Phyllis Beveridge Nissila

Ever notice how when a major world war erupts it is never just on one front? The best examples are World War I  and World War II where literally dozens of nations sacrificed from hundreds to millions in the conflagrations.

Many would argue that we are in another world war, only this one is undeclared except by those who comprehend it, and this time the weapons include not only conventional boots on the ground but also takeovers of the mind and emotions (the better to manipulate us by). Modern weapons no longer destroy just geographical locations but also psyches and spirits.

Modern ordnance includes “lawfare,” “crisisfare*,” “propagandafare” and “cyberfare,” although one could also argue that elements of the above forms of asymmetric warfare have been present since the dew evaporated on Eden, with the addition of cyber weapons in recent decades.

So what is a body to do with all these metal, mental, and emotional weapons wielded against a largely unaware populace? How is one to sound the warning bells and whistles when propagandafare in particular has been so effective in wordsmithing  reality into a Gordian knot of fake news, fallacious “logic” and fear-mongering (faked film at eleven)?

How is one to penetrate the lock-think of catchy memes and Big Lie repetitions that many citizens, mesmerized by the cyber-distractions of facebooks and imaginary “AI friends,” are hardly aware are being used against them? I should say, being used against critical thinking which is the only way out of the mind control. Of course, if mind control doesn’t work on everybody, there are always other options in the modern arsenal: crisisfare, lawfare (see above)…

Unfortunately, there is not much the average citizen can do other than speak out in what ways one can (letters, town meetings, calls, email, blogs, editorials, the voting booth). To make matters worse, there does come a tipping point  when the percentages work against the people and the multi-front destroyers win. I do not believe the world is quite there, yet, but it can happen. As a student of prophecy for several decades, I would also note that the end of all means (and memes) of warfare do come to an end…and it’s not pretty…for those who continue to resist not only reason but also spiritual reality**.

BUT YET…STILL…GOOD NEWS

As believers, however, we have the following real news,

But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. (John 4:4, NLT)

The following real weapons,

The Whole Armor of God

¹⁰ A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. ¹² For we^[a] are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

¹³ Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. ¹⁴ Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. ¹⁵ For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. ¹⁶ In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.  ¹⁷Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

¹⁸ Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. (Ephesians 6:10-18, NLT)

And the following real promise,

Although the weapons of modern warfare, lawfare, crisisfare, propagandafare, and cyberfare are formidable,  we can still “look up for our redemption draweth nigh.”

And we needn’t look up in fear,

Or pessimism,

Or cynicism,

Or despair.

Because the Captain of our army has already cued us in to the outcome. And it is good.

~~~~~

*”crisisfare” has not yet made it into Wiki or Urban dictionaries, but it is based on the kind of damage that a carefully planned or spontaneous crisis can wreak thus becoming very useful to those who would monger control as a result. Famous defining quote: “You never let a serious crisis go to waste. And what I mean by that it’s an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before”. Rahm Emanuel (quoting Saul Alinsky, see below).

Additional references include the Cloward-Piven social welfare-related crises strategy  and the same kind of crisisfare espoused by Saul Alinsky of Rules for Radicals infamy. Here is an interesting commentary on the first chapter of Alinsky’s book and the salient point is:”According to the Alinsky model, harmony is counter-productive.  You need a crisis.  When you have one you should never let it go to waste.  If you don’t have a crisis, then make or allow one to develop.” (bolding, mine)

**For the best treatise on the spiritual end of all forms of warfare against God’s creation, read here.

***For an entire, free, booklet of devotions on Psalm 91, the go-to encourager for believers in any conflagration, click here.