Words: The Venerable Mark Barlow

In the parish of Lincoln, our Bible Study group is currently working its way through the Letter to the Ephesians.

This epistle contains so much of what is required for effective Christian living. It summarises God's deep desire for relationship with us and the great cost to make this possible. It describes a new humanity without divisions and best understood as a 'body' – The Body of Christ. It goes on to unveil the characteristics of this body and how best to function as part of it.

Towards the end comes the warning that this Body is not universally loved; indeed, there are principalities and powers dedicated to its downfall. Thankfully the body has been equipped with resources that enable us to 'resist and stand firm!' (6:10-18).

Given that this challenge is a battle, it makes sense that these resources are described using the metaphor of battle armour. Indeed, taken as a whole, they are almost a complete picture of the accoutrements of a first century Roman soldier.

I have read opinion pieces on the Armour of God which suggest that every part is defensive save for the sword. Thus truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, salvation and faith are either things that we hide behind or are items that protect us, in and of themselves, without effort on our own part. I don't like either option.

Take for example the shield of faith. The description in Ephesians 6 is a reference to a Scutum. This was the large, curved, laminated shield, used by Romans since the 4th Century BC. It is designed to deflect or absorb the blows of enemy swords and spears but also, through its cunning design, to snare enemy arrows, even extinguishing those on fire. So, a brilliant defensive asset indeed. But the scutum was also an offensive weapon. It was heavy enough and large enough to be employed as a one-person battering ram. With it a legionary could charge into an enemy, knocking them off their feet.

I find this to be an appealing image of faith. It isn't something that we cower behind, while holding out. It is an offensive tool which we use to throw back our spiritual adversaries, knocking them off their feet!

In addition, when a disciplined detachment of soldiers worked together, interlocking their shields in pre-practiced formations, they could throw back and overrun whole armies. Again, an appealing metaphor for what we can achieve in the spiritual realm when we work together, rely on each other and follow the instruction of our Captain.

We are now in the season of Lent, which is a wonderful opportunity for us to take time to check over our spiritual armour to see if any repairs are necessary.

Maybe our shield of faith has taken a battering, or it has become scorched and pitted by absorbing those fiery darts. My prayer for us all is that, in this season, we will work together, and alone with God to effect the necessary renewals and refurbishments through prayer, reflection, repentance, Bible study, fellowship and regular praise and worship, in order that our shield of faith will remain an effective offensive weapon against the spiritual powers of darkness.