Spiritual Foot Fungus

I was working on an article that related to Ephesians 6 and the armor of God. Among Christians this is a familiar passage of encouragement. It reminds us that our fight is not against "flesh and blood" but the "forces of darkness." We are not to fight people but corrupt worldviews. But one of the "pieces" of armor Paul listed has really struck me. He wrote we need to "shod" our feet with "the gospel of peace." Paul is speaking of implements of war and puts the "gospel of peace" among them. What a contrast.

How can the gospel of peace help us in a fight? In light of the fact we are fighting worldviews and not other people, it is an essential piece. All too often, Christians can come across as belligerent and self-righteous. The people who are caught in the clutches of corrupt worldviews can miss Christ because of our poor reflection of Him. Paul may have had the passage from Isaiah 52:7 in mind as he wrote this. "How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation." In our battle, we need to bring the good news of peace and salvation that comes from Christ to those who struggle with sin just as we do. We can only do this if we remember our fight is not with people, but the dark forces of this world. I think this is why Jesus told us to pray for people who are our enemies. If someone is caught in the mentality of a corrupt worldview, they need prayer. All of us are influenced by these dark powers and only through Christ can we find freedom and victory.

This piece of armor has made me take pause and check my "self-righteousness" levels. Literally speaking, I have some ugly feet. Just ask my wife, or maybe, don't. There is little hope my physical feet will ever be beautiful or lovely, but they do not have to be spiritually ugly as well. Self-righteousness and belligerence is the foot fungus of spiritual feet and the gospel of peace is the cure.