The Call for Church Security

Not a Flesh and Blood Battle! 

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” (Ephesians 6:10-20, NASB)

You have read this passage so many times.  It is very familiar to most who are in the faith community. But please understand that familiarity can be the seed for slothfulness or it can be the seed for preparedness.  The choice is ours.  I am reminded of several points for you to muse throughout your day.

• There is a dark force of spiritual confrontation that we must be aware of…at all times.
• This passage, I believe, is a call for the faith community to be aware of just how intent the enemy is at disrupting what the church is doing to win the lost to the kingdom of God. While it can teach us a great deal about our individual battles with darkness, it can also serve as a very detailed structure for corporate or congregational security.
• Sunday’s and special events call us to a more present awareness for the sake of the sheep we guard and serve medically.
• As security and medical personnel, it is imperative that you be a disciplined person of prayer.  Seriously!  This is not merely adapting to a “now I lay me down to sleep” type of rehearsed prayer.  This is a disciplined time of communication with God.  It is intentional and not simply casual. Without prayer you can manage your position through the flesh with eyes and ears. But with prayer you can be both in the flesh and spiritually aware of your surroundings because your spirit man is awakened and “present.”
  • “To put on the full armor of God” is more than holstering a weapon or carrying a medical backpack.  If you follow the passage above the end speaks to the beginning.  Here is what Paul emphasizes prayer as a key element or “weapon” in his call to arms. 
    “With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf, that utterance may begiven to me in the opening of my mouth, to make knownwith boldness the mystery of the gospel…”.
  • This is a call to prayer for the saints at large and for those speaking, teaching, preaching, testifying that they be able to speak with boldness the gospel. The phrase, “all saints” is inclusive of the pastor preaching as well as the individual witnessing to someone in the altar or parking lot. It covers the security and medical teams. It covers the band and the praise and worship singers. It covers all the saints actively engaged in our worship services and or special events.
  • The boldness is a awakened fresh courage that allows us to speak freely about the power of salvation and deliverance to the lost.

I trust you read this over and over.  You can load up with all the weapons you might think you will need but without prayer you may find yourself shooting play darts into the darkness.

The call to stand firm was important.  Soldiers in Paul’s time wore boots or shoes with spikes in the bottom of them.  They would forcefully “plant” themselves into the ground to be “unmovable” in the time of battle.  This is a call to the ability to stand and fight against our enemies.  Not run.  Not hide.  Not excuse ourselves away from a soldiers responsibility.   But plant yourself firm and balanced.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58, NASB)

• The word “immovable” here in the Greek means 1) not to be moved from its place, unmoved  2) metaphorically firmly persistent
• I like the statement above “not to be moved from its place”.  
• This implies a fixed position of responsibility.   
• This means you maintain your spiritual, physical and ecclesiastical responsibility.

When I pastored I had a simple rule of structure, oder and trust for my team.  The rule was this: be where you’re supposed to be, when you’re supposed to be there, doing what you’re supposed to be doing, and everything runs like a Rolex watch.   If you take security and safety with a casual sense of responsibility then you will casually serve.  You will not fulfill the mandate above. Churches need security and medical teams who are “planted” in their position. They need to “fix” themselves in a position of serving, take it seriously, and be where you’re supposed to be. Simple. Just so simple…but yet we can screw this up so quickly by not taking our responsibility seriously. Let me ask you a question.  Would you want someone charged with the responsibility of securing your family to do so with a casual attitude?  I rest my case.

I am so proud of my home church security and medical team.  They are told repeatedly that each of them is important to the King and His kingdom.  They are trained, equipped and ready to serve. That’s why we have to take our assigned task at hand with intentional awareness of the constant presence of evil. It’s out there.  It hates you.  It hates me.  There is an elevated spirit of evil that hates the church/sheep we are charged to secure.  Let’s be aware of it. Let’s be “present” when we serve.

One More Lesson

“Then Amalek came and fought against Israel at Rephidim. So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose men for us and go out, fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will station myself on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought against Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set. So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.” (Exodus 17:8-13, NASB)

Again, this is story you are familiar with.  Moses was tired and aged.  In one particular battle he was engaged in, as long as he held his hands up, his team was winning.  But as he tired and his hands fell to his side, the enemy gained ground.  So Aaron and Hur ran to his side.  They placed a rock under him so he could sit down.  In other words they “cushioned” him so he could serve with a fresh awareness of the battle at hand. They held his arms up and eventually the battle, fought under the direction of Joshua, was won.  

The point to make here is that there was a spiritual battle and a physical battle going on here.  The physical battle was on the ground with Joshua attempting to win it.  It was real.  Trust me.  Lives were lost on both side in an on again, off again, war for victory.  But there was something abnormal about the battle.  It’s as if God was sending us a spiritual lesson. A “general”, a leader, was weary and tired.  This seemed to be a supernatural issue for Israel to deal with.  Moses could’ve done several things to ensure victory.  He didn’t have to.  He didn’t make a plea.  He didn’t radio for assistance.  Aaron and Hur noticed what was going on.  They were “present” in a real time battle.  They acted responsively.   Here is a lesson to remember:

• Aaron in Hebrew means “light bringer.”  He brought light to a dark place.  He brought illumination to a place and time that needed light.  When Aaron was where he was supposed to be, doing what he was supposed to be doing, when he was supposed to be doing it, he collaborated with Moses and Hur for a victory. No trophy was ordered. No certificate printed. He did what he was appointed to do.
• Hur in Hebrew means “hole.”  He found a void, a hole that needed filled, a job that needed to be done, and he did it.  He didn’t have to be sought out, chased down, or encouraged to serve by the offering of a reward of sorts. He put his training to work and he did what had to be done. He served with victory in mind.
• Neither one of these men had to be provoked externally.  They realized internally, or in their hearts, that something needed to be done, and they acted on their spiritual impulse, or nudge.

Security teams must work collaboratively.  It is imperative that we realize there are no “lone rangers” in church security. We need each other.  But not being “present” can cause harm to not just one, but possibly several people.  Being aware, being present, being spiritually sensitive to our surroundings is important.  

To all who serve on church security and medical teams, let me say “Thank you!” We need you! The church needs you! Together we can work to keep the sheep safe and the wolves at bay.

Blessings,

Pastor Tim