I knew that only through the armor of God alone could I get through this mission.

And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11:14

The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God

The same night I came home from the Dominican Republic, as I was listening to a teaching ironically also by John Piper - my go-to when I’m in a gentler mood, I didn’t expect to hear anything really related to missions or what I had experienced.

I found his third point very interesting, putting a focus on exegetical biblical courses over practical ones as real practice in the church supersedes any courses. But when he got to the end of his fourth point, I was shocked and convicted by what was said. And only a direct quote can really do it justice.

“Nothing is revealed more quickly on the mission field than a superficial encounter with the living God and the glorious realities he has revealed in Scripture. Superficial Bible reading that does not penetrate through the words and intentions and reality and experience to deed and life and an encounter with the living God will be of little use on the mission field in the face of massive demonic forces among unreached peoples. You won’t survive.”

Making Sense of This

I’m a bit deeper into “Let the Nations Be Glad” now and there is a subsection titled: Glad Suffering Shines Brighter than Gratitude. Essentially boiling down to the idea that part of our testimony involves taking and being thankful through the blessings of God’s good gifts. However, even more than taking, the Bible relentlessly calls for more and more giving, all if need be. The New Testament can be concluded in that “suffering with joy, not gratitude in wealth, is the way the worth of Jesus shines most brightly.” I wonder if I can really be joyful with nothing else but Christ, it’s just not something I’ve experienced.

It’s very convicting, and I’m still not sure how to take away from it. Unlike some of the missionaries our church met during our time in DR, such as Missionary Helen who had such a great testimony and calling towards Haiti, I don’t exactly feel that same way being called to live long-term in a foreign country. However, missions is not a matter of calling, as Christ has already called all of us to mission. What that looks like for me I still have to pray about, but this year’s mission trip was unbelievably encouraging and a true test of faith.